DEBUT GOALSCORERS
Since
AH Smith,
Arthur Goodyer and
John Turner all scored on their 'debut' against
Notts County on
November 16 1878, a total of
102 players have scored in their first competitive outing.
That game against Notts was won 3-1 but, as it was Forest's first ever competitive game, technically
every player was making their competitive debut (in fact all three of the scorers had played over 20 games already for Forest and all had already scored several goals.)
James Collins scored four on his debut against Wolves in 1893.
However in our record victory over Clapton in 1891,
Alex Higgins went one better on his competitive 'debut' and scored five. Two other players (
Neil McCallum and
Tich Smith) also scored twice on their debuts in the same game. (
Tinsley Lindley also scored 4 times in the game, although it wasn't his full debut).
This is the full list of players who scored on their competitive debut
| Season |
Date |
Opponent |
Game Type |
H/A |
Score |
Scorer |
Goals |
First Goal
Minute |
| 1878-79 | Sat Nov 16, 1878 | Notts County | FA Cup | A | 3-1 | Arthur Goodyer | 1 | |
| | | | | - | Arthur Smith | 1 | |
| | | | | - | John Turner | 1 | |
| Sat Mar 22, 1879 | Old Etonians | FA Cup | N | 1-2 | J Bishop | 1 | 55 |
| 1882-83 | Sat Dec 02, 1882 | Sheffield Heeley | FA Cup | H | 7-2 | Harry Fletcher | 1 | |
| 1885-86 | Sat Oct 31, 1885 | Mellors | FA Cup | H | 6-2 | George Tutin | 4 | |
| 1887-88 | Sat Nov 26, 1887 | Notts County | FA Cup | H | 2-1 | Frank Burton | 1 | |
| 1890-91 | Sat Jan 17, 1891 | Clapton | FA Cup | A | 14-0 | Alex Higgins | 5 | |
| | | | | - | Neil McCallum | 2 | |
| | | | | - | William 'Tich' Smith | 2 | |
| 1893-94 | Sat Sep 02, 1893 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | League Tier 1 | H | 7-1 | James Collins | 4 | 2 |
| Sat Apr 14, 1894 | Aston Villa | League Tier 1 | A | 1-3 | George Geary | 1 | 20 |
| 1896-97 | Sat Oct 24, 1896 | Burnley | League Tier 1 | H | 4-1 | Joshua Hollis | 1 | |
| 1899-00 | Sat Sep 02, 1899 | Preston North End | League Tier 1 | H | 3-1 | John Calvey | 1 | |
| | | | | - | Rabbie Beveridge | 1 | |
| 1902-03 | Sat Oct 25, 1902 | Everton | League Tier 1 | A | 1-1 | Fred Warren | 1 | |
| 1903-04 | Sat Oct 03, 1903 | The Wednesday | League Tier 1 | A | 1-2 | Billy Shearman | 1 | 15 |
| 1909-10 | Sat Apr 02, 1910 | Everton | League Tier 1 | A | 4-0 | John Derrick | 2 | 44 |
| 1910-11 | Thu Sep 01, 1910 | Preston North End | League Tier 1 | A | 2-0 | Joe Ford | 1 | 87 |
| Sat Dec 03, 1910 | The Wednesday | League Tier 1 | A | 2-5 | Alfred Fisher | 1 | 67 |
| Mon Dec 26, 1910 | Tottenham Hotspur | League Tier 1 | A | 4-1 | Joe Bailey | 1 | |
| 1911-12 | Sat Mar 16, 1912 | Huddersfield Town | League Tier 2 | H | 3-0 | Jack Williams | 1 | 26 |
| 1913-14 | Sat Feb 07, 1914 | Huddersfield Town | League Tier 2 | A | 1-1 | Fred Harris | 1 | 20 |
| 1914-15 | Wed Sep 02, 1914 | Birmingham City | League Tier 2 | H | 1-1 | Tim Coleman | 1 | 20 |
| 1919-20 | Sat Sep 06, 1919 | Rotherham County | League Tier 2 | H | 4-1 | Harry Bedford | 2 | 52 |
| Sat Sep 20, 1919 | Barnsley | League Tier 2 | A | 2-2 | Henry Newbigging | 1 | 8 |
| Sat Feb 28, 1920 | Birmingham City | League Tier 2 | H | 1-2 | Jack Spaven | 1 | |
| 1920-21 | Sat Aug 28, 1920 | Stoke City | League Tier 2 | H | 2-2 | Sandy Higgins | 1 | 77 |
| Sat Feb 05, 1921 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | League Tier 2 | H | 1-1 | Richard Ashmore | 1 | 8 |
| 1921-22 | Sat Aug 27, 1921 | Crystal Palace | League Tier 2 | A | 1-4 | Walter Tinsley | 1 | 31 |
| Sat Mar 18, 1922 | Bradford Park Avenue | League Tier 2 | H | 4-1 | Patrick Nelis | 2 | 6 |
| 1922-23 | Sat Feb 03, 1923 | Arsenal | League Tier 1 | H | 2-1 | Charlie Flood | 1 | 44 |
| 1926-27 | Sat Oct 02, 1926 | Manchester City | League Tier 2 | H | 3-3 | Joseph Laws | 1 | 12 |
| 1927-28 | Sat Aug 27, 1927 | Port Vale | League Tier 2 | A | 2-2 | Harold Wadsworth | 1 | 14 |
| Sat Oct 22, 1927 | Reading | League Tier 2 | A | 2-0 | Ernest McLachlan | 1 | 80 |
| Wed Feb 22, 1928 | Notts County | League Tier 2 | A | 2-1 | Clive German | 1 | 84 |
| 1928-29 | Sat Sep 15, 1928 | Swansea Town | League Tier 2 | A | 5-3 | Billy Dickinson | 2 | 7 |
| 1931-32 | Sat Apr 23, 1932 | Swansea Town | League Tier 2 | H | 6-1 | Joseph Dulson | 2 | 76 |
| 1933-34 | Sat Sep 09, 1933 | Oldham Athletic | League Tier 2 | H | 1-3 | Tom Peacock | 1 | 61 |
| 1934-35 | Sat Aug 25, 1934 | Newcastle United | League Tier 2 | H | 5-1 | George Burditt | 2 | 77 |
| 1935-36 | Sat Sep 07, 1935 | West Ham United | League Tier 2 | A | 2-5 | Charlie Gardiner | 1 | 65 |
| 1936-37 | Sat Oct 31, 1936 | Bradford Park Avenue | League Tier 2 | A | 2-3 | Jack Surtees | 1 | 27 |
| 1938-39 | Sat Sep 03, 1938 | Burnley | League Tier 2 | A | 1-2 | Jack Fryer | 1 | 25 |
| 1939-40 | Sat Aug 26, 1939 | Barnsley | League Tier 2 | A | 1-4 | Colin Perry | 1 | 80 |
| 1945-46 | Sat Jan 05, 1946 | Watford | FA Cup | H | 1-1 | Tanner Allen | 1 | 18 |
| 1946-47 | Sat Aug 31, 1946 | Barnsley | League Tier 2 | A | 2-3 | Frank O'Donnell | 1 | 84 |
| | | | | - | Sailor Brown | 1 | 65 |
| Sat Oct 26, 1946 | Leicester City | League Tier 2 | H | 2-0 | Colin Lyman | 1 | 24 |
| 1947-48 | Sat Aug 23, 1947 | Bury | League Tier 2 | H | 2-1 | George Lee | 1 | 36 |
| Sat Sep 06, 1947 | Chesterfield | League Tier 2 | H | 1-3 | Wilson Jones | 1 | 30 |
| Sat Dec 27, 1947 | Doncaster Rovers | League Tier 2 | H | 4-2 | George Wilkins | 1 | 46 |
| 1949-50 | Sat Aug 20, 1949 | Brighton and Hove Albion | League Tier 3 | A | 2-2 | Wally Ardron | 1 | 25 |
| 1950-51 | Sat Aug 19, 1950 | Newport County | League Tier 3 | A | 2-0 | Collin Collindridge | 1 | 17 |
| 1953-54 | Sat Jan 23, 1954 | Leicester City | League Tier 2 | H | 3-1 | Hugh McLaren | 2 | 69 |
| 1954-55 | Sat Oct 02, 1954 | Ipswich Town | League Tier 2 | H | 2-0 | Peter Small | 1 | 15 |
| 1955-56 | Sat Aug 20, 1955 | Liverpool | League Tier 2 | H | 1-3 | Peter Higham | 1 | 43 |
| Sat Mar 17, 1956 | Middlesbrough | League Tier 2 | H | 2-4 | Doug Lishman | 1 | 60 |
| 1957-58 | Sat Aug 24, 1957 | Preston North End | League Tier 1 | H | 2-1 | Billy Gray | 1 | 28 |
| Sat Oct 05, 1957 | Tottenham Hotspur | League Tier 1 | A | 4-3 | Johnny Quigley | 1 | 77 |
| 1958-59 | Sat Aug 23, 1958 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | League Tier 1 | A | 1-5 | Roy Dwight | 1 | 88 |
| 1959-60 | Wed Sep 23, 1959 | St Mirren | Anglo-Scottish Cup | H | 2-3 | Geoff Vowden | 2 | 51 |
| 1960-61 | Sat Aug 20, 1960 | Manchester City | League Tier 1 | H | 2-2 | Len Julians | 1 | 70 |
| 1961-62 | Sat Feb 03, 1962 | Blackpool | League Tier 1 | H | 3-4 | John Winfield | 1 | 70 |
| Sat Feb 17, 1962 | Cardiff City | League Tier 1 | H | 2-1 | David Pleat | 1 | 29 |
| 1971-72 | Sat Nov 13, 1971 | West Bromwich Albion | League Tier 1 | H | 4-1 | Martin O'Neill | 1 | 75 |
| 1972-73 | Sat Dec 16, 1972 | Fulham | League Tier 2 | A | 1-3 | John Galley | 1 | 8 |
| 1973-74 | Sat Oct 20, 1973 | Blackpool | League Tier 2 | A | 2-2 | Ian Bowyer | 1 | 59 |
| 1975-76 | Sat Dec 27, 1975 | Blackburn Rovers | League Tier 2 | A | 4-1 | Bert Bowery | 2 | 13 |
| 1976-77 | Sat Sep 25, 1976 | Carlisle United | League Tier 2 | H | 5-1 | Peter Withe | 1 | 78 |
| 1981-82 | Wed Dec 02, 1981 | Tranmere Rovers | League Cup | H | 2-0 | Jurgen Rober | 1 | 55 |
| Sat Dec 12, 1981 | Swansea City | League Tier 1 | A | 2-1 | Willie Young | 1 | 79 |
| 1982-83 | Sat Feb 05, 1983 | Aston Villa | League Tier 1 | H | 1-2 | Danny Wilson | 1 | 35 |
| 1985-86 | Sat Aug 17, 1985 | Luton Town | League Tier 1 | A | 1-1 | Neil Webb | 1 | 53 |
| 1986-87 | Sat Dec 13, 1986 | Newcastle United | League Tier 1 | A | 2-3 | Phil Starbuck | 1 | 41 |
| 1990-91 | Sat Mar 30, 1991 | Wimbledon | League Tier 1 | A | 1-3 | Tony Loughlan | 1 | 1 |
| 1992-93 | Sat Aug 22, 1992 | Oldham Athletic | League Tier 1 | A | 3-5 | Gary Bannister | 2 | 86 |
| 1994-95 | Sat Aug 20, 1994 | Ipswich Town | League Tier 1 | A | 1-0 | Bryan Roy | 1 | 40 |
| 1999-00 | Sat Aug 28, 1999 | Queens Park Rangers | League Tier 2 | H | 1-1 | Ian Wright | 1 | 29 |
| Wed Nov 24, 1999 | Portsmouth | League Tier 2 | H | 2-0 | Stern John | 1 | 6 |
| 2000-01 | Wed Nov 29, 2000 | Sheffield United | League Tier 2 | H | 2-0 | Andy Reid | 1 | 64 |
| 2002-03 | Wed Aug 14, 2002 | Preston North End | League Tier 2 | H | 2-2 | Eoin Jess | 1 | 83 |
| Sat Mar 01, 2003 | Watford | League Tier 2 | A | 1-1 | Darren Huckerby | 1 | 66 |
| 2003-04 | Sat Feb 14, 2004 | Walsall | League Tier 2 | H | 3-3 | Andy Impey | 1 | 3 |
| 2004-05 | Sat Jan 08, 2005 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | A | 3-0 | Yoann Folly | 1 | 82 |
| 2005-06 | Sat Jan 14, 2006 | Oldham Athletic | League Tier 3 | H | 3-0 | Grant Holt | 1 | 25 |
| 2008-09 | Wed Aug 13, 2008 | Morecambe | League Cup | H | 4-0 | Adam Newbold | 1 | 81 |
| 2010-11 | Sat Dec 18, 2010 | Crystal Palace | League Tier 2 | H | 3-0 | Marcus Tudgay | 1 | 46 |
| 2013-14 | Sun Feb 02, 2014 | Yeovil Town | League Tier 2 | H | 3-1 | Rafik Djebbour | 1 | 90 |
| 2014-15 | Sat Aug 09, 2014 | Blackpool | League Tier 2 | H | 2-0 | Chris Burke | 1 | 30 |
| | | | | - | Michail Antonio | 1 | 25 |
| 2015-16 | Sat Sep 12, 2015 | Queens Park Rangers | League Tier 2 | A | 2-1 | Nelson Oliveira | 1 | 82 |
| Sat Oct 24, 2015 | Ipswich Town | League Tier 2 | H | 1-1 | Liam Trotter | 1 | 90 |
| 2016-17 | Sat Aug 06, 2016 | Burton Albion | League Tier 2 | H | 4-3 | Thomas Lam | 1 | 45 |
| Sat Feb 11, 2017 | Norwich City | League Tier 2 | A | 1-5 | Ross McCormack | 1 | 75 |
| 2017-18 | Fri Aug 04, 2017 | Millwall | League Tier 2 | H | 1-0 | Barrie McKay | 1 | 41 |
| Tue Aug 08, 2017 | Shrewsbury Town | League Cup | H | 2-1 | Jason Cummings | 1 | 75 |
| 2018-19 | Sat Aug 11, 2018 | Reading | League Tier 2 | H | 1-0 | Hillal Soudani | 1 | 68 |
| Tue Oct 30, 2018 | Burton Albion | League Cup | A | 2-3 | Arvin Appiah | 1 | 90 |
| Sat Feb 09, 2019 | Brentford | League Tier 2 | H | 2-1 | Molla Wague | 1 | 79 |
| 2023-24 | Mon Sep 18, 2023 | Burnley | League Tier 1 | H | 1-1 | Callum Hudson-Odoi | 1 | 61 |
| Wed Jan 17, 2024 | Blackpool | FA Cup | A | 3-2 | Andrew Omobamidele | 1 | 16 |
| 2025-26 | Sun Aug 17, 2025 | Brentford | League Tier 1 | H | 3-1 | Dan Ndoye | 1 | 42 |
