The 1987–88 season was Nottingham Forest's 123rd year in existence and 12th consecutive season in the First Division. Also the club competed in the FA Cup and League Cup.
Summary The season was, surprisingly, a decent campaign for Clough, with the club finishing third in the league despite losing several players during summer, but they did not play in the UEFA Cup the following season due to the ban on English clubs in Europe after the Heysel Stadium disaster. They finished 17 points behind champions Liverpool, who lost just twice all season (one of them against Forest on 2 April) and for much of the campaign looked uncatchable.
Forest lost just seven times in the league in 40 games, and lost only twice at City Ground, but a few disappointing draws against relatively unfancied sides including Charlton and Luton led to crucial points being dropped and prevented them from mounting a serious threat to Liverpool.
New arrivals for Clough were coming from the Youth team such as: Steve Chettle, Steve Locker, Gareth Price, Terry Wilson and Billy Stubbs, only to be Terry Wilson Terry Wilson on 11 v 11 the one who clinched a spot as starter. Also, the club transferred in Gary Crosby, Tommy Gaynor, . Nigel Jemson and Garry Parker in a clear sign of austerity for this season.
Meanwhile, Clough transferred out several starters such as: Ian Bowyer, Gary Mills, Garry Birtles, Fairclough and Johnny Metgod. In FA Cup the squad reached the semifinals for the first time ever in the "Clough era" being eliminated by Liverpool F.C. After rejected to play the first two editions (1985–86 and 1986–87) the club accepted to participate in the Full Members' CupThe competition was created after the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, when English clubs were banned from European competition, as an additional competition for clubs in the top two English League divisions. this 1987–88 campaign only to be eliminated on Round Three by Reading.
Squad
Transfers In Pos. Name from Type MF Garry Parker Hull City£260,000 FW Nigel Jemson Preston North End£150,000 MF Gary Crosby Grantham Town£20,000 FW Tommy Gaynor Doncaster Rovers GK Mark Crossley Youth team DF Steve Chettle Youth team DF Steve Locker Youth team MF Gareth Price Youth team MF Terry Wilson Youth team DF Billy Stubbs Youth team Out Pos. Name To TypeMFIan BowyerHereford United MFGary MillsNotts County FW Garry Birtles Notts CountyDFChris Fairclough Tottenham Hotspur DFJohnny Metgod Tottenham Hotspur FWDavid Riley Port Vale DFGary Andrews MFRay Campbell FWPaul Chalmers GKPaul CrichtonPeterborough United MFKjetil OsvoldLeicester City loan
Winter In Pos. Name from Type DF Martin Scott Rotherham United Out Pos. Name To Type GK Hans SegersSheffield United loan DF Steve Locker Hartlepool United FW Phil Starbuck Birmingham CityloanMFKjetil OsvoldDjurgårdens IF Fotboll loan FW Dave Campbell Notts Countyloan
Results
Division One
League table
Results by round
Matches .- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1988/
League Cup
FA Cup
Full Members' Cup
Football League Centenary Tournament
Final
Statistics Squad statistics
References