1981–82 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

Nottingham Forest

1981–82 season
Chairman	Geoffrey McPherson
Manager	Brian Clough
Stadium	The City Ground
First Division	12th
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Fifth round
Top goalscorer	League: Ian Wallace (9) All: Ian Wallace (12)
Highest home attendance	26,327 vs West Ham United (League)
Lowest home attendance	15,037 vs Swansea City (League)
Average home league attendance	20,593 (League)
Home colours Away colours
← 1980–81 1982–83 →

The 1981–82 season was Nottingham Forest's 117th year in existence and fifth consecutive season in the First Division.

In his eighth season as manager, Brian Clough appointed Alan Hill as new trainer after the departure of Jimmy Gordon in the previous season.^[1] Meanwhile forward Trevor Francis was transferred out to Manchester City being replacing by Norwich City striker Justin Fashanu.^[2] The team finished in a disappointing 12th spot with a defensive line (4th overall) not being helped by his offensive line in a mediocre season delivered by Fashanu, Wallace and Ward. The club was early eliminated in FA Cup on third round. Meanwhile, the squad reached the League Cup fifth round only to be defeated by Tottenham Hotspur after a 1–0 score.

After six seasons with the club, assistant Peter Taylor announced his appointment as new manager of Derby County.^[3] Also, goalkeeper Peter Shilton left the club by the end of the season to be transferred out to Southampton.^[4] Central back Dave Needham was transferred out to Canada,^[5] and Scottish midfielder John McGovern signed with Bolton Wanderers for the next campaign.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Peter Shilton — GK  ENG Steve Sutton — DF  ENG Viv Anderson — DF  SCO Willie Young — DF  ENG Bryn Gunn — DF  ENG Dave Needham — DF  NOR Einar Jan Aas — DF  SCO Kenny Burns — DF  ENG Chris Fairclough — MF  ENG Stuart Gray — MF  SCO John McGovern (c) — MF  ENG Mark Proctor — MF  ENG Ian Bowyer

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO John Robertson — MF  FRG Jürgen Röber — MF  ENG Gary Mills — MF  SCO Colin Walsh — MF  ENG Calvin Plummer — MF  ENG Steve Hodge — MF  ENG Steve Kendal — MF  ENG Neil Redfearn — FW  ENG Justin Fashanu — FW  SCO Ian Wallace — FW  ENG Peter Ward — FW  ENG Peter Davenport — FW  ENG Trevor Francis

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
10	Manchester City	42	15	13	14	49	50	−1	58
11	Aston Villa	42	15	12	15	55	53	+2	57	Qualification for the European Cup first round[b]
12	Nottingham Forest	42	15	12	15	42	48	−6	57
13	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	13	13	16	43	52	−9	52
14	Coventry City	42	13	11	18	56	62	−6	50

• .- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1982/

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Division One		FA Cup		Football League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Peter Shilton	47	0	41	0	1	0	5	0
	DF	ENG	Viv Anderson	44	0	39	0	1	0	4	0
	DF	SCO	Willie Young	26	1	25	1	1	0	0	0
	DF	SCO	John McGovern	34	0	26+4	0	0+1	0	3	0
	DF	ENG	Bryn Gunn	43	0	36+1	0	1	0	5	0
	MF	ENG	Ian Bowyer	24	1	23+1	1	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Mark Proctor	43	3	35+2	1	1	1	5	1
	MF	ENG	Stuart Gray	38	2	32+1	2	0	0	5	0
	MF	SCO	John Robertson	42	3	36	2	1	0	5	1
	FW	ENG	Justin Fashanu	36	4	31+1	3	0	0	4	1
	FW	SCO	Ian Wallace	34	12	28+1	9	1	0	4	3
	GK	ENG	Steve Sutton	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	FRG	Jürgen Röber	25	4	21+1	3	1	0	2	1
	DF	ENG	Dave Needham	21	3	17	2	1	0	3	1
	FW	ENG	Peter Ward	18	5	14+1	5	1	0	2	0
	DF	NOR	Einar Jan Aas	17	0	14	0	0	0	3	0
	MF	ENG	Gary Mills	17	1	13+1	1	0	0	1+2	0
	MF	SCO	Colin Walsh	19	3	7+8	3	1	0	2+1	0
	MF	ENG	Calvin Plummer	9	2	7+2	2	0	0	0	0
	DF	SCO	Kenny Burns	8	1	7	1	0	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Peter Davenport	5	4	5	4	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Chris Fairclough	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Trevor Francis	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Steve Hodge	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Steve Kendal	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Neil Redfearn	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0