Fans of clubs other than Forest (poor souls) never really understood Nigel. "Too slow". "Wouldn't be there if he wasn't the manager's son". All that sort of thing was commonly heard even when he was at his peak.

We know different. Perhaps the problem is that he was almost impossible to classify. Despite wearing a number 9 on his back (and regularly being referred to by his father as "the Centre Forward", rather than by name), he wasn't really a centre forward (not tall enough and - yes - too slow). But he wasn't a midfield player either. Nowadays, when many international teams play with one forward up and another playing just behind him "in the hole", perhaps he would have been more appreciated. But at the time all people saw was a centre forward who wasn't a centre forward. Attacking midfield player? Deep-lying play-maker?

Who cares? He could really play!

At his best, quite simply, Nigel was a genius - one of the best half dozen players I have ever seen play for Forest. Especially during Neil Webb's first spell at the club; their understanding was almost telepathic. His speed of thought and his range of passing more than made up for any lack of pace, and his finishing was so good that for season after season he was our top scorer. To get the best out of Nigel you had to build a team around him, which Forest were happy to do and Liverpool and England were not. By the time he stopped playing (and he is still not that old even now) he couldn't even get a game in Man City's reserves. This for a player who, with Walker, Hodge and Pearce, had given the people of Nottingham more pleasure than any of his contemporaries - a true great.

Perhaps he should never have left us. You can easily understand why he did, though - his father had just retired, Forest had been relegated and he seemed to consider that many people at the club hadn't treated Dad that well at the end. After one decent season at Liverpool (who on the face of it were the ideal club for him to move to), his career went into incredibly sharp decline.

Now he is managing Burton Albion - and managing them pretty well; they ran away with the Northern Premier League championship in 2001 - 2002, and have since become an established Conference side. The romantics amongst us would love to see him back here as manager one day - though it remains to be seen whether that ever happens (possibly too much baggage would come with the name for some). What looks pretty certain is that he will make a great manager for some lucky club. And what is definite is that if he ever brings that club to Forest, Nigel will get a standing ovation.