NOTTINGHAM FOREST THE 1970's

The squad reported back
for pre season with no new additions and
worryingly no sign of any. That the club
reported a deficit on the balance sheet of
£192,000, perhaps explained why.
Trainer Tommy Cavanagh was suddenly
sacked without explanation, although he
had been sidelined for months, whilst Bob
McKinlay was now officially appointed first
team trainer to replace him and the role of
youth development officer was created for
Alan Hill.
Although Ian Moore was offered and
signed an unheard of four year contract,
he was uneasy about the situation. ‘I was
happy when the club showed how much
they valued me with the contract offer, but
it was clear that without new additions we
were only in for another season of struggle.
Appointing Bob McKinlay as trainer might
have seemed a good idea but in truth he
didn’t have the hardness or experience
for the job. As a player he was exactly the
same, quiet on the pitch, not a shouter or
motivator and when he had been captain
that had affected his game’.
At the Leagues AGM Forest had raised
the idea of Sunday football to halt the
decline in attendances, this motion was only
defeated by 25 to 23 votes. There was also
concern at the growth of defensive football
and violent behavior on the pitch. To this
end the referees were told to be stricter on
the games hard men.
As in previous years, the club visited
Germany for a couple of friendly matches,
the one against Kaiserslautern was
particularly memorable for Ian Moore as he
was sent off for retaliation, for the first and
only time in his career, finally cracking after
he had been roughed up all game.
Pre-season concluded with an entertaining
3-2 home win against Hannover 96, a couple
of goals for Moore showed his fitness for the
new season.
The Match of the Day cameras were at
Anfield to capture the opening day fixture
against Liverpool and the first steps to
stardom of Kevin Keegan, as Forest were
humbled 3-1. Keegan who was a bargain
£35,000 signing from Scunthorpe, had been
on Forests radar, but they had not considered
him good enough.
The next game saw the Reds make
the short trip to Leicester, newly promoted
back to the top flight, but despite having
by far the majority of the possession, they
lost 2-1, Cormack with the goal but it was a
ridiculous own goal from Liam O’Kane that
put City ahead. There was also the unusual
sight of Matt Gillies watching from the
touchline, rather than from his usual spot in
the Directors box.
Forest were to pick up their first win of
the season in the next game against West
Ham, a penalty from Ian Moore, although
they were grateful to Jim Barron for a string
of fine saves to clinch the points. A crowd of
only 17,000 showed what fans thought of the
season’s prospects.
A 3-2 home defeat to Southampton
four days later, was a foretaste of what was to
come, regularly scoring but defensive frailties
costing them dear. In fact Forest were two up
against Southampton and battering them,
but contrived to concede three goals on the
counter attack. With the experience within
NOTTINGHAM
FOREST
FOOTBALL CLUB
DIVISION ONE 1969 -70
Back row, left to right:
Middle row, left to right:
Front row, left to right:
JOHN WINFIELD ALAN HILL BOBBY McKINLAY PETER GRUMMITT
BOB CHAPMAN PETER HINDLEY
IAN MORE TERRY HENNESSEY PAUL RICHARDSON BARRY LYONS
DAVE HILLEY HENRY NEWTON
JOHN BARNWELL LIAM OKANE COLIN HALL RONNIE REES
46 NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN THE 1970s
NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN THE 1970s 47