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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
29 November, 1978

Viv Anderson makes England history

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1978 Viv Anderson becomes the first Black player to win a senior England cap.

Player legacies

Iconic goal, save, assist, tackle, or individual moment
Viv Anderson, former Forest and England player.
Viv Anderson, former Forest and England player. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Viv Anderson made English football history when he became the first Black player to win a senior England cap.

The Nottingham Forest defender started for England against Czechoslovakia at Wembley, only months after helping Brian Clough’s side win the First Division title. He was 22, already established as a right-back of pace, strength and composure, and his selection placed a Forest player at the centre of a national milestone.

Viv Anderson, former Forest and England player.
Viv Anderson, former Forest and England player. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

England won the friendly 1–0, but the result was secondary to Anderson’s appearance. His debut came at a time when Black footballers still faced abuse and barriers across the game, making the cap far more important than a routine international selection.

Anderson went on to win 30 caps for England and remained part of Forest’s greatest era, including the European Cup wins of 1979 and 1980. The Wembley debut is remembered because it connected individual excellence, club success and a wider change in English football.

Match Footage

Sources

National Football Museum; The FA; England Football Online

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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 Liverpool
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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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Player legacies