Division One Promotion 1977

Lore & Background

Forest confounded the critics from the outset, registering three straight league wins to top the first table of the season and thrashing West Ham United 5–0 in the third round of the League Cup. Although their 100% record ended with a 3–0 defeat at Arsenal, Forest won the next three and ended September second in the table behind Manchester City on goal difference. A 4–0 win over Ipswich Town at the beginning of October (Peter Withe scoring a hat-trick, and the fourth goal by John Robertson) restored them to the top of the table and there they stayed for the rest of the season. After a slight hiccup in November saw them lose consecutive away matches at Chelsea and Leeds United they went unbeaten in their remaining 24 league fixtures and were confirmed as champions following a goalless draw at Coventry City in April.

Reader's Guide

The squad became one of the few teams (and the most recent team to date) to win the First Division title the season after winning promotion from the Second Division. The others were Liverpool in 1906, Everton in 1932, Tottenham Hotspur in 1951 and Ipswich Town in 1962. Forest remain the only club to achieve this feat having not been promoted as champions.

Did You Know?

• Kenny Burns, signed for £150,000 from Birmingham City, was converted from forward to defender and voted Footballer of the Year.
• Peter Shilton was signed from Stoke City for £325,000, then a record transfer fee for a goalkeeper.
• Forest used just 17 players during the season; teenage reserve goalkeeper Chris Woods appeared only in the League Cup as cover for the cup-tied Shilton.
• Forest's League Cup run saw them score 23 goals in six matches en route to a final against Liverpool, which they won after a replay via a controversial penalty converted by John Robertson.