Most people remember Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest for two European Cup final wins and that 1977/78 league trophy. Not to forget three League Cup finals, in the same era and time.
But the managerial period of Brian Clough included so much more. The season of 1983-84 is an interesting one, ending 3rd in the old 1st division, reaching the semi’s of the UEFA Cup.
The squad of players in the 83/84 season had a special setting and volume. Dutch full international goalkeeper Hans Van Breukelen had been signed to fill the gap after Peter Shilton, joining Southampton the season before. Ian Bowyer and Gary Birtles had returned to the club from Sunderland and Man Utd. Viv Anderson was the only player to have been around all the time since Brian Clough arrived.
Brian Clough had changed a bit since the late 70’s. He had brought in a number of new players and some of them with special routine and good knowledge. Colin Todd, Paul Hart, Kenny Swain and Frans Thijssen were all at Forest in the 83/84 season. They are not really known for their time at Forest, being more accointed with Derby (CT), Leeds (PH), Aston Villa (KS) and Ipswich (FT).
Brian Clough is well quoted for his talk regarding Jan Tomaszewski, describing the Poland international goalkeeper as a clown, during the 1974 World Cup qualifier vs. England, when he helped his team to a 1-1 draw. Clough had another clown experience 10 years later, in the 82/83 season, vs. Norwich, pulling of a real clown from the field. What a schene. Brian Clough and his two clowns, one real and one not really a clown, but a good goalkeeper.
Back to the 1983/84 season. Not much talked about, but it was one really to remember as Forest managed a 3rd place in the league and of course again reaching far in Europe, ending in a semi-final to Anderlecht. We will look back at the games and the journey to the semi’s.
Southampton and Liverpool were the only teams in front in the league, and looking at the squad, you had quality all around. Peter Davenport, Gary Birtles and Ian Wallace were three competitive forwards known for their goalscoring. Davenport and Birtles both discovered in the non-league game, Wallace a very expensive signing from Coventry.
Forest had a 2-0 lead from the home game and another European final looked to be in reach, but the two Steve Hodge goals, woudl not be enough as Anderlecht turned it all around, winning 3-0 at home. A mix of players that made it possible to get these great results on board, but to be that close, shows that Forest under Clough, had levels of reach that was close to the early period of his days at the club.
The era from 1977 to 1992 in the top flight really put Forest on the map, as a club not just in England, but also in Europe. Later nursing young talents forward, developing them and sell them on to teams with higher budgets and a larger fanbase.
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