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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
22 February, 1975

McGovern league debut begins legacy

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1975 John McGovern makes his Forest league debut against Cardiff City.

Player legacies

Senior debut
Goal scorer,John McGovern, former captain, pictured in 2007.
Goal scorer,John McGovern, former captain, pictured in 2007. Image: Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

John McGovern began his Nottingham Forest league career in a 0–0 home draw against Cardiff City, starting a connection that would become central to the club’s greatest era.

The match itself was quiet on the scoreboard, but McGovern’s arrival mattered because of what followed. Brian Clough trusted him deeply, having already worked with him at Hartlepools, Derby County and Leeds United.

Goal scorer,John McGovern, former captain, pictured in 2007.
Goal scorer,John McGovern, former captain, pictured in 2007. Image: Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At Forest, McGovern became far more than a midfield organiser. He went on to make 253 league appearances and scored six league goals for the club.

His lasting place in Forest history came as captain of the side that won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980. A goalless draw with Cardiff was an understated beginning, but it opened one of the most important player legacies in the club’s history.

John McGovern - Legends Special

Sources

Sporting Heroes; Wikipedia cited sources

Forest timeline

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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