Why did Jamie Carragher apologise for saying Notts Forest?

Jamie Carragher apologised on Thursday morning for calling Nottingham Forest, live on Sky Sports, Notts Forest.

It’s the phrase that arguably annoys fans of Nottingham Forest the most, when the Reds are referred to as ‘Notts’ – simply mention that to them and you’re likely to be on the wrong end of a tongue lashing at the very least.

Much to their annoyance, former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has often referred to the Reds as Notts, but opted to apologise on Thursday morning when using the annoying term once more.

Speaking on Thursday’s Football Show on Sky Sports, the ex-Liverpool defender was reminiscing about Forest’s 1-0 over Hamburg to secure their second successive European Cup triumph on what was the 40th anniversary whilst praising the ‘special’ job legendary boss Brian Clough did.

“The biggest thing I always feel when you talk about Notts Forest, I mean, Nottingham Forest, I apologise to Forest fans, they don’t like that – Nottingham Forest, is the that they’ve won more European Cups than League titles."

But why do Reds fans get their back up so much about being called Notts?

It's just not correct!

Notts refers to the county of Nottinghamshire, not the City of Nottingham - and if you refer to the county you refer to their historic rivals Notts County.

County and their Meadow Lane home stands just 300 metres over the River Trent and although it has played host to Forest games in the past, you will not want to get the two mixed up.

The abbreviation for Nottingham is 'Nottm', and while you would not say Nottm when referring to the club there's nothing wrong with just calling them Forest.

Oh, and if you're referring to Notts County, don't call them County. They don't like that either. 'The Magpies' will do...

Is Kevin Keegan (partly) to blame?

Forest legend Brian Clough was never a fan of pundits and commentators calling his beloved club 'Notts Forest', keen to defend his club's proud name.

But one of his former rivals, Kevin Keegan, did not help Clough's battle.

During an impassioned Sky Sports rant during the mid-nineties Keegan, speaking to Richard Keys and Andy Gray, said the famous word: "We're playing Notts Forest on Thursday and he [Alex Ferguson] objected to that, now that was fixed up months ago. We were always supposed to play Notts Forest. We're bigger and better than that!

"When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce.

"I have kept really quiet but I will tell you something, he went down in my estimations when he said that. We have not resorted to that.

"But you can tell him now if he is watching that we are still fighting for this title and he has got to go to Middlesbrough and get something and I will love it if we beat them. Love it!"

Thanks a bunch, Kev.