1983–84 Nottingham Forest F.C. season
The 1983–84 season was Nottingham Forest's 119th year in existence and seventh consecutive season in the First Division. Also the club competed in the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
1983–84 season | |||
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Chairman | Maurice Roworth | ||
Manager | Brian Clough | ||
Stadium | The City Ground | ||
First Division | 3rd | ||
FA Cup | Second round | ||
League Cup | Third round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Peter Davenport (15) All: Davenport (17) | ||
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Summary
In his ninth season as manager Brian Clough transferred in Dutch midfielder Frans Thijssen from Ipswich Town [1] only to be a flop and he left the club within months. On the contrary of the last three seasons, this campaign the offensive line had a good performance with Davenport, Birtles aimed by a superb midfield with Hodge and Walsh despite club legend John Robertson left the club during summer and signed with Peter Taylor's Derby County. After two early eliminations on FA Cup and League Cup the squad reached the UEFA Cup semifinals against RSC Anderlecht. In the first leg, the team took a 2–0 score in Nottingham and for the second leg the Belgian squad won 3-0 classifying to the 1984 UEFA Cup Final. According to Constant Vanden then Anderlecht club President, the club paid a bribe to Spanish referee Emilio Guruceta Muro before the match.In 1997 the UEFA banned the Belgian club for 1 season for competing in its continental tournaments.[2] In 2016 it was revealed that UEFA had evidence of the match-fixed scandal since 1992.[3][4] Meanwhile, in League the squad finished on a decent third spot only 6 points below of Champions Liverpool and clinching a UEFA Cup spot for the second consecutive campaign.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
In | |||
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Pos. | Name | from | Type |
MF | Frans Thijssen | Ipswich Town | |
MF | Paul Hart | Leeds United | |
MF | Gary Mills | Derby County | loan ended |
MF | Mark Smalley | ||
FW | David Riley | Keyworth United | |
DF | Shaun Finney | ||
GK | Kevin Hitchcock | Barking | |
FW | Nigel Johnson | Rotherham United | |
FW | David Longhurst | ||
FW | Les Robinson | ||
MF | Adrian Shaw | ||
Out | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Name | To | Type |
MF | John Robertson | Derby County | |
DF | Willie Young | Brighton and Hove Albion | |
DF | Stuart Gray | Barnsley F.C. | |
MF | Mark Proctor | Sunderland | |
FW | Liam Robinson | Southampton | |
MF | Steve Kendal | ||
Winter
In | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Name | from | Type |
DF | Des Walker | ||
Out | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Name | To | Type |
GK | Ronnie Sinclair | Wrexham | loan |
MF | Frans Thijssen | Vancouver Whitecaps | |
Results
Division One
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liverpool (C) | 42 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 73 | 32 | +41 | 80 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
2 | Southampton | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 77 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
3 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 76 | 45 | +31 | 74 | |
4 | Manchester United | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 71 | 41 | +30 | 74 | |
5 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 67 | 37 | +30 | 73 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Champions, Qualified to 1983–84 European Cup; = Qualified to 1983–84 UEFA Cup; = Relegated to Division Two
Manager: Geoff Twentyman
Matches
27 August 1983 1 | Nottingham Forest | 0-1 | Southampton | Nottingham |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,690 Referee: G Courtney |
29 August 1983 2 | Manchester United | 1-2 | Nottingham Forest | Manchester |
Kevin Moran ![]() |
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Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 43,005 Referee: R Bridges |
03 September 1983 3 | Liverpool | 1-0 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
Ian Rush ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 31,376 Referee: J Lovatt |
07 September 1983 4 | Nottingham Forest | 2-2 | Aston Villa | Nottingham |
Peter Davenport ![]() Garry Birtles ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 16,379 Referee: JD Hough |
10 September 1983 5 | Nottingham Forest | 3-2 | Queen's Park Rangers | Nottingham |
Steve Hodge 16'Peter Davenport 33'Bob Hazell 83' (og) | Ian Dawes 9' Simon Stainrod 61' | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,607 Referee: RF Nixon |
17 September 1983 6 | Norwich City | 2-3 | Nottingham Forest | Norwich |
Keith Bertschin ![]() John Deehan ![]() |
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Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 14,605 Referee: EJ Scales |
24 September 1983 7 | Nottingham Forest | 1-0 | Luton Town | Nottingham |
Ian Wallace ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 16,296 Referee: JB Worrall |
02 October 1983 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2-1 | Nottingham Forest | Tottenham |
Gary Stevens ![]() Steve Archibald ![]() |
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Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 30,596 Referee: Al. Robinson |
16 October 1983 9 | Nottingham Forest | 3-1 | Notts County | Nottingham |
Ian Wallace ![]() Ian Bowyer ![]() Peter Davenport ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 26,657 Referee: N Midgley |
22 October 1983 10 | Arsenal | 4-1 | Nottingham Forest | Islington |
Alan Sunderland ![]() Colin Hill ![]() Tony Woodcock ![]() ![]() |
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Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 22,872 Referee: K Cooper |
29 October 1983 11 | Nottingham Forest | 1-1 | Sunderland | Nottingham |
Frans Thijssen ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,968 Referee: NJ Ashley |
05 November 1983 12 | Nottingham Forest | 5-0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Nottingham |
Garry Birtles ![]() Peter Davenport ![]() Colin Walsh ![]() Steve Hodge ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,855 Referee: IJ Borrett |
12 November 1983 13 | Everton | 1-0 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
Adrian Heath ![]() |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 17,549 Referee: CN Seel |
19 November 1983 14 | Nottingham Forest | 2-1 | Ipswich Town | Nottingham |
Garry Birtles ![]() Kenny Swain ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,979 Referee: A Saunders |
26 November 1983 15 | Stoke City | 1-1 | Nottingham Forest | Stoke-on-Trent |
Mark Chamberlain ![]() |
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Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 11,661 Referee: DB Allison |
04 December 1983 16 | Nottingham Forest | 3-2 | Leicester City | Nottingham |
Colin Walsh ![]() Ian Bowyer ![]() Frans Thijssen ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 23,247 Referee: Art. Robinson |
10 December 1983 17 | Watford | 3-2 | Nottingham Forest | Watford |
Mo Johnston ![]() George Reilly ![]() Nigel Callaghan ![]() |
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Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 14,047 Referee: JC Deakin |
17 December 1983 18 | Nottingham Forest | 3-0 | West Ham United | Nottingham |
Steve Hodge ![]() Garry Birtles ![]() Colin Walsh ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,440 Referee: TJ Holbrook |
26 December 1983 19 | Birmingham City | 2-1 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
Kevin Rogers ![]() |
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Stadium: St Andrews Attendance: 14,482 Referee: D Richardson |
28 December 1983 20 | Nottingham Forest | 3-0 | Coventry City | Nottingham |
Peter Davenport ![]() Garry Birtles ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 22,169 Referee: TA Jones |
31 December 1983 21 | Nottingham Forest | 0-1 | Liverpool | Nottingham |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 29,692 Referee: M Dimblebee |
02 January 1984 22 | Luton Town | 2-3 | Nottingham Forest | Luton |
Paul Walsh ![]() Emeka Nwajiobi ![]() Peter Davenport ![]() |
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Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,126 Referee: DJ Axcell |
21 January 1984 23 | Nottingham Forest | 3-0 | Norwich City | Nottingham |
Frans Thijssen ![]() Steve Hodge ![]() Viv Anderson ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,993 Referee: R Guy |
23 January 1984 24 | Southampton | 0-1 | Nottingham Forest | Southampton |
Garry Birtles ![]() |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 17,426 Referee: KG Salmon |
04 February 1984 25 | Nottingham Forest | 2-2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Nottingham |
Steve Hodge ![]() Colin Walsh ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 21,428 Referee: T Mills |
08 February 1984 26 | West Bromwich Albion | 0-5 | Nottingham Forest | West Bromwich |
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Attendance: 11,066 Referee: T Fitzharris |
11 February 1984 27 | Queens Park Rangers | 0-1 | Nottingham Forest | White City |
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Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 16,692 Referee: TD Spencer |
18 February 1984 28 | Sunderland | 1-1 | Nottingham Forest | Sunderland |
Gordon Chisholm ![]() |
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Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 15,958 Referee: IA Hendrick |
25 February 1984 29 | Nottingham Forest | 0-1 | Arsenal | Nottingham |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 20,045 Referee: D Owen |
03 March 1984 30 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1-0 | Nottingham Forest | Wolverhampton |
Paul Hart ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 10,476 Referee: D Scott |
14 March 1984 31 | Nottingham Forest | 1-0 | Everton | Nottingham |
Steve Hodge ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,647 Referee: AN Buksh |
17 March 1984 32 | Aston Villa | 1-0 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
Steve McMahon ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 16,270 Referee: HW King |
31 March 1984 33 | Notts County | 0-0 | Nottingham Forest | Nottingham |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 18,357 Referee: K Walmsley |
07 April 1984 34 | Nottingham Forest | 3-1 | West Bromwich Albion | Nottingham |
Colin Walsh ![]() Viv Anderson ![]() Ian Bowyer ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,245 Referee: GM Tyson |
14 April 1984 35 | Ipswich Town | 2-2 | Nottingham Forest | Ipswich |
Romeo Zondervan ![]() Mich D'Avray ![]() |
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Attendance: 15,469 Referee: A Gunn |
17 April 1984 36 | Coventry City | 2-1 | Nottingham Forest | Coventry |
Mick Ferguson ![]() Nicky Platnauer ![]() |
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Attendance: 9,816 Referee: AW Ward |
21 April 1984 37 | Nottingham Forest | 5-1 | Birmingham City | Nottingham |
Peter Davenport ![]() ![]() Colin Walsh ![]() Ian Wallace ![]() Ian Bowyer ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,323 Referee: JA Moules |
28 April 1984 38 | Nottingham Forest | 0-0 | Stoke City | Nottingham |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,625 Referee: RS Lewis |
05 May 1984 39 | Leicester City | 2-1 | Nottingham Forest | Leicester |
Steve Lynex ![]() Lineker ![]() |
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Attendance: 16,600 Referee: DV Reeves |
07 May 1984 40 | Nottingham Forest | 5-1 | Watford | Nottingham |
Paul Atkinson ![]() Steve Hodge ![]() Peter Davenport ![]() ![]() Ian Bowyer ![]() |
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Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,732 Referee: PN Willis |
12 May 1984 41 | West Ham United | 1-2 | Nottingham Forest | Upton Park |
Ray Stewart ![]() |
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Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 18,458 Referee: LC Shapter |
16 May 1984 42 | Nottingham Forest | 2-0 | Manchester United | Nottingham |
Garry Birtles ![]() Viv Anderson ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 23,651 Referee: DS Vickers |
UEFA Cup
Round 1
14 September 1983 1 | Nottingham Forest ![]() | 2-0 | ![]() | Nottingham |
Ian Wallace ![]() Steve Hodge ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 14,994 |
28 September 1983 1 | Vorwärts (Frankfurt/Oder)![]() | 1-0 (0-3 agg.) | ![]() | |
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Attendance: 18,000 |
Round Two
19 October 1983 2 | PSV Eindhoven ![]() | 1-2 | ![]() | Eindhoven |
Jurrie Koolhof ![]() |
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Stadium: Philips Stadion Attendance: 28,000 |
02 November 1983 2 | Nottingham Forest ![]() | 1-0 (3-1 agg.) | ![]() | Nottingham |
Peter Davenport ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 16,943 |
Eightfinals
23 November 1983 Eightfinals | Nottingham Forest ![]() | 0-0 | ![]() | Nottingham |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 32,017 |
07 December 1983 Eightfinals | Celtic Glasgow ![]() | 1-2 (1-2 agg.) | ![]() | Glasgow |
Murdo MacLeod ![]() |
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Attendance: 66,938 |
Quarterfinals
07 March 1984 1st leg | Nottingham Forest ![]() | 1-0 | ![]() | Nottingham |
Paul Hart ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 19,459 |
21 March 1984 2nd leg | Sturm Graz ![]() | 1-1 (a.e.t.) (1-2 agg.) | ![]() | |
Bozo Bakota ![]() |
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Attendance: 21,000 |
Semifinals
11 April 1984 1st leg | Nottingham Forest ![]() | 2-0 | ![]() | |
Steve Hodge ![]() ![]() |
Attendance: 22,681 |
25 April 1984 2nd leg | RSC Anderlecht ![]() | 3-0 (3-2 agg.) | ![]() | |
Enzo Scifo ![]() Kenneth Brylle-Larsen ![]() Erwin Wandenbergh ![]() |
Attendance: 36,000 |
League Cup
04 October 1983 2 | Wimbledon | 2-0 | Nottingham Forest |
26 October 1983 2 | Nottingham Forest | 1-1 | Wimbledon | Nottingham |
Stadium: City Ground |
FA Cup
07 January 1984 3 | Nottingham Forest | 1-2 | Southampton | Nottingham |
Stadium: City Ground |
Statistics
Squad statistics
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division One | FA Cup | Other | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
GK | ![]() |
Hans van Breukelen | 46 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Viv Anderson | 53 | 6 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Chris Fairclough | 41 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7+2 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Paul Hart | 48 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | |
DF | ![]() |
Kenny Swain | 54 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() |
Steve Wigley | 47 | 1 | 27+8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() |
Steve Hodge | 52 | 14 | 39 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |
MF | ![]() |
Ian Bowyer | 55 | 7 | 42 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
MF | ![]() |
Colin Walsh | 51 | 16 | 35+3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 11+1 | 3 | |
FW | ![]() |
Garry Birtles | 43 | 15 | 33+1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() |
Peter Davenport | 45 | 17 | 32+1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 10+1 | 2 | |
GK | ![]() |
Steve Sutton | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() |
Ian Wallace | 35 | 5 | 22+5 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 6+1 | 2 | |
MF | ![]() |
Frans Thijssen | 19 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Colin Todd | 19 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() |
Gary Mills | 9 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Bryn Gunn | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Des Walker | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Mark Smalley | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() |
David Riley | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() |
Danny Wilson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() |
Shaun Finney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
GK | ![]() |
Kevin Hitchcock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Nigel Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() |
David Longhurst | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() |
Les Robinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() |
Adrian Shaw | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- King, Elvin (8 July 2008). "Thijssen inducted into Town Hall of Fame". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- Daniel Taylor (11 December 2013). "Bribed in Brussels: How Nottingham Forest fell victim to fixing scandal". theguardian.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- "UEFA had Forest-Anderlecht referee bribe evidence 'for four years'". bbc.com. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- Jake Brigstock (26 September 2016). "UEFA deny holding Forest v Anderlecht referee bribe evidence for four years". nottstv.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.