The 1984–85 season was Nottingham Forest's 120th year in existence and 8th consecutive season in the First Division. Aside from the league, the club competed in the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
Summary In his tenth season as manager, Brian Clough, after several disagreements the previous season with Hans van Breukelen, transferred in another Dutch goalkeeper Hans Segers from PSV Eindhoven. Also, starter right back defender Viv Anderson left the club after nine seasons, being transferred out to Arsenal for £250,000. His spot for this campaign was covered by Kenny Swain who already was playing as a left back during the last two seasons. Swain was replaced by Scottish left back defender Jim McInally who delivered an outstanding performance during the season. Meanwhile, Clough transferred out Ian Wallace after a disappointing 1983–84 season, but Trevor Christie, his replacement was a flop, and left the club during Winter due to injuries. Birtles and Riley collapsed the offensive line, meaning Peter Davenport was the only striker with a decent outcome including 17 goals scored.
Clough reinforced the midfield with John Metgod; after his chaotic seasons in Real Madrid the Dutch player delivered a decent performance in a competitive line with Hodge, Bowyer, Wigley and Mills reinforcing the mid line during winter. However, the injuries (including Colin Walsh) and the mediocre performance of the strikers sink the squad to the 9th spot in League and early eliminations in UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup. The season is best remembered due to the debut of forward Nigel Clough, son of the club manager, and the flop of midfielder Gary Megson, about whom Clough said "he couldn't trap a bag of cement". Megson spent five months at the City Ground, without making a single first-team appearance before being sold to Newcastle United.
Squad
Transfers In Pos. Name from Type GK Hans SegersPSV Eindhoven £42,000 DF Jim McInallyCeltic Glasgow MF Johnny MetgodReal Madrid FW Trevor ChristieNotts County FW Paul Kee Mansfield Town F.C. MF Gary MegsonSheffield Wednesday MF Franz CarrBlackburn Rovers £100,000 DF Alan DavidsonSouth Melbourne FC MF Paul Raynor DF Gary Fleming MF David Campbell GK Darren Heyes Out Pos. Name To Type DF Viv AndersonArsenal £210,000 FW Ian WallaceBrest GK Hans van BreukelenPSV Eindhoven GK Kevin HitchcockMansfield Town loan DF Colin Todd Oxford United MF Danny Wilson Brighton and Hove Albion DF Nigel Johnson DF Les Robinson DF Adrian Shaw DF Shaun Finney
Winter In Pos. Name from Type FW Nigel Clough Out Pos. Name To Type MF Gary MegsonSheffield Wednesday FW Trevor ChristieDerby County
Results
Division One
League table
Results by round
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.
Matches .- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1985/
UEFA Cup
League Cup
FA Cup
Statistics Squad statistics
References