Chris Bart-Williams

Chris Bart-Williams was among Frank Clark’s signings from Sheffield Wednesday and became one of the Reds longest serving players before leaving in 2002. He saw Forest through thick and thin, reaching a zenith of 3rd in the Premiership and a EUFA Cup run, a place in the Championship winning side of 97/98, and the downside of two relegations.

Chris was a multi-talented ‘utility’ player, able to play in numerous positions with equal ability. He started his career as a young attacking midfielder, his eye for a killer pass making up for his distinct lack of pace. Clark played him in a floating role, linking the defence and midfield whereas Dave Basset used him as left winger in place of injured Ian Woan.

In 00/01, David Platt gave Bartman a new role in which he played his best season in a Forest shirt as a sweeper, his reliability and quality distribution proving a huge asset to the backline. He was also made captain for that year and led by example, also topping the scoring charts with numerous free kicks and penalties and keeping his place for every game of the season.

But at the end of the season Bart-Williams expressed a desire to leave the club and persue his career at a level which suits him better, disappointed by Forest’s failure to reach the Premier League. Unfortunatly, this desire to leave ended Bartman's career on a sore note. After turning down a move to Birmingham, the Forest board told manager Paul Hart not play Bart-Williams until he made up his mind about his future. Chris eventually went on loan to Charlton for the remainder of the season and never played for Forest again.