Despite being an unrepentant Tottenham fan, because I came from Hucknall, most of the football I saw was at Nottingham Forest. In the late 70’s and 80’s Forest were an enigma – a small provincial club that won the League, the League Cup twice and the European Cup twice. In the second of those two European finals Forest’s John Robertson scored the winning goal against Kevin Keegan’s Hamburg.
Prior to the game a sports commentator asked the Forest manager, Brian Clough, about underdog Forest’s chances and, in particular about Hamburg’s full back, the great Manny Kaltz who went on to get over 70 caps for Germany.
I saw Robertson several times and he did indeed turn full backs inside out. It seemed everyone in the crowd knew exactly what he was going to do with the ball except that full back.
He died yesterday..
“This Manny Kaltz is special, Brian”. Brian Clough said “Never doubt
That we’ve a little fat lad who will turn him inside out”.
