May 28 – Forest Make it Two in a Row

FOR Nottingham Forest to follow up their first-ever title win by hoisting up the European Cup in 1979 it was pretty remarkable. But when they made it two in a row today in 1980, everyone was taken by surprise – except maybe their humble manager.

Twelve months earlier the £1m man Trevor Francis had headed Forest to a famous win against Malmo in Munich, stunning Europe and proving that manager Brian Clough’s boasts that we was the best in the game shouldn’t be falling on deaf ears.

The defence of their title began in Sweden, taking the side that pipped Malmo to the Swedish title, Osters Vaxjo who were dispatched 3-1 over the two legs. Next up was another unknown quantity, Romanian champions Arges Pitesti who were brushed aside 4-1 on aggregate.

Now in the quarter-finals, Forest came up against some of Europe’s bigger names. Despite a first leg loss, Dynamo Berlin were dispatched 3-2 on aggregate, leaving the mighty Ajax in the way of Forest and the final at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

A tight 2-1 win over the two legs saw the English side progress and set up a date with a Hamburg side that featured Kevin Keegan. Forest were again the underdogs, especially when it was confirmed that Trevor Francis would missing due to injury.

Clough switched around his side, leaving only Garry Birtles on his own up front and the Germans went at Forest from the start, attacking Peter Shilton’s goal at will.

In the 20th minute a rare Forest foray up the pitch saw John Robertson plunder a goal after linking up with Birtles and firing past Hamburg ‘keeper Rudi Kargus.

It didn’t take long for Hamburg to get back on the attack, with Keegan going deeper and deeper to try and break the Forest defence, but it would be one of those days for the future England manager, as Cloughy’s men held on for an historic win.

As captain John McGovern lifted up the trophy in front of 50,000 fans in Madrid, Forest had become the only side to have won the European Cup more times than their domestic title.

There was another English side playing in the European Cup final today – but we doubt that Cloughy was sheading any tears for them, so click here for that and join us tomorrow for more end of season madness.