Getting deep with Daniel Taylor
28/01/05 | Interview by Alex Walker

Daniel Taylor's excellent book Deep into the Forest, in which he tracked down and interviewed 14 Forest legends, was published earlier this month. 31-year-old sports writer Daniel has been a Forest fan since the age of seven and currently works for the Guardian in Manchester having began his journalistic career at the Newark and South Notts Advertiser. He has also had worked published in the Observer, Daily Mirror and Sunday Times. He talks here about his experiences researching the book and meeting his heroes.

How and when did you first start following the Reds?

I was seven when my Dad took me to watch a game against Coventry City in the Bridgford End. After that I was hooked. I have since progressed through the Junior Reds, the Trent End, a long period in the Colwick Road, the lower tier of the Executive Stand and then in later years the press box. Like a lot of people, I suppose, I have spent a large part of my life wishing I had been a few years older so I could have seen the two European Cup finals for real rather than just being a kid watching television. Going to all the Euro games in later years was great but I would have loved to have been there in Munich and Madrid.

Do you still get to games as much as you’d like?

Not really. If I had a different job I would probably still be going to every match home and away. As it is, I cover at least one match for the Guardian every weekend and every midweek too. Plus, I'm abroad a lot through work. I still see Forest about 15 times a season and, rather pathetically on my part, it gives me a lot more pleasure than watching Champions League matches or going to the Nou Camp, etc.

Did your love of Forest play a part in your decision to become a journalist?

Probably. When I was doing A-levels my dream job was to be on the sports desk on the Nottingham Evening Post. Then the job came up and they clearly didn't like
the look of me. Thankfully, the Newark Advertiser was less selective and I went there at the age of 18.

Where did the idea for the book come from? How did you go from the initial idea to getting the book published?

A friend of mine did a similar book with Manchester City a few years ago and I have had the idea since then. Then I found out about Parrs Wood Press and when I contacted them they made me an offer within two minutes. After that it was a question of choosing which players to include and, even harder, who to leave out. Eventually, I decided on Stuart Pearce, Des Walker, Garry Birtles, Trevor Francis, Viv Anderson, Kenny Burns, Larry Lloyd, Nigel Clough, Neil Webb, Ian Storey-Moore, Roy Keane, John McGovern, Archie Gemmill and John Robertson. I would dearly have loved to include Jack Burkitt and Joe Baker but sadly they have both passed away.

How did meeting the players compare to watching them from the terraces?

Without wishing to sound blasé, as a full-time football reporter the players do lose some of their stardust. It was still fascinating to meet 14 people who I regard as my sporting heroes but if you allow yourself to get stage-fright it's never going to be a good interview. I thought I might be a bit nervous with Stuart Pearce but he was so down-to-earth and co-operative it was fine. Believe it or not, players sometimes get intimidated by facing questions from fans, so in most cases I did not over-emphasise the point that I used to stand on the terraces watching them.

Do you find it difficult to separate your feelings as a fan when you have your ‘journalist’ hat on?

I just have to suppress them, although it's not always easy. The last thing anyone does in a press box is jump up and down when there is a goal. We're too busy worrying about who passed it to the scorer and whether the goalkeeper should have saved it, etc. If it's Forest, though, I do find myself celebrating inwardly. I've been in the 'wrong end' a few times at away grounds so you get used to it.

Were the players as you expected?

They were mostly as I expected. Trevor Francis and Archie Gemmill were pleasant surprises because I had been led to believe they both could be a bit difficult. Larry Lloyd, in particular, was just as I remembered, from putting three sugars in my tea to using the F-word 80 times in 40 minutes.

Was the experience surreal in any way?

The only surreal aspect was being in Glasgow to interview John Robertson when the news came through that Brian Clough had died. Robbo was one of Cloughie's greatest fans and he was devastated.

Were all the players you contacted willing to grant you interviews or were any of them reluctant?

They all said yes apart from Roy Keane so his chapter is a narrative about his time at Forest, analysing whether he is the monster that is often portrayed or merely just
understood. John McGovern was understandably a bit reluctant at first because he also has a book out at the moment. I had to convince him that mine was totally different and that I couldn't exclude the man who had lifted the European Cup twice. After that he was fine and he had some great Cloughie anecdotes.

Stuart Pearce was rung at 8pm one night and agreed to do it at 7am the following morning. It can take weeks, if not months, to get an interview with a top modern-day sportsman so that was a refreshing change. There were also a few problems getting hold of John Robertson and Larry Lloyd simply because neither of them live in England but once I got hold of them they were great.

Des Walker made it clear he had little interest in the book or being interviewed but he still agreed to do it and I'm not going to take it personally. I think he's like that with everyone in the press which is a shame because if he had developed a few friends in the media it might have helped him at various stages of his career.

Which players were the most talkative?

That has to be Larry. He loves Forest and he had some great stories, from strangling Peter Shilton to being substituted before one match even kicked off.

Who were your favourite players as a fan?

Stuart Pearce was my hero and, working in Manchester, I see quite a bit of him. I just hope he gets the City job when Kevin Keegan retires.

Has that been changed by meeting them in person? Any illusions about your heroes shattered?

Someone once told me "never meet your heroes" and I know what they meant because sometimes they do things you don't like. I was disappointed by Walker's manner, but apart from that - and Keane being Keane - my respect for them has probably grown.

How have sales of the book been going? What kind of feedback have you got from it so far?

The sales have been very encouraging, as has the feedback from supporters and the media. It's had positive reviews so far and a lot of people have said the Roy Keane chapter was their favourite so it doesn't seem to have mattered that he refused to be interviewed.

Do you think any of the current or recent squad will ever feature in a similar book in 15 years’ time?

Possibly Andy Reid but it's pretty obvious he isn't going to be around much longer and I don't see how he could be included when he has never played for the club at the highest level. The same goes for Michael Dawson although his form has deteriorated over the last 18 months.

Finally, do you think Forest will stay up this season? 

I would say 40-60 no. Too much damage has been done and too many bad decisions have been made. Joe Kinnear and David Platt have to be two of the worst managers this club has ever had. I believe Gary Megson will do a good job for the club but it is going to need an amazing feat of escapology to keep in this division.


Read LTLF’s review of Deep into the Forest here