If you want your football team to do well, don't let me live there.

It was last weekend when a mate of mine pointed out to me: "Butler, wherever you move, the football team always gets worse."

He provided me proof and evidence of the statement, and I had to agree. I think I'm a curse on the football teams I follow and support.

Let's look at the evidence:

1989-2005 - East London era

I grew up in East London, Forest Gate followed by Walthamstow. I'm an avid Leyton Orient fan, and during this time they spent the first six years in Division Two. Not bad, but in 1995 Orient were on the brink of bankruptcy, after chairman Tony Wood lost his tea-making money in the Rwandan genocide. This led to relegation, and sitting in the duldrums of fourth division football for 11 years.

2005-2010 - The Southampton years

I moved down to Southampton with my family in 2005. At my new school, my new mates would joke that I supported Orient, a club very few had heard of. I would try to defend myself, and in fact would joke with them that in 'a couple of years we'd be playing you (Southampton)'. Incredibly, the first year I moved down to the South coast, the Saints were relegated from the Premiership, after a 13 year stint there.
Fast forward a year, and lo and behold Leyton Orient, the area I had left, got promotion for the first time in 11 years. Just one division between O's and Saints, and my prediction soon became an incredible reality, as Saints were relegated at the end of the 2008-09 season, to League One.

2008-2011 - Oxford, the university era

Probably the only area to buck this trend. Oxford, who ironically Orient relegated at the same time as they got promoted in '06, were langushing in the Conference until the end of the 2010 season, when they got promoted. The only time I went to see Oxford United play was at the end of the the 2010-11 season, when they actually beat Lincoln 2-1.

2010-present - Nottingham

My family moved up from Southampton to Nottinghamshire in February 2010, with immediate impact. Southampton, in League One for two seasons, got promoted at the end of last season, and are now flying high at the top of the Championship. But what about the clubs I now live around? Well, Nottingham Forest, who had finished 3rd and 6th in the respective previous seasons, now lie 20th in the Championship - having lost two managers (Billy Davies and Steve McClaren) in the past 12 months.
Notts County? Fair slightly better, though just avoided the drop last season.

So, in conclusion. Where am I now? Still in Nottingham - Orient lying stable in League One, Southampton flying high in the Championship, and Oxford in the play-off places in League Two.

If anyone from Nottingham wants to have a whip-round and pay for me to leave the city, feel free.

Nottingham Forest Reserves 2 v 2 Sheffield United Reserves

Nottingham Forest fought back from 2-0 down and grabbed a last minute equaliser to claim a point against Sheffield United Reserves at Ilkeston. 


The Blades had the better of the early exchanges with Erik Tonne and David McAllister both having shots saved by Karl Darlow. 


The pressure told after nine minutes when Erik Tonne's cross was not dealt with by Danny Meadows, who allowed Danny Philliskirk to nick the ball from him and calmly slot home from six yards. 


Forest did little to fight back and the away side should have doubled their lead four minutes later, as a through ball from Seamus Connelly found Chris Porter in the area, but he shot well over from 12 yards. 


The home side's first chance of the game came on 15 minutes, when David McGoldrick found himself in space 18 yards out, but he couldn't direct his shot on target.


Forest came within inches of an equaliser on 22 minutes, as Andy Reid struck the post from a free kick on the edge of the box after Paul Anderson was fouled. 


However it was the Blades who increased their advantage on the half hour, after Porter brought down a cross from the left unchallenged, and having wriggled away from two challenges the ex-Derby man fired in from ten yards. 


Forest looked to reduce the deficit and enjoyed more possession as half time loomed, and again struck the post on 41 minutes. David McGoldrick did well to shake off Johnny Ertl on the left, coasted into the area and his curling shot came off the inside of the left hand upright.


The second half saw the game open up and chances came and went at both ends in the early stages. 


United should have out of sight within the first ten minutes of the second period, as Philliskirk was played clean through but his shot was well saved by Darlow, and moments later Erik Tonne had a shot blocked from 6 yards after neat interchanges around the edge of the box.


The host's once again hit the woodwork on 61 minutes, though slightly fortuitously as Reid's cross from the left deflected off the top of the bar, and McGoldrick's shot was blocked as the ball was played back in. 


Forest looked increasingly more dangerous and finally grabbed a goal on 74 minutes, as David McGoldrick fired low past George Long into the bottom right corner from 15 yards after Danny Meadows squared the ball back. 


However in the closing stages it looked like the Blades would increase their lead, as Chris Porter was once again played clean through but his effort was well saved by Darlow, and a minute later Philliskirk's goalbound effort was deflected wide.


Forest had a great chance to draw level in the 89th minute as Patrick Bamford sprang the offside trap, but his effort was hit straight at Long. 


There was one last twist in the tail however. When Bamford was fouled 25 yards out, McGoldrick stepped up and curled a delightful effort into the top right corner three minutes into stoppage time.