The 1985–86 season was Nottingham Forest's 121st year in existence and ninth consecutive season in the First Division. Also the club competed in the FA Cup and League Cup.
| 1985–86 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Maurice Roworth | ||
| Manager | Brian Clough | ||
| Stadium | The City Ground | ||
| First Division | 8th | ||
| FA Cup | Third round | ||
| League Cup | Fourth round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Nigel Clough (15) All: Clough (18) | ||
|
| |||
Summary
editDuring summer the Board appointed Archie Gemmill as its new coach assistant, the former midfielder returned to the club after six seasons.[1] Another arrival was midfielder Neil Webb in June, manager Brian Clough paid Portsmouth £250,000[2] reinforcing an ageing squad. To reinforce the defensive line, Left-back Defender Stuart Pearce was brought by manager Brian Clough. Pearce was the makeweight in a £300,000 deal that saw Coventry City centre-back Ian Butterworth move to Forest.[3] The already ageing squad is rebuilding for this season, Dutch Goalkeeper Hans Segers with several injuries was replaced by Steve Sutton as starter. In Defense, after the departure of Kevin Swain the right back lane was covered by Northern Irish Gary Fleming.[4] Central backs Paul Hart and Chris Fairclough were replaced by arrival Buttersworth and young defender Des Walker who had his breakthrough as starter. On the left back Scottish Jim McInally left his post as starter being replaced by arrival young defender Stuart Pearce. In the midfield, Clough reinforced the line with Right winger Franz Carr (he was already in the team since August 1984) and the new arrival Neil Webb for the central midfield amongst Metgod and veteran Ian Bowyer. The strikers line was completed by young forward Nigel Clough and veteran Davenport who clinched a transfer to Manchester United on 12 March 1986 for a fee of £750,000.[5]
The rebuilding had a cost for the club finishing on a mediocre 8th spot in League. The club opted out of Full Members' Cup in its 1985–86 edition.
Squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers
edit| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| DF | Stuart Pearce | Coventry City | £238,000 |
| MF | Neil Webb | Portsmouth | £210,000 |
| MF | Brian Rice | Hibernian | £182,000 |
| DF | Ian Butterworth | Coventry City | |
| MF | John Robertson | Derby County | |
| MF | Leigh Palin | Aston Villa | |
| DF | Brett Williams | ||
| MF | Archie Gemmill | ||
| MF | Steven Murray | ||
| FW | Mick Perry | ||
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| MF | Steve Hodge | Aston Villa | £450,000 |
| DF | Kenny Swain | Portsmouth | |
| DF | Bryn Gunn | Shrewsbury Town | loan |
| DF | Paul Hart | Sheffield Wednesday | |
| MF | Paul Raynor | Huddersfield Town | |
| FW | David Longhurst | Halifax Town | |
Winter
edit| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Bryn Gunn | Walsall | loan |
| DF | Mark Smalley | Birmingham City | |
| DF | Alan Davidson | South Melbourne | |
| FW | Paul Kee | Southampton | |
Spring
edit| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Bryn Gunn | Mansfield Town | loan |
| FW | Peter Davenport | Manchester United | £657,000 |
Results
editDivision One
editLeague table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Chelsea | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 57 | 56 | +1 | 71 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 69 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 68 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 66 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 74 | 52 | +22 | 65 |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Results by round
editSource: https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1985/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; = Champions, Disqualified to 1986–87 European Cup; = Disqualified to 1986–87 UEFA Cup; = Relegated to Division Two
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; = Champions, Disqualified to 1986–87 European Cup; = Disqualified to 1986–87 UEFA Cup; = Relegated to Division Two
On June 2, 1985 English teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on until the season 1990–91 because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.[6]
Matches
edit| 17 August 1985 1 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | Luton |
Brian Stein  20' |
12 | 52' Neil Webb |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,318 Referee: JE Martin |
| 21 August 1985 2 | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | West Bridgford |
| 19 | Simon Stainrod 2' |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 18,367 |
| 24 August 1985 3 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Southampton | West Bridgford |
| Johnny Metgod 22' Mark Wright 44' (o.g.) |
12 | 65' David Armstrong |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,643 Referee: Art. Robinson |
| 27 August 1985 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | White City |
| Gary Bannister 6' Terry Fenwick 37' (pen) |
14 | 17' Neil Webb |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 9,799 Referee: JC Deakin |
| 31 August 1985 5 | Nottingham Forest | 1–3 | Manchester United | West Bridgford |
| Peter Davenport 46' |
18 | 2'Mark Hughes 5'Peter Barnes 40' Frank Stapleton |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 26,274 Referee: KS Hackett |
| 3 September 1985 6 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
| Ronnie Whelan 55', 70' |
20 | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 27,135 Referee: T Mills |
| 8 September 1985 7 | Leicester City | 0–3 | Nottingham Forest | Leicester |
| Neil Webb 35' Peter Davenport 78'Brian Rice 89' |
Attendance: 14,247 Referee: TJ Holbrook |
| 14 September 1985 8 | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | West Bridgford |
| 85' Hughton |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,247 Referee: TJ Holbrook |
| 21 September 1985 9 | Nottingham Forest | 3–2 | Watford | West Bridgford |
| Neil Webb 35' Peter Davenport 78'Brian Rice 89' |
15 | 34' Callaghan 90' Rostron |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,247 Referee: TJ Holbrook |
| 28 September 1985 10 | West Ham United | 2–4 | Nottingham Forest | Upton Park |
| Tony Cottee 6' Frank McAvennie 12', 20'Alan Dickens 59' |
16 | 61'Johnny Metgod 70'Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 14,540 Referee: DJ Axcell |
| 5 October 1985 11 | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | Ipswich Town | West Bridgford |
| Stuart Pearce 8' Ian Bowyer 11', 27' |
15 | 48' Ian Atkins |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,120 Referee: TA Jones |
| 12 October 1985 12 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
| Colin Gibson 67' |
12 | 60' (o.g.) Brendan Ormsby 72'Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 15,315 Referee: AN Buksh |
| 19 October 1985 13 | Newcastle United | 0–3 | Nottingham Forest | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| 9 | 28' Brian Rice 78', 87' Peter Davenport |
Attendance: 23,304 Referee: NL Wilson |
| 26 October 1985 14 | Nottingham Forest | 3–2 | Arsenal | West Bridgford |
| Peter Davenport 29' (pen), 65', 72' |
8 | 89' Graham Rix 90' Paul Davis |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 17,756 Referee: J McAulay |
| 3 November 1985 15 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion | West Bridgford |
| Neil Webb 38' Peter Davenport 75' (pen) |
7 | 44' Steve Hunt |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 19,610 Referee: N Midgley |
| 9 November 1985 16 | Chelsea | 4–2 | Nottingham Forest | Fulham |
| David Speedie 1' Kerry Dixon 24', 61'Micky Hazard 35' (pen) |
9 | 10', 55' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,743 Referee: RG Milford |
| 16 November 1985 17 | Nottingham Forest | 0–2 | Manchester City | West Bridgford |
| 10 | 28' Clive Wilson 55' Paul Simpson |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,140 Referee: VG Callow |
| 23 November 1985 18 | Everton | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | Walton |
| Paul Bracewell 76' |
10 | 70' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 27,869 Referee: J Lovatt |
| 1 December 1985 19 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Oxford United | West Bridgford |
| Peter Davenport 59' (pen) |
10 | 19' Andy Thomas |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,317 Referee: PA Tyldesley |
| 7 December 1985 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | Sheffield |
| Brian Marwood 57' Mark Chamberlain 85' |
11 | 54' Neil Webb |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 22,495 Referee: TJ Holbrook |
| 14 December 1985 21 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Luton Town | West Bridgford |
| Nigel Clough 30' Neil Webb 78' |
10 | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,078 Referee: JE Bray |
| 20 December 1985 22 | Southampton | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | Southampton |
| Steve Moran 10', 38' David Armstrong 73' |
10 | 43' Franz Carr |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 12,500 Referee: HW King |
| 26 December 1985 23 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
| 11 | 17' Neil Webb |
Stadium: St Andrews Attendance: 10,378 Referee: K Walmsley |
| 28 December 1985 24 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Liverpool | West Bridgford |
| Neil Webb 11' |
10 | 55' Kevin MacDonald |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 27,141 Referee: KW Baker |
| 1 January 1986 25 | Nottingham Forest | 5–2 | Coventry City | West Bridgford |
| Neil Webb 40', 52', 76' Johnny Metgod 80'Peter Davenport 84' |
9 | 19' Cyrille Regis 20' Micky Adams |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,860 Referee: MJ Cotton |
| 11 January 1986 26 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–3 | Nottingham Forest | Tottenham |
| 9 | 47', 69' Peter Davenport 51' Colin Walsh |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 19,043 Referee: RG Milford |
| 18 January 1986 27 | Manchester United | 2–3 | Nottingham Forest | Manchester |
| Jesper Olsen 46' (pen), 67' |
8 | 43', 80' Colin Walsh 88' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 46,717 Referee: JM Key |
| 1 February 1986 28 | Nottingham Forest | 4–0 | Queens Park Rangers | West Bridgford |
| Colin Walsh 20', 84' Franz Carr 27'Neil Webb 59' |
6 | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 11,538 Referee: T Fitzharris |
| 8 February 1986 29 | Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | Newcastle United | West Bridgford |
| Colin Walsh 80' |
7 | 66', 73' Peter Beardsley |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,388 Referee: JW Lloyd |
| 8 March 1986 30 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | Ipswich |
| 9 | Terry Butcher 52' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 12,827 Referee: DV Reeves |
| 15 March 1986 31 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Aston Villa | West Bridgford |
| Nigel Clough 62' (pen) |
10 | 72' Mark Walters |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,933 Referee: JA Moules |
| 22 March 1986 32 | Nottingham Forest | 4–3 | Leicester City | West Bridgford |
| Ian Bowyer 7' Franz Carr 38'Nigel Clough 65', 89' |
10 | 5', 68'Alan Smith 48' Tony Sealy |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,484 Referee: D Scott |
| 29 March 1986 33 | Coventry City | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | Coventry |
| 10 | Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 9,447 Referee: C Downey |
| 31 March 1986 34 | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Birmingham City | West Bridgford |
| Nigel Clough 28' (pen) Johnny Metgod 46'Neil Webb 88' |
10 | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,134 Referee: JB Worrall |
| 2 April 1986 35 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | West Ham United | West Bridgford |
| Johnny Metgod 39' Brian Rice 88' |
8 | 69' Tony Cottee |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 17,498 Referee: LR Dilkes |
| 5 April 1986 36 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | West Bromwich |
| Martyn Bennett 76' |
8 | 21' Johnny Metgod |
Attendance: 7,901 Referee: CC Trussell |
| 8 April 1986 37 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | Islington |
| Ian Allinson 19' (pen) |
8 | 65' David Campbell |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 15,087 Referee: LM Robinson |
| 12 April 1986 38 | Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | Chelsea | West Bridgford |
| 8 | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 18,055 Referee: D Shaw |
| 19 April 1986 39 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | Moss Side |
| Gordon Davies 85' |
7 | 71'Neil Webb 82' David Campbell |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 19,715 Referee: J Lovatt |
| 21 April 1986 40 | Watford | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | Watford |
| 12:00 | John Barnes 12' |
7 | 22' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 11,510 Referee: A Gunn |
| 26 April 1986 41 | Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | Everton | West Bridgford |
| 8 | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 30,171 Referee: B Hill |
| 3 May 1986 42 | Oxford United | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | Oxford |
| 15:00 | Jeremy Charles 27' |
8 | 16', 81' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 11,842 Referee: RL Hamer |
League Cup
edit| 25 September 1985 2 | Nottingham Forest | 4–0 | Bolton Wanderers | Nottingham |
| David Campbell 66', 74' Brian Rice 70'Nigel Clough 79' |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 10,530 Referee: PW Vanes |
| 8 October 1985 2 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 (0–7 agg.) | Nottingham Forest | |
| Brian Rice 62' Peter Davenport 74'Nigel Clough 84' |
Attendance: 4,010 Referee: D Hutchinson |
| 30 October 1985 3 | Derby County | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | Derby |
| Jeff Chandler 9' (pen) |
12'Johnny Metgod 68' Franz Carr |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,000 Referee: D Shaw |
| 25 November 1985 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | White City |
| Terry Fenwick 8' (pen) Gary Bannister 87'John Byrne 90' |
80' Nigel Clough |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 13,052 Referee: ML James |
FA Cup
edit| 4 January 1985 3 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Nottingham |
| Garry Birtles 65' |
43' Chris Thompson |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,772 Referee: G Courtney |
| 13 January 1986 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 3–2 | Nottingham Forest | Blackburn |
| John Lowey 17' Noel Brotherston 42'Chris Thompson 44' |
24' Colin Walsh 88' Garry Birtles |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 11,710 Referee: G Courtney |
Statistics
editSquad statistics
edit| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Football League Division One |
FA Cup |
Football League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG
|
Steve Sutton | 36 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF |  NIR
|
Gary Fleming | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Ian Butterworth | 27 | 0 | 22+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Des Walker | 43 | 0 | 36+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Stuart Pearce | 34 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Ian Bowyer | 28 | 3 | 25+1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Neil Webb | 44 | 14 | 38 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF |  NED
|
Johnny Metgod | 45 | 7 | 37+2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Franz Carr | 25 | 4 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Nigel Clough | 45 | 18 | 37+2 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Peter Davenport | 33 | 14 | 27 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| GK | NED
|
Hans Segers | 12 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Garry Birtles | 30 | 2 | 24+1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF |  SCO
|
Brian Rice | 22 | 5 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Colin Walsh | 24 | 7 | 16+4 | 6 | 1+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | |
| MF | NIR
|
David Campbell | 19 | 5 | 14+4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Gary Mills | 18 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | SCO
|
Jim McInally | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Brett Williams | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
John Robertson | 12 | 0 | 10+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Steve Wigley | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Steve Hodge | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Archie Gemmill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Steven Murray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Leigh Palin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Mick Perry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Darren Heyes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Chris Fairclough | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
David Riley | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest stun English football – Rewind to 1978". ESPN. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Neil Webb – Football Stats – No Club – Age 54 – 1980–1997 – Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ Jonty Colman (21 October 2018). "Stuart Pearce reveals why he did not leave Nottingham Forest for Manchester United or Rangers". nottinghampost.com. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "The Gary Fleming Practice". Derry Journal. 17 April 2009.
- ^ "Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net".
- ^ Simon Burnton (2 June 2020). "'Quarantine our sad, sick game': how Heysel tragedy changed English football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.