Can anyone tell me why derbies are called derbies? I have never known and would be interested to find out. Anyway, we had a big derby a couple of weeks ago and we have another on Monday – and to most City fans this is the big one.

No disrespect to Coventry and Derby County, but Forest is the one regarded as 'The One' by most City fans. It always has been, even back in my day.

I still shiver when I think of that spanking we got at their place last year. I was a guest in the press box and it was probably the hardest 90 minutes I have had to watch as a City fan.

I was getting lots of stick from Forest fans sat in front of me and, by the end, I certainly knew they had five digits on their hands.

As each one went in they turned around and told me the score and I was praying they didn't go on to the other hand! But we got pride back with the 3-0 win at the Walkers.

I would say to the City fans to get down there on Monday night.

I know it will be cold, it is live on Sky TV and Christmas is looming, but put all that aside and get down there because I can assure you that if we can replicate the atmosphere we had against Derby it will help the lads no end.

We have some new faces on board. I was showing some people around the training ground last week and, when one little boy asked who two of them were, I had to hold my hands up and admit I didn't know!

They had come that morning and I was caught out on that one. There is such a buzz around the place at the moment at what Sven is doing and I have to stand back sometimes in awe.

I would like to welcome Chris Kirkland, a Barwell lad, back to City, so welcome home. And also Roman Bednar. I wish them all the best.

It just shows how determined King Power are to get us back into the Premier League.

Talking about people coming to the club, I would also like to welcome our new chief scout Bill Green, who is sharing my office. Sometimes you don't get the rewards you deserve in this game and that was true last week because I thought the lads produced a good performance at Bristol.

We played some terrific football for the first 45 minutes. But when you have been around football long enough you start to get that feeling something will go wrong when it is still 0-0. Sure enough it did.

The thing we can take from it was that we lost playing decent football and we have played worse in recent seasons and got good results. You can't take anything for granted in this league.

Talking about spankings, I am sure someone will get one soon and it is just around the corner. It is the final ingredient that we are looking for.

It is that time of year again and Top (executive director Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn), the new owners and the hierarchy at the club, are planning our Christmas party.

I have experienced 40 of them but this is promising to be the best as King Power are pushing the boat out on a party that will bring everyone at the club together.

That hasn't been done for the last few years for different reasons. But I think it is important because it is what makes our club great.

The priority is on the field but the off-field people should not be forgotten. Top and his colleagues are on to that and emphasise that everyone else comes a very close second to the team in importance – and I am very good at parties!

I took Sven along to turn on the Christmas lights in my village of Rothley and it was absolutely packed.

It was a job well done and all the proceeds from the switch-on went to the Madeleine McCann fund. There has been a candle burning on the village green by the memorial centre since the day she went missing. It is always lit.

So, on behalf of the Rothley residents, many thanks to Sven. I wonder how it compared to some of the switch-ons he must have done in the past.

The Birch supports Loros, Wishes 4 Kids and Prost Aid