Forest fans all, over the world, are still buzzing as I write this with a mixture of relief and anticipation after Aitor Karanka's amazingly revamped team thrashed Queen's Park Rangers 5-2 at Loftus Road on Saturday. I'll celebrate that win later but first, of course, I will set my focus on a previous encounter with QPR, 40 years ago. Before the weekend Forest were 17th place in the second division and yet they brushed Rangers aside on their own patch. 40 years ago, we were the best team in the land and yet still struggled to overcome the London club at home.
Perhaps this was the start of a little wobble. After throwing away a three goal lead at Norwich - gained in 24 minutes - but hanging on for a draw, Forest had little respite before having to face Queen's Park Rangers in an F. A. Cup 5th Round replay in front of over 40,000 fans at the City Ground on the following Monday.
There was so much going on it was hard to keep up with it all. But to add further to Forest's dramatic season they also bizarrely released a single that stayed in the top 50 for five weeks.
"We've got the Whole Word in Our Hands" was the song chosen. It was first released on vinyl in 1957 by the boy singer Laurie London, appropriately named as he was from Bethnel Green.
It's an uncomfortably spiritualistic song for me at the best of times so for this song to be chosen grates me, I have to admit - but the Forest lyrics make that a bit more palatable.
Perhaps this was the start of a little wobble. After throwing away a three goal lead at Norwich - gained in 24 minutes - but hanging on for a draw, Forest had little respite before having to face Queen's Park Rangers in an F. A. Cup 5th Round replay in front of over 40,000 fans at the City Ground on the following Monday.
There was so much going on it was hard to keep up with it all. But to add further to Forest's dramatic season they also bizarrely released a single that stayed in the top 50 for five weeks.
We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands
Radio Trent had organised a somewhat cringey activity in the Trent End a few weeks earlier (I can't remember exactly which match) when they managed to get us all to sing a few chants that would be fine if they had been spontaneous. But even being told to chant "Cloughie! Cloughie!" didn't feel right.
Like most football fans, I hate the sort of American-inspired mentality that results in guys with megaphones trying to induce a group of supporters to sing something or other - to "create atmosphere". As a son of a Lithuanian, I actually love basketball but I cannot drag myself to go and watch my local team, Perth Wildcats, (who are the best in Australia) play these days because they employ a really annoying guy who never tires of trying to get the fans in "the jungle" to chant "Let's Go Wildcats, Let's Go!" when Perth attack and "De - fence" (pronounced the American way, of course) when the other team do. Even if the chant is heart felt, I don't want to be told when to do it. It should come from the fans themselves.
On that occasion though, we went along with it and now, a few weeks later, we got to find out what it was really all about.
Nottingham Forest along with soft pop band "Paper Lace" had released a record late in February and it went straight into the charts at No 28.
In the programme for the QPR replay it contained this flier promoting the record.
"We've got the Whole Word in Our Hands" was the song chosen. It was first released on vinyl in 1957 by the boy singer Laurie London, appropriately named as he was from Bethnel Green.
It's an uncomfortably spiritualistic song for me at the best of times so for this song to be chosen grates me, I have to admit - but the Forest lyrics make that a bit more palatable.
I bought mine within a day or two of its release but I've lost the actual 45 rpm single vinyl disc somewhere.
Here's the song's video with a bunch of rather uncomfortable looking players, Cloughie and Jimmy Gordon, mouthing the lyrics.
The best bit for me has to be the last words...
"Yarwood... follow that!"
.. bellowed by Cloughie, challenging the impressionist Mike Yarwood to do a take on him doing that.
Anyone under the age of 50 might wonder who Cloughie, and I are talking about.
Here he is... doing a bit of Clough...
"Yarwood... follow that!"
.. bellowed by Cloughie, challenging the impressionist Mike Yarwood to do a take on him doing that.
Anyone under the age of 50 might wonder who Cloughie, and I are talking about.
Here he is... doing a bit of Clough...
Here is the chart the day of the QPR match. The song was already in the top 30.
Next week it had gone up four places to 24th in the charts. The week after that it was down to No 36. By 19th March it had dropped to 40th. The week after that (maybe because of the League Cup success) it rose again to No 37. But then it dropped to No. 47, then it was gone.
So... here's a question for you...
Answer: Tony Blackburn.
Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights was No 1 for most of the time Forest were in the charts. This clip is from Top of the Pops when she made it to No 1. Listen out for Tony Blackburn's goodbye mid way through the clip.
So... here's a question for you...
Who was the link between Kate Bush and Nottingham Forest?
Answer: Tony Blackburn.
Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights was No 1 for most of the time Forest were in the charts. This clip is from Top of the Pops when she made it to No 1. Listen out for Tony Blackburn's goodbye mid way through the clip.
Still 5 weeks in the top 40 wasn't bad considering how awful the song was.
Who were Paper Lace Anyway?
Unless you are a pop music nerd over 50 years old, you probably have never heard of Paper Lace. I must admit I'd forgotten all about them.
Paper Lace were a Nottingham based pop band who have the rather embarrassing claim of starting out by winning the TV Talent Show "Opportunity Knocks" five weeks running.
Opportunity Knocks? What? Never heard of that either?
Well let me introduce you to your host.... Hughie Green..
It seems no-one ever posted Paper Lace's performances on the show on YouTube but here's a couple of clips of the band.
Admit it, these tunes do sound familiar, don't they?
Paper Lace were a Nottingham based pop band who have the rather embarrassing claim of starting out by winning the TV Talent Show "Opportunity Knocks" five weeks running.
Opportunity Knocks? What? Never heard of that either?
Well let me introduce you to your host.... Hughie Green..
It seems no-one ever posted Paper Lace's performances on the show on YouTube but here's a couple of clips of the band.
Admit it, these tunes do sound familiar, don't they?
Football Club Songs
"We've got the Whole World in Our Hands" is not a great football club song, I would be the first to admit. But getting into the top 40 for five weeks (and the top 75 for six weeks) - that's pretty impressive. Which other clubs have done that? In 1978 the answer was: Not many - just seven to be precise.
Manchester United released one called (wait for it) "Manchester United" in 1976. I can't find any trace of it on the interweb though. As it peaked at No 50 and was only in the charts for 1 week I think we can assume it was pretty awful.
West Ham, also inspired by a cup run, released a song called (wait for it) "I'm forever blowing bubbles" in 1975 which reached No 31 and stayed in the charts for two weeks. Heard that one before. Next.
In 5th place were Liverpool. They also released a song the year before this, in 1977. It reached No 15 and stayed in the charts 4 weeks.
In terms of weeks in the top 75, Forest's six weeks puts them in 4th place in the all time (in 1978) English football club charts.
Getting exciting this!
Let's do a chart count down for the top three like we used to listen to every week.
"High, pop pickers." (The voice of Alan Freeman, of course)
What do you mean, who's he?
Ok...
To continue...
"This week's No 3 - it's the boys from Highbury....'Good Old Arsenal'"
Singing to the tune of "Rule Britannia" is never going to go out of fashion and unsurprisingly variants of this are still sung around the grounds, even today. It reached No 16 in the charts and stayed in the charts for seven weeks.
"At No 2.... Leeds United"
It had ten weeks in the charts and reached a top spot of 10th. I have to say I like this song. I think it's a new tune and it actually has lyrics that are quite catchy and don't appear to have been written by a 13 year old.
"But back here on pick of the pops the No 1 is still ... Chelsea's 'Blue is the Colour'." The song made No 5 and was in the charts for 12 weeks.
It seems it's no longer cool for football clubs to release songs. Since 1978 only three other songs have been released that would have made an impression on this chart. Two were from Manchester United: "Move Move Move" released in 1996 and "Come on You Reds" in 1994 - both were in the charts for 15 weeks. The other one of note is Spurs' "Ossie's Dream (Spurs on their way to Wembley)" with Chas and Dave. It made it to No 5 in 1981 and stayed in charts for seven weeks. Surely, the best of the bunch. Who can resist Ossie Ardiles' "... in de cup for totingham"?
I can't discuss football songs without a reminder of the best song ever by a football team... "Back Home" released in 1970 by the English national squad for the Mexico World Cup. It reached No 1 and was in the charts for 17 weeks.
How to end this bizarre musical nostalgic note from days gone by in the 1970s?
How about this?
Aaaaah! Pan's People! Be still, my beating heart!
Manchester United released one called (wait for it) "Manchester United" in 1976. I can't find any trace of it on the interweb though. As it peaked at No 50 and was only in the charts for 1 week I think we can assume it was pretty awful.
West Ham, also inspired by a cup run, released a song called (wait for it) "I'm forever blowing bubbles" in 1975 which reached No 31 and stayed in the charts for two weeks. Heard that one before. Next.
In 5th place were Liverpool. They also released a song the year before this, in 1977. It reached No 15 and stayed in the charts 4 weeks.
In terms of weeks in the top 75, Forest's six weeks puts them in 4th place in the all time (in 1978) English football club charts.
Getting exciting this!
Let's do a chart count down for the top three like we used to listen to every week.
"High, pop pickers." (The voice of Alan Freeman, of course)
What do you mean, who's he?
Ok...
To continue...
"This week's No 3 - it's the boys from Highbury....'Good Old Arsenal'"
Singing to the tune of "Rule Britannia" is never going to go out of fashion and unsurprisingly variants of this are still sung around the grounds, even today. It reached No 16 in the charts and stayed in the charts for seven weeks.
"At No 2.... Leeds United"
It had ten weeks in the charts and reached a top spot of 10th. I have to say I like this song. I think it's a new tune and it actually has lyrics that are quite catchy and don't appear to have been written by a 13 year old.
"But back here on pick of the pops the No 1 is still ... Chelsea's 'Blue is the Colour'." The song made No 5 and was in the charts for 12 weeks.
 |
| In 1978 - Chart of English Clubs' Songs in terms of Weeks in the top 75 |
It seems it's no longer cool for football clubs to release songs. Since 1978 only three other songs have been released that would have made an impression on this chart. Two were from Manchester United: "Move Move Move" released in 1996 and "Come on You Reds" in 1994 - both were in the charts for 15 weeks. The other one of note is Spurs' "Ossie's Dream (Spurs on their way to Wembley)" with Chas and Dave. It made it to No 5 in 1981 and stayed in charts for seven weeks. Surely, the best of the bunch. Who can resist Ossie Ardiles' "... in de cup for totingham"?
I can't discuss football songs without a reminder of the best song ever by a football team... "Back Home" released in 1970 by the English national squad for the Mexico World Cup. It reached No 1 and was in the charts for 17 weeks.
How to end this bizarre musical nostalgic note from days gone by in the 1970s?
How about this?
Aaaaah! Pan's People! Be still, my beating heart!
The Teams
Ok. Back to football and the match in 1978.
The third largest attendance of the season piled into the City Ground on a Monday night for this match. I slotted into the packed Trent End.
It's not often Forest played on Mondays. This was the 10th time I'd been to the City Ground on a Monday but excepting Boxing Days and New Years' this was only the 5th time I'd seen a first class match there on that day of the week.
Forest, perhaps shaken by throwing away a three-goal lead at Norwich two days earlier, or perhaps just to give a few players a break, made a few changes. Frank Clark replaced Colin Barrett, making just his 5th appearance of the season. John McGovern also missed out being replaced by Larry Lloyd. David Needham played in "kermit's" role with Lloyd rejoining Burns at the back. Ian Bowyer replaced Archie Gemmill.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Frank Clark, 4 Larry Lloyd, 5 David Needham, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Ian Bowyer, 9 Peter Withe, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals: John Robertson 1 (pen.).
Queens Park Rangers
1 Phil Parkes, 2 David Clement, 3 Ian Gillard, 4 John Hollins, 5 Ernie Howe, 6 Ron Abbott, 7 Don Shanks, 8 Martin Busby, 9 Leighton James, 10 Stan Bowles, 11 Don Givens.
Goals : Don Shanks 1.
Substitutions: Paul McGee(12) came on for Leighton James (9).
Attendance: 40,097
The third largest attendance of the season piled into the City Ground on a Monday night for this match. I slotted into the packed Trent End.
It's not often Forest played on Mondays. This was the 10th time I'd been to the City Ground on a Monday but excepting Boxing Days and New Years' this was only the 5th time I'd seen a first class match there on that day of the week.
Forest, perhaps shaken by throwing away a three-goal lead at Norwich two days earlier, or perhaps just to give a few players a break, made a few changes. Frank Clark replaced Colin Barrett, making just his 5th appearance of the season. John McGovern also missed out being replaced by Larry Lloyd. David Needham played in "kermit's" role with Lloyd rejoining Burns at the back. Ian Bowyer replaced Archie Gemmill.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Frank Clark, 4 Larry Lloyd, 5 David Needham, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Ian Bowyer, 9 Peter Withe, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals: John Robertson 1 (pen.).
Queens Park Rangers
1 Phil Parkes, 2 David Clement, 3 Ian Gillard, 4 John Hollins, 5 Ernie Howe, 6 Ron Abbott, 7 Don Shanks, 8 Martin Busby, 9 Leighton James, 10 Stan Bowles, 11 Don Givens.
Goals : Don Shanks 1.
Substitutions: Paul McGee(12) came on for Leighton James (9).
Attendance: 40,097
The Game
I don't have much memory of this game. Perhaps it was this match, or the next, or a later home game with QPR but there was a bit of a scandal going round in the press at the time about Stan Bowles. Apparently his wife had left him. Football fans are not known for their empathy, especially when it involves a star of the opposition and the Trent End callously chanted "Stan Bowles, Stan Bowles where's you're wife? Stan Bowles, where's you're wife?"
To his eternal credit, Stan dealt with it masterfully. He turned to the Trent End, acknowledging the chant full-on, and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "who knows?". This brought hoots of laughter from us and defused any animosity in a second. Bowles would later grace our team too under Cloughie.
Tony Woodcock nearly put Forest ahead early on but Dave Clement blocked it on the line. Ernie Howe cleared off the line too, a few minutes later, this time from Ian Bowyer. Then Woodcock hit the inside of the post. One of those where the ball rebounded straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.
In the 19th minute, Forest finally got the goal their play deserved. Woodcock set Robertson through in the box. He slipped past Clement but was brought down by Ian Gillard. As usual, Robbo tucked it away - 1-0. Surely, this was going only one way.
Unfortunately, QPR grabbed an undeserved equaliser just two minutes before half time. Leighton James crossed. Martyn Busby headed down and Don Shanks slipped the ball past Shilton. James had to go off at half time, replaced by Paul McGee.
The timing of the equaliser and McGee's fresh legs seemed to make a difference to Rangers and they largely dominated the second half. Busby hit the bar with a header at one point.
The score was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes and so extra time was played. In the second minute of extra time Dave Clement was sent off for a second yellow offence. Down to ten men, QPR decided to shut up shop and hold out for a draw and another replay which, the F.A. decided, would have to be played just three days later, on the Thursday. You can't imagine that these days. Imagine it - three days notice to host a 5th round cup tie. I have no idea how it was decided to play the game in Nottingham. Did they toss a coin? No information there.
I must say I was getting a bit worried about AK. Signing so many older players at once in the January window seemed to be a little "over the top" to me. What would that signal to all the young lads in the squad who had been given a go under Mark Warburton? Have Forest tied themselves to paying big wages to older players for years past their sell-by dates?
Who cares (for now) I'm sure like all Forest fans I've got my fingers crossed hoping that this signals some turning point towards the top end of the table.
U Reds!
To his eternal credit, Stan dealt with it masterfully. He turned to the Trent End, acknowledging the chant full-on, and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "who knows?". This brought hoots of laughter from us and defused any animosity in a second. Bowles would later grace our team too under Cloughie.
Tony Woodcock nearly put Forest ahead early on but Dave Clement blocked it on the line. Ernie Howe cleared off the line too, a few minutes later, this time from Ian Bowyer. Then Woodcock hit the inside of the post. One of those where the ball rebounded straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.
In the 19th minute, Forest finally got the goal their play deserved. Woodcock set Robertson through in the box. He slipped past Clement but was brought down by Ian Gillard. As usual, Robbo tucked it away - 1-0. Surely, this was going only one way.
Unfortunately, QPR grabbed an undeserved equaliser just two minutes before half time. Leighton James crossed. Martyn Busby headed down and Don Shanks slipped the ball past Shilton. James had to go off at half time, replaced by Paul McGee.
The timing of the equaliser and McGee's fresh legs seemed to make a difference to Rangers and they largely dominated the second half. Busby hit the bar with a header at one point.
The score was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes and so extra time was played. In the second minute of extra time Dave Clement was sent off for a second yellow offence. Down to ten men, QPR decided to shut up shop and hold out for a draw and another replay which, the F.A. decided, would have to be played just three days later, on the Thursday. You can't imagine that these days. Imagine it - three days notice to host a 5th round cup tie. I have no idea how it was decided to play the game in Nottingham. Did they toss a coin? No information there.
Other Matches that night
Playing the same night was Middlesbrough's twice postponed 5th round tie v Bolton Wanderers. Boro won 2-0 in front of a massive 36,662 at Ayresome Park to secure a juicy-looking 6th Round home tie against Leyton Orient, who had an impressive 2-1 win in their replay against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Blyth Spartans' big replay night at St James' Park didn't go so well. 42,157 watched Wrexham beat them 2-1 to go through to the 6th round and an even juicier-looking tie at home to Arsenal.
The next night, Ipswich beat Bristol Rovers in their 5th Round Replay in front of 29,532 to clinch their quarter final place at Cold Blow Lane, the appropriately named home of Millwall.
So the quarter finals were almost set. West Brom would have to wait a few more days to find out if they'd play Forest or QPR.
So the quarter finals were almost set. West Brom would have to wait a few more days to find out if they'd play Forest or QPR.
QPR 2 Forest 5
Ok. I can't resist this. We've had little to cheer about for a while so when i woke up on Sunday morning (the day before yesterday) to realise Forest had beaten QPR 5-2 at Loftus Road I was surprised and, of course, very happy.I must say I was getting a bit worried about AK. Signing so many older players at once in the January window seemed to be a little "over the top" to me. What would that signal to all the young lads in the squad who had been given a go under Mark Warburton? Have Forest tied themselves to paying big wages to older players for years past their sell-by dates?
Who cares (for now) I'm sure like all Forest fans I've got my fingers crossed hoping that this signals some turning point towards the top end of the table.
U Reds!
The Programme
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