A reversal of fortune in the last 22 months is unthinkable. Wood was unwanted and unpopular when he first arrived, but suddenly he’s approaching legendary status; A rocket-like trajectory that closely follows the club’s dizzying rise towards the Premier League’s top four.

Fans are now chanting his name at the top of their lungs and writing puns themselves. “Chris Wood is on fire” (to the tune of the Europop classic) Freed from Desire) All Whites captain nearly ruptured eardrums as he scored twice The last 3-1 defeat of rivals Leicester CityOne of his old clubs.

To truly appreciate this closeness is to understand the unique and long-lasting pain of Forest supporters. The club won two European Cups under the management of the great Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980. A proud but provincial club has turned into one of the most successful and famous names in world football.

Nottingham is called the “City of Legends” after the outlaw Robin Hood. Most locals will tell you that the name applies equally to legendary players Trevor Francis, Peter Shilton, John McGovern and the merry band of brothers who brought global attention and untold football glory to the banks of the River Trent. But legends are historical. The forest was torn apart.

The club began yo-yoing between the top division and the second division in the 1990s, culminating in relegation in 1999, a harbinger of endless exile. No one realized it at the time, but Forest would become a footnote in history; The answer to pub quiz questions with unfortunate punchlines. A miserable 23-year absence from the world’s best football league involved financial ruin and a serious risk of complete extinction. Forest were relegated again in 2005 and spent three hopeless years as the only players outside the top two divisions of their domestic leagues to win European competition.

Chris Wood described Forest as a “huge club” in his first press conference on his new loan deal. He may simply be referring to the two European Cups and the two symbolic stars that adorn the famous treetop to honor them. For older fans, these are a distant memory. For most, these are just myths. Wood and his contemporaries only wanted to avoid relegation, keep Forest afloat in the Premier League and avoid the risk of another death spiral into football’s abyss.

At first, Wood did not remove any trees. He struggled to break into the first team as a loan player and scored just one goal in his first season. But what a goal it was. He came off the bench to equalize in the 84th minute against free-spending champions Manchester City. He scored against the rich to save the poor. No one knew it yet, but a new legend was born.

Forest survived their first season in the Premier League by finishing in 16th place. Chris Wood’s loan contract contained a clause forcing Forest to sign him permanently. Many fans complained that his $32 million fee could have been invested in more exotic talent. Popular boss Steve Cooper continued to play a minor role until he was fired in December 2023.

New coach Nuno Espirito Santo rebuilt the team around Wood’s skill. Leading striker Taiwo Awoniyi spent much of last year out with injuries and Wood took the leading role. Only Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and City’s Erling Haaland, the world’s best striker, have scored more goals in the league since then. Boxing Day hat-trick against former club Newcastle He stands out as a standout despite a glittering goalscoring record worth five times his transfer fee.

Now Forest has fallen in love with Wood, and not just for his goals. He is humble and worker-like. It adds beauty to the banality of derogatory labels like “old-fashioned shortstop.” Wood is a solid rock in the axis of a fast-paced team that is lethal on offense and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

“I wouldn’t have scored if it wasn’t for my teammates,” he said with characteristic humility after scoring a recent goal. He had come all the way back just a few days ago. International duty with New Zealand.

this weekend, Wood scored another goal in the 3-0 win against West Ham. Forest sit third in the Premier League standings; today’s giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are below them. A generation of supporters never knew anything like this. And Wood is now just two goals away from becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League. Historical legends suddenly turn into a concrete, dazzling reality. No wonder he has a new nickname in the City of Legends: Robin Wood.