Nottingham Forest Home Shirt 2016-17 Adidas Vintage L Boys

Nottingham Forest 2016-17 Adidas Jersey – The City Ground in L Boys size

In 2016-17, Nottingham Forest struggled in the Championship, far from their past European glories, but the club remains one of England's most legendary. This Adidas home jersey, size L Boys, represents the season when Forest tried to piece things back together under Philippe Montanier — a textile relic of a pivotal era for the Reds.

Jersey Details

Season: 2016-2017
Club: Nottingham Forest
Type: Home
Manufacturer: Adidas
Condition: 9/10
State: CODE: AP8620 - authentic wear of a pre-owned vintage jersey

What this jersey represents

In 2016-17, Nottingham Forest played in the Championship, the second tier of English football, where the club had languished since their relegation in 1999. It was a period of constant rebuilding, repeated managerial changes, and a fanbase that continued to believe despite everything. The City Ground, on the banks of the Trent, remains one of the most historically rich stadiums in all of English football — two-time winners of the European Cup, that history doesn't fade.

That season, Philippe Montanier took the helm at the start of the campaign, before being dismissed in January 2017. Players like Henri Lansbury, an iconic captain, and Britt Assombalonga, a formidable striker signed from Peterborough, wore this jersey with pride in a hyper-competitive division. The atmosphere at the City Ground remained electric whenever big games came around — the Midlands derbies, especially against Derby County, encapsulate everything this club represents.

Moments etched in this jersey

The Midlands derby against Derby County
The Brian Clough Trophy, a duel between Forest and Derby County, far transcends the Championship. In 2016-17, these confrontations remained electric for any Reds fan, standalone matches within the season.

The managerial change in January 2017
Montanier was sacked, and Gary Brazil took over as interim before Mark Warburton's arrival. This kind of mid-season turbulence was experienced by the players in this jersey — and it leaves its mark on a club's history.

Adidas' continued presence with the Reds
In 2016-17, Adidas outfitted Forest with a kit that paid homage to the club's historic visual identity. For collectors of vintage Adidas jerseys, this partnership period is particularly sought after on the secondary market.

Authentic vs Replica

A vintage authentic jersey is not the same as a replica mass-produced in club shops. It's the version worn or at least designed to be worn: different finishes, technical fabrics, period labels, original flocking. You can feel it, you can sense it, and above all, it looks nothing like what you'll find in a shop in 2024.

This one features an AP8620 code which confirms its authenticity of Adidas production for the 2016-17 season. With a condition rating of 9/10, it is in remarkable shape for a jersey of this age — no excessive fading, no torn flocking, no hidden holes under a tag. That's rare.

Vintage Sizing Guide

Warning: a vintage L Boys Adidas from 2016-17 corresponds to a child/teenager fit, not a standard adult. Adidas sizes for juniors from this period are generally narrower and shorter than modern fits. A slender adult might be able to wear it with a very tight fit, but it is primarily a size designed for a young person.

Before ordering, get out your tape measure: measure your chest circumference and compare it with the actual dimensions of the jersey (available in photos or upon request). Vintage sizes, whether from Adidas, Nike, or Umbro, have their own logic — it's better to check twice than regret once.

Why you should have it in your collection

Nottingham Forest remains one of the most collected clubs in the world among fans of English retro jerseys. Two European Cups, Brian Clough, a unique epic in football history — all this gives a special aura to every piece of textile stamped Reds. The 2016-17 season represents a transitional era that true fans of the club know by heart, and this Adidas home jersey is its direct witness.

In 9/10 condition, there aren't many in this state on the market. Championship jerseys from this era are not as well preserved as the major Premier League pieces — they were worn, washed, lived in. Finding such a clean example in an L Boys Adidas format is frankly uncommon. If you're looking for a piece to display or to complete a Forest collection, it's now or never.

To go further

• Nottingham Forest - Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive - Jersey History
• UEFA - European Football

A Forest jersey in perfect condition, a pivotal era for the club, a junior Adidas size that's not easily found — if you're into collecting Reds, the decision is quickly made.