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22 April, 1978

1st Division title champions!

On this day in 1978 Clough'sForest are crowned First Division champions.

Trophies and titles

League title win
Brian Clough, league champion manager. Pictured 1980.
Brian Clough, league champion manager. Pictured 1980. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest secured the Football League First Division title under Brian Cloughwith a 0-0 draw away to Coventry City.

The scoreline mattered less than the consequence. The draw confirmed Forest as champions of England, completing one of the great league achievements by a recently promoted side.

Brian Clough, league champion manager. Pictured 1980.
Brian Clough, league champion manager. Pictured 1980. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons

The occasion carried a different kind of drama. It was not about a spectacular winning goal or a sweeping attacking display; it was about the final point needed to make the title real. Forest had done the hard work across the season and reached the moment of confirmation.

For supporters, the goalless draw at Coventry became one of the most important results in the club’s history. It turned a remarkable campaign into a championship season.

Match Footage

Sources

Alamy archive; ESPN; Nottingham Forest official honours

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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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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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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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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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 …
1957
Key Sheff Utd win in promotion run

Nottingham Forest boosted their Division Two promotion campaign with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at the City Ground. Forest started quickly, with Higham…

Club milestones
1978
1st Division title champions!

Nottingham Forest secured the Football League First Division title under Brian Cloughwith a 0-0 draw away to Coventry City. The scoreline mattered less than…

Trophies and titles