Nottingham Forest rejoined the Premier League for the first time in 23 years in 2022, thrilling fans along the way. 

After spending many years in the second tier of English football, the team’s dedicated legion of fans are thoroughly behind the team, with the new season underway for 2024/2025 and their team in the Premier League for the second year running. 

There’s all to play for, so we’ve decided to round up the club’s top five goal scorers of all time, in order of the amount of goals they scored for Nottingham Forest. 

We’ll take a look at these key players and their stats over the years, as well as reveal how you can see Nottingham Forest with hospitality tickets for an unforgettable VIP experience on your next matchday. 

All stats are taken from Transfermarkt.

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Nottingham Forest top scorers in order of goals scored

5. Colin Addison

163 Games | 62 Goals | 0.38 Goals Per Game

Colin Addison started his illustrious career as a footballer playing for York City between 1957 and 1961, before he moved to First Division (the top division at the time, before the Premier League was created in 1992) Nottingham Forest from 1961 to 1966. 

At the time, his transfer fee of £12,000 was a record for York. 

During his time at Forest, the talented footballer played as both a forward and a midfielder. He clocked up 62 goals over 163 games for the team.

The Nottingham Forest striker transferred over to Arsenal for £40,000 in 1966, followed by Sheffield United in 1967, and Hereford United in 1971. 

He went on to have a successful career as a football manager, managing teams including Hereford, Durban City, Notts County, Derby County and Atlético Madrid.

4. John Robertson

330 Games | 68 Goals | 0.21 Goals Per Game

Scottish left winger John Robertson played for the club between 1970 and 1983, with much of that time under legendary manager Brian Clough. 

During his time on the team, he appeared 330 times and scored 68 goals, as one of the best Nottingham Forest Scorers that the club has ever seen. 

Speaking of Robertson, Clough remarked, “Rarely could there have been a more unlikely looking professional athlete... [he was a] scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time… but something told me he was worth persevering with.” 

However, Clough also described that after working with Robertson, “[He] became one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen – in Britain or anywhere else in the world – as fine as the Brazilians or the supremely gifted Italians."

Robertson had a stellar record for the club. He earned his place in the history books by being the man who gave the assisting cross to Trevor Francis, which resulted in the goal that gave Nottingham Forest the win in the 1979 European Cup Final. 

He also scored the only goal a year later with the team in the European Cup Final for the second time. They won and kept the trophy in a final against Hamburger SV. 

3. Garry Birtles

260 Games | 88 Goals | 0.34 Goals Per Game

Birtles played for the club as a forward between 1976 and 1980, before transferring to Manchester United between 1980 and 1982. In 1982, he made his return to Forest, where he stayed until 1987. 

Birtles was one of the team members at Nottingham during their “golden era”, when they won the European Cup Final in two successive years. 

He scored a huge tally of goals during his time on the team, netting 14 of these goals in the 1978-1979 season as a Nottingham Forest goal scorer to be reckoned with. 

Other successful seasons included the 1983-1984 season, when he scored 15 goals, and 1986-1987, with 14. 

Birtles also gained three caps for England in his time as a professional footballer. 

2. Nigel Clough

346 Games | 107 Goals | 0.31 Goals Per Game

Nigel Clough had a notable career at Nottingham Forest, both as a player and under the management of his legendary father, Brian Clough.

Joining the team in 1982 as a youth player, he debuted for the first team in 1984 and played as a versatile forward or attacking midfielder. 

During his 346 games, Clough scored 107 goals, and is one of top Nottingham Forest goal scorers. 

In April 1988, Pisa tried to buy him, but the bid was turned down. With Clough still playing, the team finished third in the First Division that season, and the season afterwards. 

Forest were FA Cup semi-finalists in both 1988 and 1989, and came second in 1991 with Clough on board. During his time at Forest, Clough also played for England and was part of the 1992 Euros squad. 

Clough signed for Liverpool in 1993, but remains a key and much-loved figure in the history of Nottingham Forest, both for his own achievements as a footballer and also for continuing the Clough legacy that his father started. 

1. Ian Storey-Moore

245 Games | 112 Goals | 0.46 Goals Per Game

Storey-Moore netted over 100 League goals for the club, known for his incredible ability to score goals during his tenure. 

A versatile player capable of playing either as a winger or a forward, the Nottingham Forest scorer was at the time one of the most exciting players in the First Division and was known for his brilliant ability to dribble the ball.  

He regularly delivered standout performances, such as a hat-trick against Everton in 1967, which led Forest to a 5-1 victory. 

He was also instrumental in scoring crucial goals which took Forest to the FA Cup semi finals in 1967. 

Nottingham Forest Top Scorers Summary

Nottingham Forest’s golden era under Brian Clough during the late 1970s and early 1980s saw the team win two consecutive European Cups. Many of the players in this list, from John Robertson to Garry Birtles and of course Nigel Clough, were part of the team during that time. 

But with the team now back in the Premier League for their second successive season, who knows what’s around the corner next for the club. It’s definitely an exciting time if you’re a Forest fan. 

How can I see Nottingham Forest with VIP seats?

With Seat Unique, proud Forest fans can get the VIP experience when they go to see their team this season. 

Seat Unique offers official Nottingham Forest VIP tickets, hospitality packages and private boxes.

From exclusive use of the VIP entrance to premium padded seats, access to the Seat Unique club, a champagne reception and inclusive food and drinks, this is the way to see Nottingham Forest in style. 

Check out our range of hospitality packages at Nottingham Forest for a matchday to remember. 

Explore Nottingham Forest hospitality