Nottingham Forest
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Britt Assombalonga’s journey through football has been marked by both triumph and adversity. The striker, who currently plays for League Two’s Barnet, reminisced about his memorable days at Nottingham Forest, where he experienced both career highs and significant challenges. Assombalonga, who joined Forest in 2014 for a then-club record fee of £5 million from Peterborough United, quickly made an impact, scoring four times in his first four Championship games.
Britt Assombalonga said: “I always say when I scored that goal I felt like the ground was shaking, it was that loud it was unbelievable. I’d never played in a game of that calibre before in terms of a derby and to score was crazy.”
Assombalonga’s most cherished memory came in a derby against Derby County on September 14, 2014. His goal in the 72nd minute, assisted by Michail Antonio, secured a 1-0 victory for Nottingham Forest, thrilling the 30,000 fans in attendance. However, his promising start was soon overshadowed by challenges off the pitch.
Britt Assombalonga said: “Everyone called him Psycho and that but I didn’t see that at all. He was so down to earth, he was chilling – or maybe he was just like that with me. He was a great guy and the moment I came he’s like ‘Just do what you do’. I really enjoyed my time with him. But it got cut short with him getting the sack – but that’s the life of football, isn’t it?”
Assombalonga’s time at Forest was also marked by a significant injury. After scoring 14 goals in the season, he suffered a devastating knee injury in a match against Wigan, sidelining him for 15 months. The injury was a major setback, but it also motivated him to return stronger.
Britt Assombalonga said: “No one was near me. I just took a shot and my foot got stuck in the ground and I obviously I tried to push off or whatever and everything just ripped. It was 15 months out, it was tough because when I was going for the surgery I could see it in the surgeon’s eyes and he was basically telling me he doesn’t know.”
Despite the injury, Assombalonga returned to action and continued to score goals, including a brace in a crucial match against Ipswich Town. However, his time at Forest ended when he was transferred to Middlesbrough for £15 million, a decision influenced by changes in club ownership.
Britt Assombalonga said: “I think it was already in the process before, they probably wanted to take the money and let me out. It was a tough decision because I loved it there. I loved every minute of it but obviously a lot of the behind the closed doors conversations it just seemed like the right thing to do with everything that was happening behind the scenes.”
Currently, Assombalonga is focused on his role at Barnet and his academy in Peterborough. He remains committed to his football career, aiming to help Barnet reach the playoffs. Despite the ups and downs, Assombalonga’s passion for the game and his determination to succeed continue to drive him forward.
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