European Cup won on debut campaign
On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1979 Forest become European champions in their first European Cup campaign.
Nottingham Forest completed one of football’s most astonishing rises by becoming European champions in their first-ever European Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Malmö FF in Munich.
The final was tense and often scrappy rather than glamorous. Malmö defended stubbornly, and Forest gradually found control while waiting for the decisive opening.
That opening came just before half-time. John Robertson drove down the left, beat his marker and sent a cross toward the far post. Trevor Francis arrived late, stooping to head the ball into the net for the only goal of the match.
The goal transformed the mood among the thousands of Forest supporters inside the Olympiastadion. Malmö pushed forward after the break, but Forest held firm to secure the greatest victory in the club’s history.
The final whistle confirmed a result few would have imagined only a few years earlier: Forest had gone from newly promoted side to champions of Europe.
Sources
UEFA historical records; RSSSF; Nottingham Forest official site
Forest timeline
Explore more Nottingham Forest history
Browse the timeline to discover more events from this day and beyond:
0–2
3–0
1–1
1–2
4–1
1–0
1–0
2–1
2–0
0–1
0–2
2–2
0–0
1–2
0–1
14:00
16:30
20:00
15:00
17:30
15:00
20:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
16:30
19:30
15:00
19:30
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
20:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
16:00
Nottingham Forest completed one of football’s most astonishing rises by becoming European champions in their first-ever European Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over…
Nottingham Forest appointed Colin Calderwood as manager at a time when the club was trying to recover direction after falling into League One. Calderwood…
Nottingham supporters filled Old Market Square as the city celebrated Forest’s promotion back to the Premier League. The event took place the day after…