XMAS PASSING OF GENUINE FOREST LEGEND
Thu Dec 25, 2025 2:50 pm
Former Scotland, Nottingham Forest and Derby County winger John Robertson - once described by manager Brian Clough as "a Picasso of our game" - has died at the age of 72.
Robertson scored the only goal as Nottingham Forest retained the European Cup by beating Hamburg in 1980, having delivered the cross from which Trevor Francis netted the winner the previous season against Malmo.
For Scotland, he scored a winning goal against England in 1981 and netted against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup finals.
He earned 28 caps for his country before going on to be assistant manager to former Forest team-mate Martin O'Neill with Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.
His 2012 biography ‘Supertramp’ referenced Clough's description of him as a "scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time" who he turned into "one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen, as fine as the Brazilians or the Italians".
His captain at Forest, John McGovern, described him as "like Ryan Giggs but with two good feet, not one" and with more ability.
Robertson scored the only goal as Nottingham Forest retained the European Cup by beating Hamburg in 1980, having delivered the cross from which Trevor Francis netted the winner the previous season against Malmo.
For Scotland, he scored a winning goal against England in 1981 and netted against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup finals.
He earned 28 caps for his country before going on to be assistant manager to former Forest team-mate Martin O'Neill with Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.
His 2012 biography ‘Supertramp’ referenced Clough's description of him as a "scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time" who he turned into "one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen, as fine as the Brazilians or the Italians".
His captain at Forest, John McGovern, described him as "like Ryan Giggs but with two good feet, not one" and with more ability.
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Re: XMAS PASSING OF GENUINE FOREST LEGEND
Thu Dec 25, 2025 2:54 pm
I’m sure that those who remember will agree John Robertson was superb player in an era when ‘toughness’ was still a genuine football term, and part of a team (Nottingham Forest) that ripped up the pecking order in the old Division One (now Premier League) and Europe! 
Never a great time to pass, but always seems sadder in Christmas Day!
RIP, John Robertson; a legend of our beloved game!
Never a great time to pass, but always seems sadder in Christmas Day!
RIP, John Robertson; a legend of our beloved game!
Re: XMAS PASSING OF GENUINE FOREST LEGEND
Thu Dec 25, 2025 7:38 pm
Well before my time but I'm sure even young people who are passionate about football will have heard of him.
A real legend at Nottingham Forest and I'm sure it is hurting them today.
RIP.
A real legend at Nottingham Forest and I'm sure it is hurting them today.
RIP.