Editing Nottingham Forest F.C. (section)

===Brian Clough and Peter Taylor (1975–1982)===
[[File:Brian Clough Nottingham Statue 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Brian Clough (1935–2004) managed Nottingham Forest for 18 years]]

[[Brian Clough]] became manager of Forest on 6 January 1975, twelve weeks after the end of his 44-day tenure as manager of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]].<ref name=miracle>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|title=Brian Clough and the miracle of Nottingham Forest|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=10 October 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202120858/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|url-status=live}}</ref> Clough brought [[Jimmy Gordon (footballer, born 1915)|Jimmy Gordon]] to be his club trainer, as Gordon had been for him at Derby County and Leeds.<ref name=gordon>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|title=The forgotten story of … Brian Clough's other right-hand man|first=Nick|last=Miller|date=17 September 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194716/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|url-status=live}}</ref> Scottish centre-forward [[Neil Martin (footballer)|Neil Martin]] scored the only goal in Clough's first game in charge, beating Tottenham Hotspur in an [[1974–75 FA Cup#Third round proper|FA Cup third round replay]].<ref name=qos>{{cite web|url=https://www.qosfc.com/legends|title=QosFC: Queens Legends|website=qosfc.com|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203075747/http://www.qosfc.com/legends|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Ian Bowyer]] was already at Forest and had won domestic and European trophies with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Clough signed Scots duo [[John McGovern (footballer)|John McGovern]] and [[John O'Hare]] in February, who both were part of Clough's Derby County [[1971–72 Football League]] title win. He signed [[Colin Barrett]] in March, initially on loan. Clough brought [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] and [[Martin O'Neill]] back into the fold after they had requested transfers under Brown.<ref name=nffchist/> [[Viv Anderson]] had previously debuted for the first team and became a regular under Clough.<ref name=guard>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|title=Viv Anderson – Small Talk|first=Nicky|last=Bandini|date=5 March 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194806/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|url-status=live}}</ref> The young [[Tony Woodcock (footballer)|Tony Woodcock]] was at Forest but was then unrated by Clough and was to be loaned to [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]].<ref name = "Lincoln">{{Cite news|title=Lincoln Spell Turned Me Around... says Woodcock|date=19 February 1984|access-date=17 July 2014|work=New Straits Times|location=Kuala Lumpur|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228001142/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest were 13th in English football's second tier when Clough joined. They finished that season 16th. Forest signed [[Frank Clark (footballer)|Frank Clark]] in July of that close season on a free transfer.<ref name=chronic>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|title=How Newcastle United legend Frank Clark celebrated his birthday – with a host of Geordie fans|first=John|last=Gibson|date=10 September 2016|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074537/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, Forest finished eighth in Clough's [[1975–76 Football League]] first full season in charge.<ref name=miracle/> It was in this season, McGovern became long-standing club captain, taking over from a game in which [[Bob Chapman|Bob "Sammy" Chapman]] and [[Liam O'Kane]] were both injured.<ref name=mcg>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0|title=My Forest story: John McGovern|date=1 June 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904075640/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Peter Taylor (footballer, born 1928)|Peter Taylor]] on 16 July 1976 rejoined Clough, becoming his assistant manager, as he had been when winning the league at Derby.<ref name=miracle/> Taylor, included being the club's talent spotter in his role. After assessing the players, Taylor told Clough, "that was a feat by you to finish eighth in the Second Division because some of them are only Third Division players".<ref name="T87">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=87}}</ref> Taylor berated [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] for allowing himself to become overweight and disillusioned. He got Robertson on a diet and training regime that would help him become a European Cup winner.<ref name="T88">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=88}}</ref> Taylor turned Woodcock from a reserve midfielder into a 42 cap England striker.<ref name="T90">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=90}}</ref> In September 1976, he bought striker [[Peter Withe]] to Forest for £43,000, selling him to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for £250,000 two years later.<ref name="T91">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=91}}</ref> Withe was replaced in the starting team by [[Garry Birtles]] who Taylor had scouted playing for non-league [[Long Eaton United F.C.|Long Eaton United]]. Birtles also went on to represent England.<ref name="T104">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=104}}</ref> In October 1976 Brian Clough acting on Peter Taylor's advice signed [[Larry Lloyd]] for £60,000 after an initial loan period.

Together, Clough and Taylor took Forest to new heights. The first trophy of the Clough and Taylor reign was the [[1976–77 Anglo-Scottish Cup]]. Forest beat [[Leyton Orient|Orient]] 5–1 on aggregate in the two-legged final played in December 1976.<ref name=miracle/> Clough valued winning a derided trophy as the club's first silverware since 1959. He said, "Those who said it was a nothing trophy were absolutely crackers. We'd won something, and it made all the difference."<ref name=espn78lc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/|title=Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612051503/https://www.espn.com/soccer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 7 May 1977, [[Jon Moore]]'s own goal meant Forest in their last league game of the season beat [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] 1–0 at the City Ground.<ref name=mill76wall>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |title="Game Details – Millwall (H) – Sat May 07, 1977 (League Tier 2)" thecityground.com |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925215808/http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This kept Forest in the third promotion spot in the league table and dependent on [[Bolton Wanderers]] dropping points in three games in hand in the fight for third place.<ref name=res7677ult>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Results Fixtures 1976/1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143030/http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May [[Kenny Hibbitt]]'s goal from his rehearsed free kick routine with [[Willie Carr]] gave Wolves a 1–0 win at Bolton.<ref name=mcg/><ref name=bol76ton>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|title=Bolton Wanderers Historical Standings 17th May 1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206142736/http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Bolton's defeat reached the Forest team mid-air en route to an end of season break in [[Mallorca]].<ref name=mcg/> Forest's third place promotion from the [[1976–77 Football League Second Division]] was the fifth-lowest points tally of any promoted team in history, 52<ref name=nffchist/><ref name=miracle/> (two points for a win in England until 1981).

Taylor secretly followed [[Kenny Burns]] concluding Burns's reputation as a hard drinker and gambler was exaggerated. Taylor sanctioned his £150,000 July signing. Burns became [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] in [[1977–78 Football League|1977–78]] after being moved from centre-forward to centre-back.<ref name=hooligan>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|title=Signing 'a hooligan' and a Shankly team talk: how Clough set up Forest for title|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=11 November 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194753/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="T96">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=96}}</ref> Forest started their return to the top league campaign with a 3–1 win at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. Three further wins in league and cup followed without conceding a goal. Then came five early September goals conceded in losing 3–0 at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and beating Wolves 3–2 at home.<ref name=f7778site>{{cite web|url=http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|title=footballsite – Nottingham Forest results 1977/78|website=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005856/http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Peter Shilton]] then signed for a record fee for a goalkeeper of £325,000. Taylor reasoned: "Shilton wins you matches."<ref name="Fuf">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|title=Forest's unforgettable fairytale|last=Stevenson|first=Jonathan|date=21 September 2004|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2009|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124142708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 20-year-old [[John Middleton (footballer, born 1956)|John Middleton]] was first team goalkeeper pre-Shilton. Middleton later in the month went in part exchange with £25,000 to [[Derby County]] for [[Archie Gemmill]] transferring to Forest.<ref name=worldf>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/premier-league-1977-1978-derby-county-leeds-united/|title=Derby County – Leeds United 2:2 (Premier League 1977/1978, 6. Round)|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206205431/http://www.worldfootball.net/report/premier-league-1977-1978-derby-county-leeds-united/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gemmill was another Scottish former 1972 Derby title winner.<ref name=hooligan/><ref name=gemm>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|title=Archie GEMMILL – League appearances for Forest. – Nottingham Forest FC|website=Sporting Heroes|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194850/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest lost only three of their first 16 league games, the last of which was at Leeds United on 19 November 1977. They lost only one further game all season, the 11 March FA Cup sixth round defeat at [[West Bromwich Albion]].<ref name=f7778site/> Forest won the [[1977–78 Football League]] seven-points ahead of runners-up [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. Forest became one of the few teams (and the most recent team to date) to win the First Division title the season after winning promotion from the Second Division.<ref group="nb">The others were [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 1906, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in 1932, Tottenham Hotspur in 1951 and [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] in 1962. Forest remain the only club to achieve this feat having not been promoted as champions.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |title=The Joy of Six: Newly promoted success stories |author=Scott Murray |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021253/https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/eedd.html |title=English Energy and Nordic Nonsense |author=Karel Stokkermans |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=17 June 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021416/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/eedd.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This made Clough the third of four managers to win the [[list of English football champions|English league championship]] with two different clubs.<ref group=nb>The others are [[Tom Watson (football manager)|Tom Watson]], [[Herbert Chapman]] and [[Kenny Dalglish]].</ref> Forest conceded just 24 goals in 42 league games.<ref name="Fuf" /> They beat Liverpool 1–0 in the [[1978 Football League Cup final]] replay despite cup-tied Shilton, Gemmill and December signing [[David Needham]] missing out.<ref name="T113">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=113}}</ref> [[Chris Woods]] chalked up two clean sheets in the final, covering Shilton's League Cup absence. McGovern missed the replay through injury, meaning Burns lifted the trophy as deputising captain. Robertson's penalty was the only goal of the game.<ref name=espn78lc/><ref name=lg78cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|title=English League Cup Betting – 1977/78 – Soccer Base|website=soccerbase.com|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206011411/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest started season 1978–79 by beating [[Ipswich Town]] 5–0 for an [[FA Charity Shield]] record winning margin.<ref name=miracle/> In the [[1978–79 European Cup]] they were drawn to play the trophy winners of the past two seasons, [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. Home goals by Birtles and Barrett put Forest through 2–0 on aggregate.<ref name=forliv>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63471--nottm-forest-vs-liverpool/|title=UEFA Champions League – Nottm Forest-Liverpool|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194731/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1978/matches/round=1010/match=63471/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 26-year-old Barrett suffered a serious leg injury ten days later against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] that ultimately ended his professional career two years later. On 9 December 1978, Liverpool ended Forest's 42 match unbeaten league run dating back to November the year before.<ref name=miracle/> The unbeaten run was the equivalent of a whole season surpassing the previous record of 35 games held by [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in 1920/21.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Jonathan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |title=Wenger repeats Clough feat |work=BBC News |date=23 August 2004 |access-date=11 July 2009 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228043956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The record stood until surpassed by [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in August 2004, a month before Clough's death. [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] played [[The Invincibles (Arsenal)|49 league games without defeat]].<ref name=invince>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|title=49 Unbeaten|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010642/https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1979, Taylor authorised the English game's first £1&nbsp;million transfer signing [[Trevor Francis]] from [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref name="T124">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=124}}</ref> In the European Cup semi-final first leg at home against [[1. FC Köln]], Forest were two goals behind after 20 minutes, then scored three to edge ahead before Köln equalised to start the German second leg ahead on the [[away goals rule]]. [[Ian Bowyer]]'s goal in Germany put Forest through. [[Günter Netzer]] asked afterwards, "Who is this McGovern? I have never heard of him, yet he ran the game." Forest beat [[Malmö FF|Malmö]] 1–0 in Munich's [[Olympic Stadium (Munich)|Olympiastadion]] in the [[1979 European Cup final]]; Francis, on his European debut, scored with a back post header from Robertson's cross. Forest beat [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in the final 3–2 to retain the League Cup; Birtles scored twice, as did Woodcock once. Forest finished second in the [[1978–79 Football League]], eight points behind Liverpool.

[[File:Nottingham Forest FC (Amsterdam, 1980) - Francis, Clough, Robertson.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Trevor Francis]], Brian Clough and [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] in 1980]]
Forest declined to play in the home and away [[1979 Intercontinental Cup]] against Paraguay's [[Club Olimpia]]. Forest beat [[F.C. Barcelona]] 2–1 on aggregate in the [[1979 European Super Cup]] in January and February 1980, [[Charlie George]] scoring the only goal in the home first leg, while Burns scored an equaliser in the return in Spain.<ref name=esc79>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1979: Burns' night for Forest|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612212027/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the [[1979–80 Football League Cup]] Forest reached a third successive final. A defensive mix up between Needham and Shilton let Wolves' [[Andy Gray (footballer, born 1955)|Andy Gray]] tap in to an empty net. Forest passed up numerous chances, losing 1–0.<ref name=lc80f>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pLX1RA1vg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/L5pLX1RA1vg| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=15/03/1980 Wolverhampton W v Nottingham Forest|date=21 December 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the [[1979–80 European Cup]] quarter-final, Forest won 3–1 at [[Dinamo Berlin]] to overturn a 1–0 home defeat. In the semi-final, they beat [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] 2–1 on aggregate. They beat [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]] 1–0 in the [[1980 European Cup final]] at Madrid's [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]] to retain the trophy; after 20 minutes, Robertson scored, after exchanging passes with Birtles,<ref name="sofia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2fuefachampionsleague%2fseason%3d1979%2fclubs%2fclub%3d52681%2fmatches%2findex|title=Nottm Forest - UCL - Matches|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806035154/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2Fuefachampionsleague%2Fseason%3D1979%2Fclubs%2Fclub%3D52681%2Fmatches%2Findex|url-status=live}}</ref> and Forest then defended solidly.<ref>{{cite web |quote=Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport amusingly summed up the event by claiming that "Forest showed how English teams can implement [[Catenaccio]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |title=Bayern Munich: Branko Zebec, the brilliant, damaged manager who helped shape a giant |last=Yokhin |first=Michael |work=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125003534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forest finished fifth in the [[1979–80 Football League]].

In the [[1980–81 European Cup]] first round, Forest lost 2–0 on aggregate to 1–0 defeats home and away by CSKA Sofia.<ref name="sofia"/> McGovern subsequently said the double defeat by CSKA affected the team's self-confidence, in that they had lost out to modestly talented opponents.<ref name=mcg/> Forest lost the [[1980 European Super Cup]] on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw against [[Valencia C.F.|Valencia]]; Bowyer scored both Forest goals in the home first leg.<ref name=vcf>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1980: Valencia profit from Felman's fortune|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613003707/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 February 1981, Forest lost 1–0 in the [[1980 Intercontinental Cup]] against Uruguayan side, [[Club Nacional de Football]]. The match was played for the first time at the neutral venue [[National Stadium (Tokyo, 1958)|National Stadium]] in [[Tokyo]] before 62,000 fans.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyota80.html| title = Intercontinental Club Cup 1980| first = Osvaldo| last = Gorgazzi| website = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]| date = 13 February 2005| access-date = 5 December 2017| archive-date = 7 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181007012045/http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/toyota80.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

The league and European Cup winning squad was broken up to capitalise on player sale value. Clough and Taylor both later said this was a mistake.<ref name=gordon/> The rebuilt side comprising youngsters and signings such as [[Ian Wallace (footballer, born 1956)|Ian Wallace]], [[Raimondo Ponte]] and [[Justin Fashanu]] did not challenge for trophies. Taylor said in 1982,<ref name=taylorret>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420154453/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=20 April 2020 | url-status=dead|title=Peter Taylor Leaves Nottingham Forest 1982|date=31 December 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref> {{blockquote|For many weeks now I don't believe I've been doing justice to the partnership and I certainly haven't been doing justice to Nottingham Forest the way I felt. And consequently after a great deal of thought, there was no option. I wanted to take an early retirement. That's exactly what I've done.}}

John McGovern and Peter Shilton transferred and Jimmy Gordon retired in the same close season.<ref name=gordon/>