This is the 284thepisode of my podcast, 'Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’.
For this episode, I interview English
Podcasters Mr. Steven Toplisand Mr. Jeremy Davies, as we discuss the Nottingham Forest FC in
the decade of the 1980s.
Mr. Toplis and Mr. Davies are on the Nottingham
Forest related podcast, 1865: The #NFFC #PremierLeague Podcast
For any
questions/comments, you may contact us:
You may also contact me
on this blog, on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.
Nottingham
Forest and Ajax were paired in the Semi-Finals of the 1979/80 Champions Cup.
The
English side Nottingham Forest were the defending Champions of the trophy and
seemed set to repeat as Champions despite lagging in the League.
Brian
Clough along with able Assistant Peter Taylor, had assembled a squad containing
many British Internationals such as Peter Shilton in the net, big-money signing
Trevor Francis, English defender Viv Anderson, Scottish defender Kenny Burns,
Northern Ireland midfielder Martin O’Neill and captained by the un-capped
Scottish midfielder John McGovern.
Nottingham
Forest had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Sweden’s Osters IF
Vaxjo (2-0 home, 1-1 away), Romania’s Arges Pitesti (2-0 home, 2-1 away) and
East Germany’s Dinamo Berlin (0-1 away, 3-1 home) in the Quarterfinals.
Ajax,
managed by Leo Beenhakker, had been declining in Europe since the glory years
of the early 70s, but were still a force at home.
Captain
Ruud Krol was the sole remnant of that glorious side. Another veteran of the
side was Denmark’s Henning Jensen, who had played for Moenchengladbach and Real
Madrid in the past. The side contained a pair of Danish players that would be
known across the continent in a few years time (Soren Lerby and Frank Arnesen).
A young Dutch winger Simon Tahamta was also starting to make a name for
himself.
Ajax
had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Finland’s HJK Helsinki
(8-1 away, 8-1 home), Cyprus’ Omnia Nicosia (10-0 home, 0-4 away) and France’s
Strasbourg (0-0 away, 4-0 home) in the Quarterfinals.
The
first leg, on April 9th, was played at Nottingham’s City Ground.
Brian
Clough made one change from his basic lineup. Stan Bowles started in midfield
in place of Ian Bowyer.
Nottingham
Forest started the match maintaining their strategy of dominating the left side
offensive sector.
Beenhakker
was intent on man-marking Forest’s attacking trio. Cees Zwanborn was assigned
with marking Birtles, while Boeve was charged with marking of Trevor Francis. Piet Wijnberg,
started ahead of Wim Meutstege, to cover the left side threats of Robertson.
While Zwanborn managed to handle Birtles, Boeve appeared out of
depth against Francis and Francis would be the driving force behind Forest’s
win.
In addition, Lerby was unable to conjure up anything for Ajax as
he had to defend from Martin O’Neill’s surges on the right side.
Ajax were also intent on repeated fouls and obstruction to break
Forest’s rhythm.
Nottingham
Forest took the lead in the 33rd minute. John Robertson’s corner
from the left side (Forest’s eighth up to that point) was deflected by Lerby
towards the near post, Schrijvers parried with his foot, and Francis struck the
rebound from close range.
Early
in the second half, Ajax’s Tscheu La Ling was injured, after a challenge by Frankie
Gray, and replaced by Karel Bonsink.
Forest
doubled the lead in the 60th minute. Francis
tried to lob over Schrijvers in the box, Zawnborn tried to control loose ball
but it hit his hand.
A penalty was awarded that appeared harsh, as clearly there was no
intent. Robertson scored from the spot to give Forest a commanding (2-0) lead
into the second leg.
Trevor Francis had been excellent and Manager Brian Clough stated
afterwards that, “If
Trevor (Francis) maintains his current form, not only will he take us to the
Final but win it for us”.
Clough
was still cautious of the return leg and stated, “We would be making a grave error if we thought our job is done”.
For his part, Leo Beenhakker stated that, “We suffered a
collective loss at Nottingham…at the moment we are having difficulties but this
loss is due to lack of concentration…our problems are mental’’.
Ruud
Krol said afterwards, “If any English club had any interest on me, after such a
night, they would have certainly changed their mind”. (Little did he know, but
more on that later..)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1775, April 15, 1980
(April
9, 1980, Champions Cup, Nottingham Forest 2-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 53, May 1980
(April
9, 1980, Champions Cup, Nottingham Forest 2-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 53, May 1980
(April
9, 1980, Champions Cup, Nottingham Forest 2-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
The
second leg, on April 23rd, was played at Amsterdam’s Olympisch Stadion.
This time Beenhakker chose to start with Wim Meutstege ahead of Cees Zwanborn. Karel
Bonsink also started ahead of Simon Tahamata.
There was only one change with Forest. Ian Bowyer reclaimed his
spot in midfield ahead of Bowles.
Nottingham Forest chose to play with a defense in line and
the use of the offside tactic, which confused Ajax as they would have expected
defending in numbers from an away team protecting a lead.
Ajax would dominate the match without really making concrete
chances, as most of their attacks would break up in the last third.
They had to resort to crosses that were handled by the Forest defense.
Midway through the second half (66th minute),
Ajax would take the lead. Frank Arnesen took a corner from the left side
(Ajax’s 14th up to that point, and an unmarked Lerby headed in at
the far post.
Clough
would say afterwards, “ We should have never conceded the corner, let alone the
goal.”
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1980
(Team
captains John McGovern and Ruud Krol, April 23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1777, April 29, 1980
(April
23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1777, April 29, 1980
(April
23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 53, May 1980
(April
23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 53, May 1980
(April
23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Ajax could not make another breakthrough and were eliminated
as many had predicted.
At the end of the match, Krol would say, “you are all living on the
memories of the great Ajax, that team does not and will exist no more. Our team
is just a good team and nothing more.”
It
was obvious that the current Ajax crop were lightweight and not ready for
European glory.
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1980
(Soren
Lerby’s winner, April 23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Nottingham
Forest 0)
During
that week, Ruud Krol signed for Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL. He later
learned that Nottingham Forest had actually wanted him and he had not known
about it.
Clough
had preferred not to contact player before the end of contract, preferring to
discuss with Ajax Club President and Manager of Ajax (In another source not
contacting Krol directly was said to have been at the behest of Ajax
hierarchy).
Nottingham
were ready and willing to sign him, however, Vancouver had made a better offer.
Krol
expressed regret saying he would have preferred and had the desire to go to
England.
Ajax
would go on to win the Dutch League title at the end of that season. Nottingham
Forest finished fifth in the English League, but on May 28th at
Madrid, they defeated SV Hamburg (1-0) to lift the Champions Cup for the second
successive season.
Photo
From: L'Annee du Football 1980
(Nottingham
Forest players celebrating qualification, April 23, 1980, Champions Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
April 9, 1980
Nottingham
Forest Football Club(England)
2- AFC (Amsterdamse Football Club) Ajax (Holland) 0
Champions
Cup- Quarterfinals, First Leg
Venue: Nottingham-City Ground
Attendance: 31,244
Referee:Andre Daina (Switzerland)
Goalscorers: (Nottingham Forest): Trevor Francis 33, John Robertson 60 pen
Mexico
using four over-age players in the 1988 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament in April 1988.
Consequence:
In June 1988, it was determined that Mexico had used four
over-age players, Initially Mexico were barred from participating in the 1989
U-20 World Cup and a number of Officials were banned.
Mexican
Officials initially appealed to FIFA, but upon appeal FIFA increased the
sanctions to include all International competitions until 1990.
As
a result Mexico were banned from the 1990 World Cup qualifiers and missed the
chance to participate in the 1990 World Cup.
2- Event:
Colombian
goalkeeper Rene Higuita acting as a go-between to obtain the release of a
hostage in a kidnapping in 1993.
Consequence:
Higuita
delivered the ransom money to obtain the release of Colombian Drug Lord Carlos
Molina’s daughter. He received payment for his services which was illegal under
Colombian Law. He was therefore arrested and spent seven months in prison. He
was also unable to participate in the 1994 World Cup.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 15, April 1990
(Rene Higuita)
3- Event:
Peter
Taylor signing Nottingham Forest’s John Robertson in May 1983.
Consequence:
Brian Clough’s former Assistant Peter Taylor was at the time
managing Derby County. His signature of Scottish striker John Robertson from
Nottingham Forest angered Clough to the point that the pair were not on
speaking terms until Taylor passed away in 1990.
Apparently Clough had not been informed of the Robertson deal as
he was on holiday.
Photo
From: World Soccer, December 1978
(Peter
Taylor and Brian Clough)
Photo
From: Official Match Programme, Scotland v Sweden, 1981
(John Robertosn)
4- Event:
Paulao central defender of Cruzeiro breaking the foot of
Nivaldo of Nautico in Brazilian League play in April 1991.
Consequence:
Paulao
missed the chance of being selected for Brazil as Brazil Manager Paulo Roberto
Falcao chose not to select him for his action.
Falcao
instead called up Ricardo Rocha as his replacement.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 23, December 1990
(Paulo
Roberto Falcao)
Photo
From: 91 - Campeonato Brasileiro, Abril-Panini
(Paulao
of Cruzeiro)
Photo
From: 91 - Campeonato Brasileiro, Abril-Panini
(Nivaldo of Nautico)
5- Event:
Spain
Manager Ladislau Kubala calling up Atletico Madrid’s Jose Capon for the U-23
squad in 1969.
Consequence:
Capon
still had not played for Atletico Madrid’s first team. The publicity from this
call up forced them to revise their decision to transfer him to a Third
division club.
Photo
From: Don Balon, Issue 192, June 12-18, 1979
