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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
21 January, 1978

Gemmill strike wins Goal of Season

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1978 Archie Gemmill scores a Goal of the Season strike for Forest against Arsenal.

Honours and awards

Goal of the Season award

Archie Gemmill produced one of the standout goals of Forest’s title-winning season in a 2–0 First Division win over Arsenal at the City Ground.

Forest had already taken control when David Needham headed in from Tony Woodcock’s corner. But Gemmill’s goal gave the afternoon its lasting image, a burst of counter-attacking football that captured the speed and confidence of Brian Clough’s side.

The move began with Forest winning the ball and breaking quickly. Peter Withe released Gemmill into space, and the little Scottish midfielder drove forward with Arsenal retreating in front of him. Instead of slowing the attack, he kept carrying the ball, moving into shooting range before lifting a clever finish beyond Pat Jennings and into the net.

It was not just a fine goal in an important win. It was the kind of strike that made Forest’s title challenge look thrilling as well as efficient: disciplined without the ball, then sudden and sharp when the chance to break appeared.

The goal was later named BBC Goal of the Season for 1977–78, placing it among the most memorable televised goals of the year.

For Forest supporters, it sits neatly inside that extraordinary season: a promoted team growing in authority, beating Arsenal, staying top of the First Division and making the country take notice.

Goal Footage

Sources

BBC Goal of the Season; Match of the Day archive; YouTube

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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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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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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On this day in …
1978
Gemmill strike wins Goal of Season

Archie Gemmill produced one of the standout goals of Forest’s title-winning season in a 2–0 First Division win over Arsenal at the City Ground.…

Honours and awards