40 years ago I watched Everton play Nottingham Forest twice in four days. Once, at home, in the league and once, away, in the League Cup. Not much comment here, just a lot of stats and programme images as I track Forest's progress past the 4th round in their amazing recapture of the League Cup in the season they won the European Cup for the first time and the continuation of their remarkable unbeaten runs.
I'll finish with a quick look at the twenty or so years after this, where Everton had a three year spell when they were the best in the land.
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I was well embedded at Nottingham University by now and catching the bus into the city from Derby Road just outside Sherwood Hall was becoming routine. But to say I was happy would be very wide of the mark. The truth is I was desperately lonely and suffering badly from teenage-boy-desperately-needs-girlfriend syndrome. The fun and jollity (and endless beer) of Sherwood Hall bar helped until it made things worse.
This cartoon I drew at the time pretty much sums it all up, I think.
Note, my university nickname "Bongo" was already assigned by then. One drunken evening, at a disco in Nottingham, trying to impress some girls with my dance moves, I'd slipped on a puddle of beer on the floor and cracked my face against a bongo drum, chipping a tooth.
At least that's how my brain had reconfigured the memory. My old mate, Boro, who was also there and has a far more accurate memory than me, remembers it quite differently...
"less a slip while dancing, more an attempt to make an athletic leap from one section of the nightclub to a lower section without spotting the drum in the landing zone."
He's probably right. Me? Trying to impress girls with dance moves? Not likely! Some clown-like prank is much more me!
Anyway... Next morning, at Sherwood Hall canteen, Jake Holloway, one of a small group of emerging football fan mates, just looked at me with that Oliver Reed-like, knowing look of self-assuredness and announced "Bongo!" Unfortunately it caught on. I suppose "Forest" wouldn't have worked.
Anyway, I had me football...
In other results, Liverpool uncharacteristically failed to win again. This time they were held at home by Leeds United in front of the biggest crowd of the day. Four games ended goalless.
West Brom's west midlands derby win over Birmingham put them above us into 3rd place.
Here are the only highlights I could find from the day's play. Paul Mariner's goal at Highbury.
Here is the league table as it it stood that night.
For the second week running, Forest stayed top of the current (last 3 home/away games) form table.
And here's the 1977-1979 composite table. Forest still clinging on to that.
This was Forest's 39th consecutive first division game without defeat. Of course - another record.
And, at home, Forest were unbeaten in 41 successive matches, in all competitions.
Ok, so all going well in the League. Time to return our attention to the League Cup.
Everton
1 George Wood, 2 Terry Darracott, 3 Mike Pejic, 4 Colin Todd, 5 Billy Wright, 6 Trevor Ross, 7 Andy King, 8 Martin Dobson, 9 Bob Latchford, 10 Mickey Walsh, 11 Dave Thomas.
Goals: Bob Latchford 1, Kenny Burns (o.g.)
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Ian Bowyer, 4 John O'Hare, 5 Larry Lloyd, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Archie Gemmill, 8 David Needham, 9 Gary Birtles, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals : Viv Anderson 1, Larry Lloyd 1, Tony Woodcock 1.
Substitutions: Gary Mills(12) came on for Kenny Burns (6).
Attendance 48,503
So, it was down to the last eight and Forest's amazing run in the League Cup was set to continue with a home tie against Peter Taylor's old stomping ground, Brighton & Hove Albion, destined for the top flight themselves. At the time they were 4th in the second division but they'd eventually win the title.
I'll finish with a quick look at the twenty or so years after this, where Everton had a three year spell when they were the best in the land.
Previous Post: AEK Athens (Home)
I was well embedded at Nottingham University by now and catching the bus into the city from Derby Road just outside Sherwood Hall was becoming routine. But to say I was happy would be very wide of the mark. The truth is I was desperately lonely and suffering badly from teenage-boy-desperately-needs-girlfriend syndrome. The fun and jollity (and endless beer) of Sherwood Hall bar helped until it made things worse.
This cartoon I drew at the time pretty much sums it all up, I think.
Note, my university nickname "Bongo" was already assigned by then. One drunken evening, at a disco in Nottingham, trying to impress some girls with my dance moves, I'd slipped on a puddle of beer on the floor and cracked my face against a bongo drum, chipping a tooth.
At least that's how my brain had reconfigured the memory. My old mate, Boro, who was also there and has a far more accurate memory than me, remembers it quite differently...
"less a slip while dancing, more an attempt to make an athletic leap from one section of the nightclub to a lower section without spotting the drum in the landing zone."
He's probably right. Me? Trying to impress girls with dance moves? Not likely! Some clown-like prank is much more me!
Anyway... Next morning, at Sherwood Hall canteen, Jake Holloway, one of a small group of emerging football fan mates, just looked at me with that Oliver Reed-like, knowing look of self-assuredness and announced "Bongo!" Unfortunately it caught on. I suppose "Forest" wouldn't have worked.
Anyway, I had me football...
Match 282: Nottingham Forest 0 Everton 0 (146th at the City Ground, 220th Forest game, 4th Everton)
This is another match that I have completely forgotten. Apparently it was a game of two halves with Everton dominating the first but not creating many guilt-edged chances. Martin O'Neill hit the bar in the second with a head from a (you've guessed it) John Robertson cross. Robbo was making his 105th consecutive appearance for Forest. O'Neill also had a shot blocked on the line in the closing minutes but as with the corresponding game last season, played on the second day of the same year, it ended all square.
John McGovern was injured so the versatile John O'Hare came in in midfield.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Ian Bowyer, 4 John O'Hare, 5 Larry Lloyd, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Archie Gemmill, 9 Gary Birtles, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Everton
1 George Wood, 2 Terry Darracott, 3 Mike Pejic, 4 Colin Todd, 5 Billy Wright, 6 Trevor Ross, 7 Andy King, 8 Martin Dobson, 9 Bob Latchford, 10 Mickey Walsh, 11 Dave Thomas.
John McGovern was injured so the versatile John O'Hare came in in midfield.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Ian Bowyer, 4 John O'Hare, 5 Larry Lloyd, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Archie Gemmill, 9 Gary Birtles, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Everton
1 George Wood, 2 Terry Darracott, 3 Mike Pejic, 4 Colin Todd, 5 Billy Wright, 6 Trevor Ross, 7 Andy King, 8 Martin Dobson, 9 Bob Latchford, 10 Mickey Walsh, 11 Dave Thomas.
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| Woodcock comes close early in the second half |
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| Larry Lloyd puts pressure on in the first |
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| Forest almost grab a late winner |
In other results, Liverpool uncharacteristically failed to win again. This time they were held at home by Leeds United in front of the biggest crowd of the day. Four games ended goalless.
West Brom's west midlands derby win over Birmingham put them above us into 3rd place.
Here are the only highlights I could find from the day's play. Paul Mariner's goal at Highbury.
Here is the league table as it it stood that night.
For the second week running, Forest stayed top of the current (last 3 home/away games) form table.
The First Division top scorers chart now had three strikers joint top.
And here's the 1977-1979 composite table. Forest still clinging on to that.
This was Forest's 39th consecutive first division game without defeat. Of course - another record.
And, at home, Forest were unbeaten in 41 successive matches, in all competitions.
Ok, so all going well in the League. Time to return our attention to the League Cup.
Match 283: Everton 2 Nottingham Forest 3 (2nd at Goodison Park, 221st Forest game, 5th Everton)
I actually went to this game although I'm not sure how. I must have got a lift with my old friends Ian White and Gary Kelly but I'm not sure. We definitely sat in the top tier of Goodison Park's impressive triple-decker stand, where I'd witnessed Forest burst onto the first division scene on the opening day of the 1977-78 season.
It was an unexpected win this. Again, I don't remember anything about the game but Forest's threadbare squad was stretched to breaking point with David Needham and John O'Hare having to play in midfield as both John McGovern and Martin O'Neill were out. To make matters worse, after just 13 unlucky minutes Kenny Burns got clattered on his right knee and was still hobbling around when he put the ball in his own net to put Everton 1-0 up. 17 year old Gary Mills came on with David Needham switching to his more comfortable place in the back four.
Somehow, Forest came back to win the tie and proceed into the League Cup quarter finals.
Everton, unchanged, Forest without Martin O'Neill, from the tie four days earlier.
It was an unexpected win this. Again, I don't remember anything about the game but Forest's threadbare squad was stretched to breaking point with David Needham and John O'Hare having to play in midfield as both John McGovern and Martin O'Neill were out. To make matters worse, after just 13 unlucky minutes Kenny Burns got clattered on his right knee and was still hobbling around when he put the ball in his own net to put Everton 1-0 up. 17 year old Gary Mills came on with David Needham switching to his more comfortable place in the back four.
Somehow, Forest came back to win the tie and proceed into the League Cup quarter finals.
Everton, unchanged, Forest without Martin O'Neill, from the tie four days earlier.
Everton
1 George Wood, 2 Terry Darracott, 3 Mike Pejic, 4 Colin Todd, 5 Billy Wright, 6 Trevor Ross, 7 Andy King, 8 Martin Dobson, 9 Bob Latchford, 10 Mickey Walsh, 11 Dave Thomas.
Goals: Bob Latchford 1, Kenny Burns (o.g.)
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Ian Bowyer, 4 John O'Hare, 5 Larry Lloyd, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Archie Gemmill, 8 David Needham, 9 Gary Birtles, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals : Viv Anderson 1, Larry Lloyd 1, Tony Woodcock 1.
Substitutions: Gary Mills(12) came on for Kenny Burns (6).
Attendance 48,503
If you conveniently forget about the F.A. Cup (and it's probably something Brian Clough should have done, considering it's the one trophy he never won) this was Forest's 54th consecutive game (in all-but-one-competition) without defeat, home or away.
Here are the other 5th round matches played that week, including Southampton v Reading which had to be replayed the week after.
Sadly there does not seem to be any footage of these games on the inter-web. If anyone can find one I've missed, please let me know.
Here are the other 5th round matches played that week, including Southampton v Reading which had to be replayed the week after.
Sadly there does not seem to be any footage of these games on the inter-web. If anyone can find one I've missed, please let me know.
So, it was down to the last eight and Forest's amazing run in the League Cup was set to continue with a home tie against Peter Taylor's old stomping ground, Brighton & Hove Albion, destined for the top flight themselves. At the time they were 4th in the second division but they'd eventually win the title.
Quarter Final (5th Round) Draw
Here are the other ties, to be played in December...
Leeds United v Luton Town
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion
Southampton v Manchester City
Stoke City v Watford
What Happened Next?
Whereas Forest reached their all-time peak in the years 1977-1980, Everton, of course, had had many such glory years before (see last season's post for more about that). Less well known is that Everton also had a few great years themselves again in the 1980s.
Just six years from here, Everton won the title twice in three years, firstly in 1984-85 (their 8th title win) and again in 1986-87 (their 9th). The first was Howard Kendall's team of unsung heroes Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Trevor Steven, Kevin Sheedy, Andy Gray and top-scorer Graeme Sharp. They won the league by 13 points, having led the table from January, having fought off a rare serious challenge to the title in recent years from Tottenham Hotspur. They also got to the F.A. Cup final but lost to Manchester United 1-0 through a spectacular late goal in extra time from Norman Whiteside. It's astonishing to see how the Man U players were so upset by the red card. When you see it from today's eyes, there's no doubt about it.
They also won the European Cup Winners Cup (bless it) so nearly won an incredible treble.
My mate, Boro, reminded my that this was the year of the Heysel Stadium disaster, when the European Cup final, played between Liverpool and Juventus in the stadium in Brussels was marred by serious trouble an hour before kick off when Liverpool fans charged at Juventus fans ultimately causing a wall to collapse. 39 people died and hundreds were injured.
Here's a documentary about it...
Amazingly the game still went ahead with Juventus winning 1-0.
Anyway, there were serious consequences for English football clubs as UEFA banned them from all competitions indefinitely. Everton were the first of 15 clubs (including Forest, twice) that would miss out on European football as a result. Considering how good Everton were at the time, and how strong English clubs were, generally, it is likely that Everton could have won the trophy had it not been for the violence of their rivals' fans.
Because of this ban, Kendall decided to try his hand abroad at Atletico Bilbao, after managing Everton for seven years.
By the time Everton won their second title in three years, they were under the management of Colin Harvey.
So, for these three season (1985-1988), it was Everton, not Liverpool, who were the very best in England.
Indeed Everton were now second in the all-time English champions table, albeit a long way behind their rivals Liverpool but ahead of Manchester United. Alex Ferguson had just been installed as their manager in the middle that season, on November 6th, 1986.
So, in Forest's glory years, Everton and Forest were pretty much neck-and-neck overall. Two European Cups, though, surely trumps it.
Just six years from here, Everton won the title twice in three years, firstly in 1984-85 (their 8th title win) and again in 1986-87 (their 9th). The first was Howard Kendall's team of unsung heroes Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Trevor Steven, Kevin Sheedy, Andy Gray and top-scorer Graeme Sharp. They won the league by 13 points, having led the table from January, having fought off a rare serious challenge to the title in recent years from Tottenham Hotspur. They also got to the F.A. Cup final but lost to Manchester United 1-0 through a spectacular late goal in extra time from Norman Whiteside. It's astonishing to see how the Man U players were so upset by the red card. When you see it from today's eyes, there's no doubt about it.
They also won the European Cup Winners Cup (bless it) so nearly won an incredible treble.
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| Underrated Everton side on 1985 |
My mate, Boro, reminded my that this was the year of the Heysel Stadium disaster, when the European Cup final, played between Liverpool and Juventus in the stadium in Brussels was marred by serious trouble an hour before kick off when Liverpool fans charged at Juventus fans ultimately causing a wall to collapse. 39 people died and hundreds were injured.
Here's a documentary about it...
Amazingly the game still went ahead with Juventus winning 1-0.
Anyway, there were serious consequences for English football clubs as UEFA banned them from all competitions indefinitely. Everton were the first of 15 clubs (including Forest, twice) that would miss out on European football as a result. Considering how good Everton were at the time, and how strong English clubs were, generally, it is likely that Everton could have won the trophy had it not been for the violence of their rivals' fans.
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| English clubs banned from Europe |
Because of this ban, Kendall decided to try his hand abroad at Atletico Bilbao, after managing Everton for seven years.
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| Howard Kendall - a great manager |
By the time Everton won their second title in three years, they were under the management of Colin Harvey.
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| Colin Harvey in charge of the second title win in three years. |
So, for these three season (1985-1988), it was Everton, not Liverpool, who were the very best in England.
Indeed Everton were now second in the all-time English champions table, albeit a long way behind their rivals Liverpool but ahead of Manchester United. Alex Ferguson had just been installed as their manager in the middle that season, on November 6th, 1986.
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| All-time English Champions Table at the end of 1986-1987 |
So, in Forest's glory years, Everton and Forest were pretty much neck-and-neck overall. Two European Cups, though, surely trumps it.
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