NOTTINGHAM FOREST THE 1970's

off a great win, Chapman in particular was
singled out for praise as he marked Spurs
dangerman Martin Chivers out of the game,
keeping a clean sheet in the process.
The inconsistency of the team was the
main concern amongst fans. One week it was
if they didn’t realise they were in a relegation
dogfight, whilst the next They were playing
as if their lives depended on it. Ian Moore
comments ‘The manager appeared to be
laid back, he thought we had the ability to
play well, but there was no pressure on some
players to perform, the defence virtually
picked itself as there was no competition for
places as the youngsters either weren’t good
enough or ready to play. Whereas in the past
Tommy Cavanagh could have been relied
upon to hand out a few hard truths, he was
being sidelined by the manager and it was
not in Bob McKinlays nature to be loud and
demonstrative, even if it was necessary, so at
times the team just drifted’.
The season was virtually saved after a
run of three consecutive victories including
one at the Baseball ground. Beginning with
a 3-2 victory over Everton, a couple from
Cormack and one from Moore in front of the
Match of the Day cameras, though they were
aided by Everton fielding a weakened side
in preparation for an FA Cup tie. Cormacks
second goal was the clubs 4,000 in League
Football.
This was followed up the following
Saturday with an emphatic 3-1 win against
Crystal Palace and a hat trick for Ian Moore,
who on a personal note registered his 100th
goal for the club in front of a disappointing
crowd of 16,000.
The game that everyone was waiting
for came just four days later and the chance
for revenge against Derby. The game had
originally been scheduled for January but
had been called off with a water logged pitch.
This was not an unusual occurrence at this
time, because Derby were widely considered
to have the worst pitch in football.
Derby themselves were not having
a good season, in fact they were only five
points ahead of Forest. Home attendances
might be declining, but it was another big
following that went down the A52 to see
the Reds fully deserved 2-1 win. Goals from
Richardson and Moore and an outstanding
defensive performance grabbed the points.
Even Brian Clough couldn’t find fault with
this one.
Matt Gillies pronounced that ’people
are now beginning to glimpse the real
Forest’. Unfourtunately another Forest must
have turned up at Molineux on Saturday, as
they were crushed 4-0 by Wolves.
Liam O’Kane remembers his early days
playing alongside Sammy Chapman, ‘When
I came into the team, I suppose you could
say I was quite naïve, obviously the standard
was higher but also this was playing for your
living and as a professional sometimes you
had to do what was necessary. Players on
both sides knew this, so there was no hard
feelings.
Playing alongside Sammy opened my
eyes, he was a hard man. I remember when
we used to warm up and Sammy would be
staring down the opposition forwards and
suddenly he would shout out for all to hear,
Oi Liam, the stupid b*****d hasn’t got his
pads on, I’m going to enjoy it today and you
just knew what Sammy was going to do.
The referees always let you off with an early
settling challenge’.
The topsy turvey nature of the season
continued over Easter. On Good Friday, the
Reds travelled to Maine Road to take on
Manchester City. Many supporters had been
calling for Duncan McKenzie to be given his
chance, especially in light of the goalscoring
troubles. Duncan was a maverick, a term
often overused but apt for this player.
He had a fine range of skills and bags of
confidence but somehow he couldn’t seem to
use them for the team, frustrating colleagues
by holding on to the ball, always wanting
to beat another man. This day, on his first
start of the season, he showed what he could
do, scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory and
impressing everyone.
So it was a surprise when he was left out
of the next days home fixture with West Ham,
the previously injured Cormack regaining
his spot. A fine solo effort for Moore being
the only goal as mid table security beckoned.
The next game against Arsenal showed
that the fans were still there if you could give
them a team worth watching.
A warm Tuesday evening drew over
40,000 to the City Ground, ( though many
experienced supporters thought the crowd
closer to 45,000, higher than the official
figure) the highest attendance of the season
and also better than anything Derby had
managed all year. It was a pity that they met
an Arsenal team at the height of their powers
and on the way to a League and Cup double,
as they ran out 3-0 winners. Half time music
included ‘It’s impossible’ by Perry Como,
was Laurie having a laugh.
Survival for the season was assured
after a 3-2 victory away at Blackpool, Moore
scoring an 82 minute winner. This meant
that since the New Year the team had
played 17 games, winning 11, losing 6 and
drawing none, for a haul of 22 points from a
possible 34, this was top six form if it could
be maintained over a full season. After an
injury to Neil Martin, Duncan McKenzie
was handed the number nine shirt for the
last four games of the season and although
he didn’t score he was gaining valuable
experience, despite the fact that it looked
like his teammates had downed tools and
coasted to the seasons end, failing to score or
pick up any points from the three remaining
fixtures.
The season finished with a County Cup
Final against Mansfield. This not only ended
in a 1-0 defeat, but it also saw Peter Hindley
sent off after a wrestling match with the Stags
Stuart Boam when trying to retrieve the ball.
As with Ken Wagstaffe in the 1960’s Forest
once more missed out on talent right under
their noses as uncompromising centre half
Boam joined Middlesbrough and enjoyed a
fine career.
Alan Hill had now been told to retire
on medical grounds and had taken up a
position on the coaching staff. The club had
also granted him use of the City Ground for
a testimonial game against Notts County.
Alan was a popular figure and despite only
being with the club for eighteen months a
fine crowd of over 15,000 turned up to pay
their respects. They were also treated to a
half time ‘Hot Pants’ competition.
Five players, the whole defence of
Barron, Hindley, Winfield, Chapman and
O’Kane played in every game, league, cups
and friendlies. That they should have all
avoided injury, or in Sammy’scase suspension
was amazing, but was this also a sign that
there was no competition for places? all of
them at various times had suffered from lack
of form. John Cottam and Dave Serella were
making progress but were they good enough
or ready?
The club had spent money, but had it spent
wisely ? Was there a plan or were they just
38 NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN THE 1970s
NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN THE 1970s 39