As revealed in October, LTLF has secured and conducted an interview with BBC Radio Nottingham’s Pitchside Commentator, Robin Chipperfield. I posed your questions to him, and the answers make most interesting reading.

What’s your most memorable moment while watching Forest?

That’s a pretty easy one to answer. Though I do wonder what i’d have said had it not been for that dramatic game against Yeovil in May! I’ve been in Nottingham since 1999, and it’s fair to say that those years have hardly been littered with great memories! The play-off semi-final against Sheffield United will always stay in the memory, as will the FA Cup win over Charlton. But you’ll not be surprised to know that my favourite day came in May this year, with the dramatic promotion to the Championship. Some people have said to me that it would have been better to go to Wembley and win the play-off final, but I disagree. To be reliant on another result, and gain promotion was awesome. I loved every part of the day, because part of my job that day pitchside was to keep Colin Calderwood up to date with the scores from Cheltenham and Carlisle, which was good fun too. Our studio team were listening to Radio Sheffield’s commentary and Radio Cumbria’s commentary so that we could let peopleknow as soon as there was a goal at either of those grounds - by far the quickest way of getting goal updates on Radio Nottingham. So everything was going to plan, (Forest winning 3-2, andCheltenham/Doncaster was 1-1) and I decided that Colin Calderwood needed to knowhow much time there was left at Cheltenham. So I got to my feet to tell him that when the Forest stadium clock got to 4.48pm, the 90minutes would be up at Cheltenham and there’d only be stoppage timeleft. So I left my seat and started to walk the ten yards or so to the manager. But just as I reached him, the studio buzzed in my ears, and said that it was 2-1 to Cheltenham. I froze for a moment, and Colin must have thought I was mad, but told him it was 2-1. I now wish I’d said something clever like “May I be the first to congratulate you on automatic promotion!” but sadly I didn’t. Shortly afterwards, I was in the dressing-room conducting interviews with the players and then on the pitch for the lap of honour. It was days like that when you realise how lucky you are.

If you could bring just one player to Forest, no strings attached, whowould it be and why? (Perhaps one realistic, and one not so)

John Terry (he’s the unrealistic one, by the way!). I know he was on loan at Forest under David Platt, but to have his organisation in defence, leadership and commitment would be fantastic. Realistically, I’ve always thought that Freddy Eastwood would be a very good signing.Most of you know will know that I’m a Southend fan because that’s my home-town team, but there’s a lot of Freddy that reminds me of Stan Collymore in that he could make a goal out of nothing. In all my time covering Forest, I’ve always thought that the team rarely create goals out of nothing… they’re often well manufactured “team” goals, rather than the Collymore “turn the defender on the halfway line, and sprinttowards goal” types!

What actually happened at Luton that prevented you from reporting ‘Pitchside’?

Luton bottom of League Two? Deducted 30 points at the start of the season? Couldn’t have happened to a nicer club. In reality, I do feelvery sorry for the supporters, who are always very passionate and I actually think you often get a very good game there, but some of their stewarding and press relations could, erm, be improved. I present pitchside, and most (though not all) clubs are happy and accommodating. Luton were not. They were happy for me to be pitchside to present - but only until 2pm (we start at 1.30!). Sadly they failed to tell me that,and frogmarched me from one side of the ground to the other at 2.05 -while I was on air! With very little curteousy. To be honest, they were downright rude. Add to that the fact that you can’t see one of the goals from the press box, and you see why I lost much of the sympathy I had for Luton!

Do you have faith in Colin Calderwood as Forest manager to keep the side up this season, and is he the man to take Forest back into the Premiership in the long run?

Yes, I think he is. The management of Colin Calderwood seems to polarize opinion, with trenchant views on either side of the debate. In his five years as a manager, he’s had three play-off campaigns and two automatic promotions, so I’d certainly be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Often, you can get an idea of when a manager is going to get sacked. I remember Paul Hart’s final match in charge - the performancefrom the players atthe end of a poor run felt like the end was near, as did Joe Kinnear’s final game at Derby Nil, and Gary Megson’s at Oldham.I’m not sure we’ ve had one of those truly dismal games under Colin (though I would agree that we’ve had some fairly dismal ones!). The players seem to like Calderwood, so I’d give him much of this season to keep Forest in the division. With the fixture list that Forest have between now and the New Year, and given recent performances, I’d be confident that they can stay in the Championship.

Who is the best player you have seen at the City Ground? Both Forest player and opposition?

I thought Michael Dawson was absolutely awesome for Forest - it’s amazing to think of that team that Paul Hart put together, with Dawson,Andy Reid, Jermaine Jenas, Gareth Williams, etc etc. A joy to watch. I’ll always remember how he turned two full-backs (Jim Brennan and Matthieu Louis-Jean) whose careers were not really going anywhere, in to the most wonderful attacking full-backs. Opposition player is difficult to say - there have been so many. But I’d love to see Dawson back at theCity Ground someday.

Best game you’ve been pitch side of?

It has to be that game at Bramall Lane - so much at stake, so many highs, so many lows. The rollercoaster of emotions was extreme, and summed up everything that was good about football (apart from the result). But THE best game of football I’ve ever been at. Having said that, being sat behind the dug-out at Derby Nil recently was quite fun too!

Who do you think is Nottingham Forest’s best player ?

Now, that’s a tough call! I have to say that Chris Cohen is having anoutstanding season, he’s made the step up from League One to theChampionship very well, and I think he’s adjusted brilliantly.

Where do you think Forest will finish this season ?

15th. Though at the start of the season, I predicted 9th!

With everyone fit, what Forest 11 would you put out?

I’d play 4-4-2, so Camp - Bennett, Breckin, Wilson, Perch - Cohen,McGugan, Moussi, Anderson - Earnshaw, Garner. That’s really harsh on the likes of Morgan, Tyson, Chambers and Thornhill, but it’s a very strong bench!