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
Since
its inception in 1960, the annual Intercontinental Cup between the winners of
the Europe’s Champions Cup and South America’s Copa Libertadores had been
marred with violence.
The
home and away series had become synonymous with fights and multiple sending
offs. Most particularly Argentina’s Estudiantes (featuring Carlos Bilardo) in
the late 60s had turned these series into all out wars.
The
prestige of the Tournament had declined to such a point that in certain years
European winners refused to take part, as they could not see the glory nor the
hassle in winning a title that would most certainly involve fights and injuries
to their players.
It
was at this point that Japanese Motor Corporation Toyota decided to take
control and sponsor the competition. The single match event would take place
annually in Tokyo (neutral territory). The teams and Confederations would be
contractually obligated to participate or risk a lawsuit. In Addition to the
Intercontinental Cup, the teams would also receive ‘The Toyota Cup.’
It
was hoped this would re-invigorate the fading competition.
Furthermore,
the ‘Man of the Match’ as elected by Japanese Journalists would receive a
Toyota Car.
The
very first Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo was to take place on February 11th,
1981.
The
participating teams were England’s Nottingham Forest and Uruguay’s Nacional
Montevideo. Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest had won their second straight
Champions Cup on May 28, 1980 by defeating SV Hamburg (1-0).
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Victorino and Lloyd, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Frank Gray and Bica, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
The
team was led in goal by Peter Shilton and contained many British internationals
such as Englishmen Viv Anderson and Trevor Francis,
Northern Irish International Martin O’Neill and Scotsmen Kenny Burns and John
Roberston.
Uruguay’s Nacional Montevideo had defeated Brazil’s Internacional
in the Finals of the Copa Libertadores (July 30th, 0-0 and August 6th,
1-0).
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Their Manager ,Juan Martin Mujica, had been heavily influenced
from his playing days in the French League and had imposed a European, more
physical style of tactics for his team. The team played with a Sweeper, Stopper
and permanent pressing game. They had a tactical discipline rare for a South
American side.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Milar, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
The team was led by three veterans in their thirties, who had
returned after stints in Europe: Victor Esparrago, Juan Carlos Blanco and Julio Cesar
Morales.
Their
main goalscoring threat was from Waldemar Victorino. Their counterattacking
game relied on Victorino holding the ball with his back to the goal.
Just
a month prior, Uruguay had triumphed in the Mundialito with Victorino scoring
three goals including the winner in the Final vs. Brazil.
Nacional
were handicapped by the transfer of key defender Hugo De Leon, who had joined
Brazil’s Gremio after their victory in the Libertadores Cup.
In
addition, key midfielder Eduardo Maria De La Peña
was to miss this match through injury.
As far as preparations for the match, the
Uruguayans appeared to have taken it more seriosuly. They traveled to Tokyo one
week ahead of the match to acclimatize to the conditions.
In
contrast Nottingham Forest had played a League match on the previous Saturday
and had flown on Sunday. Their journey had been long and tiring.
To
minimize the effects of time change, the players had been given sleeping pills
on the plane, and on the Monday were even restricted to go to bed before 4 AM
Tokyo time.
They
had also arrived with a small squad, only 14 players. Even reserve goalkeeper
Lee Smelt did not travel with the team.
The
match was played on midday Wednesday. It was a National Holliday in Japan
(Foundation Day) and there was a large crowd in the Stadium.
The
only High level UEFA dignitary in attendance was the Swiss Secretay Genral Hans Bargerter.
Upon arriving the teams were surprised to see
that the field did not have grass.
Nottinghan Forest lost their Captain John
McGovern who failed a late fitness test. Kenny Burns assumed the Captaincy in
his absence.
Prior to kickoff, the Forest players paid
homage to their hosts by running around the field carrying a Japanese flag.
(Victorino scoring the winner, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
For
the rest of the match, Nottingham Forest were in control and according to many
(even themselves) should really have won the match.
Nacional
had two goals ruled out for Offside. Luzardo scored a goal in first half that
was disallowed (Victorino in offside position).
Bica
scored a goal in the second half that was also ruled out for Offside (Victorino had taken advantage of a Frank
Gray backpass, Shilton saved at his feet, and Bica scored on the rebound while
in an offside position).
But
in General, it was Nottingham Forest who created more chances and Stuart Gray
went the closest by heading the post in the 78th minute. Afterwards
Kenny Burns felt they should have ‘murdered these Uruguayans’.
Photo
From: World Soccer, March 1981
(February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
The
Uruguayans were also more physical, with Trevor Francis being the favorite
target of Nacional Captain Esparrago.
At
the end of the match Esparrago apologized for his dangerous tackle on him and
reassured him that it was not deliberate, however, Francis gently reminded him
that it was MANY fouls.
Nacional
Manager Mujica’s chief complaint was about the state of the pitch, which
created many awkward bounces of the ball.
Brian
Clough also complained about the grassless pitch, especially given the advanced
state of Japanese technology.
Nottingham
Manager Brian Clough felt they were not unlucky to lose as they had many
chances and failed to capitalize. He felt his players were unlucky not to win
the car. He would have preferred either
Trevor Francis or Kenny Burns to be elected as Man of the Match. That honor
went to the goalscorer Waldemar Victorino, who won
the Toyota Celica after a vote by the Japanese journalists.
The experience had been a positive one and the competition had
found a new home and a new lease on life.
Note:
1-Four Middle Eastern Nations refused to broadcast the match
because Match Referee Abraham Klein was from Israel.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Nacional
players celebrating, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup, Nacional
Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1981
(Esparrago
lifting the trophy, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1981
(Victorino (wearing an exchanged jersey) with
the car, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
February 11, 1981
Club
Nacional de Football Montevideo (Uruguay) 1-Nottingham Forest Football Club (England) 0
