1974–75 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

The 1974–75 season was Nottingham Forest's 110th year in existence and third campaign consecutive in the Second Division since their relegation in 1972.

Nottingham Forest F.C.
1974–75 season
ChairmanJim H. Willmer
ManagerAllan Brown
(until 29 December 1974)
Bill Anderson (caretaker)
Brian Clough
(from 6 January 1975)
Second Division16th
FA CupSixth round
League Cup2nd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Martin (10)
All: Martin (12)
Highest home attendance25,013 (League)
23,355 (Cup)
Lowest home attendance9,534 (League)
14,183 (Cup)
Average home league attendance17,639 (League)

Summary edit

During summer the club reinforced the side transferred in several players, left back Paddy Greenwood from Boston Minutemen, Welsh defender Dave Jones from AFC Bournemouth[1] and forward Barry Butlin[2] from Luton Town F.C. From the youth squad arrived goalkeeper John Middleton[3][4] and defender Viv Anderson for the right back position. After a bad streak of results, included an early elimination in League Cup on 6 January 1975 the board sacked Allan Brown and appointed former Derby County 1972 League Champion manager Brian Clough.[5] Also, Jimmy Gordon arrived as club trainer as the Scottishman had been for Clough at Derby County and Leeds United.[6] The two made their debut in League winning at Fulham bringing with him two players from his 44-day failed tenure in Leeds United: midfielder John McGovern and forward John O'Hare.[7] However, the team plummeted 11 successive matches without a win. The squad reached two games won in the last five rounds to avoid relegation to Third Division.

Meanwhile, in FA Cup the team in third round, now with Clough, defeated Tottenham Hotspur and advanced to the fourth round being eliminated by Fulham F.C. after three replay matches.

Squad edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ENG John Middleton
GK   ENG Dennis Peacock
DF   ENG Viv Anderson
DF   ENG Sammy Chapman (Captain)
DF   ENG John Cottam
DF   ENG Paddy Greenwood
DF   NIR Liam O'Kane
DF   ENG Dave Serella
MF   ENG Ian Bowyer
MF   IRL Miah Dennehy
MF   WAL Dave Jones
MF   NIR Tommy Jackson
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   SCO George Lyall
MF   SCO John McGovern
MF   ENG Jim McIntosh
MF   NIR Martin O'Neill
MF   ENG Paul Richardson
MF   SCO John Robertson
FW   ENG Barry Butlin
FW   ENG John Galley
FW   SCO Neil Martin
FW   ENG James McCann
FW   SCO John O'Hare
FW   ENG Tony Woodock

Transfers edit

Statistics edit

Players statistics edit

The statistics for the following players are for their time during 1974–75 season playing for Nottingham Forest. Any stats from a different club during 1974–75 are not included. Includes all competitive matches.

No. Pos Nat Player Total Second Division League Cup FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Middleton 34 0 28 0 0 0 6 0
DF   ENG Anderson 16 0 12+2 0 1 0 1 0
DF   ENG Chapman 38 0 31 0 1 0 6 0
DF   NIR O'Kane 48 0 41 0 2 0 5 0
DF   WAL Jones 41 2 36 1 2 0 3 1
MF   ENG Bowyer 37 7 27+3 6 2 1 5 0
MF   ENG Richardson 43 4 35+2 4 1 0 5 0
MF   IRL Dennehy 30 3 23+3 3 2 0 2 0
MF   SCO Lyall 41 7 35+1 7 2 0 3 0
FW   ENG Butlin 34 7 28+1 7 0 0 5 0
FW   SCO Martin 32 12 24+2 10 1 0 5 2
GK   ENG Peacock 16 0 14 0 2 0
DF   ENG Cottam 18 1 12+2 1 1 0 3 0
DF   ENG Greenwood 19 0 15 0 0 0 4 0
DF   ENG Serella 9 0 6+2 0 1 0
MF   NIR Jackson 16 1 12+2 1 1 0 1 0
MF   SCO McGovern 8 0 8 0
MF   ENG McIntosh 3 0 2+1 0
MF   NIR O'Neill 23 1 16 1 2 0 5 0
MF   SCO Robertson 18 4 14+3 0 0 4 1
FW   ENG Galley 4 0 2+1 0 1 0 0 0
FW   ENG McCann 1 0 1 0
FW   SCO O'Hare 10 2 10 2
FW   ENG Woodcock 5 0 1+4 0

Table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
14 Notts County 42 12 16 14 49 59 0.831 40
15 York City 42 14 10 18 51 55 0.927 38
16 Nottingham Forest 42 12 14 16 43 55 0.782 38
17 Portsmouth 42 12 13 17 44 54 0.815 37
18 Oldham Athletic 42 10 15 17 40 48 0.833 35
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results by round edit

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
ResultDLLWLDWLWDLWLWWLWLWDDLDWLWDLLDDDLDLDDWLDLW
Position151621111817131310141410121081391411101113131113119131412151415151616161517161716
Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, 1975–76 First Division;   = 1975–76 First Division;   = 1975–76 Third Division

Matches edit

A list of Nottingham Forest's matches in the 1974–75 season.[10][11][12]

Competitive edit

Second Division edit

17 August 1974 1 Nottingham Forest 0-0 Bristol City Nottingham
Report Stadium: City Ground
19 August 1974 2 Millwall F.C. 3–0 Nottingham Forest Millwall
24 August 1974 3 Portsmouth 2–0 Nottingham Forest Portsmouth
27 August 1974 4 Nottingham Forest 2–1 Millwall Nottingham
Martin  
Bowyer  
Stadium: City Ground
31 August 1974 5 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Oxford United Nottingham
Bowyer   Stadium: City Ground
7 September 1974 6 Manchester United 2–2 Nottingham Forest Manchester
  Cottam
  Bowyer
Stadium: Old Trafford
14 September 1974 7 Nottingham Forest 4–0 Hull City Nottingham
Lyall  
Martin  
Martin  
O'Neill  
Stadium: City Ground
17 September 1974 8 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Portsmouth F.C. Nottingham
Jones   Stadium: City Ground
21 September 1974 9 Sheffield Wednesday 2–3 Nottingham Forest Sheffield
  Martin
  Martin
  Bowyer
28 September 1974 10 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Sunderland AFC Nottingham
Lyall   (pen) Stadium: City Ground
2 October 1974 11 Aston Villa 3–0 Nottingham Forest Birmingham
Stadium: Villa Park
5 October 1974 12 Southampton F.C. 0–1 Nottingham Forest Southampton
  Jackson
12 October 1974 13 Nottingham Forest 1–3 Norwich City Nottingham
Butlin   Stadium: City Ground
19 October 1974 14 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Nottingham Forest West Bromwich
  Richardson Stadium: The Hawthorns
26 October 1974 15 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Bristol Rovers Nottingham
Martin   Stadium: City Ground
2 November 1974 16 Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Nottingham Forest Horwich
Stadium: University of Bolton
9 November 1974 17 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Oldham Athletic Nottingham
Dennehy   Stadium: City Ground
16 November 1974 18 Cardiff City F.C. 2–1 Nottingham Forest Cardiff City
  Martin Stadium: Cardiff
23 November 1974 19 Nottingham Forest 2–1 York City F.C. Nottingham
Richardson  
Bowyer  
Stadium: City Ground
30 November 1974 20 Leyton Orient F.C. 1–1 Nottingham Forest Leyton
  Bowyer Stadium: Brisbane Road
7 December 1974 21 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Fulham F.C. Nottingham
Butlin   Stadium: City Ground
14 December 1974 22 Bristol City 1–0 Nottingham Forest Bristol
Stadium: Ashton Gate
21 December 1974 23 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Blackpool F.C. Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
26 December 1974 24 Hull City 1–3 Nottingham Forest Kingston upon Hull
  Martin
  Martin
  Butlin
Stadium: Boothferry Park
28 December 1974 25 Nottingham Forest 0–2 Notts County F.C. Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
11 January 1975 26 Fulham F.C. 0–1 Nottingham Forest Fulham
  71' Butlin Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 9,159
18 January 1975 27 Nottingham Forest 2–2 Leyton Orient F.C. Nottingham
Richardson   86'
Richardson   88'
  22' Derek Possee
  37' (o.g.) Bob Chapman
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 17,582
1 February 1975 28 Oldham Athletic 2–0 Nottingham Forest Oldham
Alan Young   23'
Alan Groves   65'
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 10,736
8 February 1975 29 Nottingham Forest 2–3 Bolton Wanderers Nottingham
Dennehy   8'
Dennehy   80'
  26',   38' John Byrom
  59' Hugh Curran
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 11,922
14 February 1975 30 York City F.C. 1–1 Nottingham Forest York
Jimmy Seal   44'   63' Lyall Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 7,666
22 February 1975 31 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Cardiff City F.C. Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 12,806
28 February 1975 32 Oxford United 1–1 Nottingham Forest Oxford
Billy Jeffrey   32'   55' Lyall Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 7,602
8 March 1975 33 Nottingham Forest 2–3 Aston Villa Nottingham
O'Hare   16'
Butlin   43'
  29',   40' Ray Graydon
  66' Brian Little
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,205
15 March 1975 34 Sunderland AFC 0–0 Nottingham Forest Sunderland
Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 30,812
22 March 1975 35 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Manchester United Nottingham
  36' Gerry Daly Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,893
25 March 1975 36 Notts County F.C. 2–2 Nottingham Forest Nottingham
Ian Scanlon   20'
Paul Richardson   59' (o.g.)
  40' Lyall
  78' Butlin
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,303
Referee: K Styles
29 March 1975 37 Blackpool F.C. 0–0 Nottingham Forest Blackpool
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 11,640
1 April 1975 38 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Nottingham
Lyall   57' (pen) Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 14,077
5 April 1975 39 Bristol Rovers F.C. 4–2 Nottingham Forest Bristol
Alan Warboys   25'
Frankie Prince   44'
Colin Dobson   56'
Dave Staniforth   72'
  67' Lyall
  76' O'Hare
Stadium: Bristol
Attendance: 9,684
12 April 1975 40 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Southampton F.C. Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 11,554
19 April 1975 41 Norwich City 3–0 Nottingham Forest Norwich
Martin Peters   44'
Phil Boyer   74',   86'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 24,302
26 April 1975 42 Nottingham Forest 2–1 West Bromwich Albion Nottingham
Butlin   41'
Butlin   85'
  14' Robson Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 11,721

League Cup edit

10 September 1974 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Newcastle United Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
25 September 1974 Newcastle United 3–0 Nottingham Forest Newcastle upon Tyne
Stadium: St. James' Park

FA Cup edit

Third round edit

4 January 1975 1 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur Nottingham
Jones   Stadium: City Ground
Replay edit
8 January 1975 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0–1
(1–2 agg.)
Nottingham Forest Tottenham
  34' Martin Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 27,996

Fourth round edit

28 January 1975 1 Fulham F.C. 0–0 Nottingham Forest Fulham
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 14,846
Replay edit
3 February 1975 2 Nottingham Forest 1–1 (a.e.t.) Fulham F.C. Nottingham
Neil Martin   62'   44' John Dowie Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 25,361
Second replay edit
5 February 1975 Fulham F.C. 1–1 (a.e.t.) Nottingham Forest Fulham
Alan Slough   24'   46' John Robertson Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 11,920
Third replay edit
10 February 1975 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Fulham F.C. Nottingham
Bob Chapman   61'   26',   54' Viv Busby Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 23,240

References edit

  1. ^ "Wales player database 1872 to 2013". eu-football.info. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Barry Butlin". Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. ^ John Middleton, The City Ground
  4. ^ Nottingham Forest : 1946/47 – 2009/10 on Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database profile
  5. ^ Taylor, Daniel (10 October 2015). "Brian Clough and the miracle of Nottingham Forest". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  6. ^ "The forgotten story of … Brian Clough's other right-hand man | Nick Miller". The Guardian. 17 September 2014.
  7. ^ THE CITY GROUND, John McGovern
  8. ^ Transferred out on 14 April 1975
  9. ^ Transferred out on 19 April 1975
  10. ^ "1977-1978". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  11. ^ Smales, Ken (1991). Forest – The First 125 Years. Nottingham: Temple Printing. ISBN 978-1870010092.
  12. ^ Attaway, Pete (2010). Nottingham Forest: Brian Clough and His Legacy - A Complete Record 1975 - 2010. Southend-on-Sea: Desert Island Book. ISBN 978-1905328833.