Nottingham Forest Returns To Premier League After Playoff Victory

Nottingham Forest beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium to return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence.

The decisive goal came in the 43rd minute when Huddersfield defender Levi Colwill deflected a James Garner shot into his own net.

Former European champions Forest were relegated from the top flight in 1999 and they join Bournemouth and Fulham, who won automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2022/2023 season. Steve Cooper’s side were deserved winners having dominated the first half and then held on to its lead against Huddersfield.

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#NFFC pic.twitter.com/CTLXZjGdZd

— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) May 29, 2022

“Everybody connected with the football club deserves today and we are really looking forward now to a positive future,” said coach Cooper.

“I love being at this football club, it has changed my life professionally.”

Nottingham Forest have struggled to find their way out of the Championship and Cooper was the 14th manager they have appointed in 10 years, since Billy Davies departed in the summer of 2011.

Forest, who had beaten Sheffield United to reach the playoff final, were English champions in 1978 under Brian Clough and went on to win the European Cup in 1979 and 1980.

Congratulations, @NFFC!

Promoted back to the #PL after play-off final victory over Huddersfield pic.twitter.com/SxxnEMleUY

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 29, 2022

Chidi Nwoke/Premier League/Reuters.