Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Philip Craig
Guest(s)
Release Date
6 November 2025
Duration
90 min
In this landmark 100th episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by super-guest regular Phil Craig to celebrate both the podcast’s journey and one of football’s greatest stories — the rise of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.
The hosts reflect on how Forest’s ascent from the Second Division to European champions in just three years remains one of sport’s most extraordinary transformations. They explore how Clough’s charisma and Taylor’s eye for talent built a team of believers rather than superstars — men like John Robertson, Kenny Burns, Peter Shilton, and Viv Anderson — who defined English football’s golden age.
The conversation also examines Forest’s legendary 42-match unbeaten run, their League Cup victories, and back-to-back European Cup triumphs, achieved with precision, unity, and an unwavering belief in simplicity. Alongside the football, the episode celebrates the evolution of the podcast itself — from early multi-team episodes to the detailed storytelling format it’s known for today, with a growing global community of listeners.
This is the ultimate Clough and Taylor story: a tale of genius, partnership, and improbable glory. Forest didn’t just win trophies — they rewrote what was possible for a football club.
Takeaways
This podcast celebrates its 100th episode with a new focus on Nottingham Forest 1977-80.
Brian Clough's impact on Nottingham Forest is a central theme.
Key players like John Robertson and Peter Shilton were crucial to their success.
The dynamics between Clough, Taylor, and Gordon shaped the team's performance.
The unbeaten streak of 42 games is a remarkable achievement in football history.
The rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool was a significant aspect of their history.
Clough's relationship with Taylor was complex and ultimately strained.
Nottingham Forest's achievements in the European Cup are unmatched by their domestic success
Nottingham Forest 1977–1980: Clough, Taylor, and European Glory
Between 1977 and 1980, Nottingham Forest achieved the impossible. In just three years, they rose from England’s Second Division to become back-to-back European champions — a feat never repeated before or since.
The architects were Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, football’s most fascinating partnership. Clough provided charisma, conviction, and clarity; Taylor brought intuition, psychology, and a gift for finding undervalued talent. Together, they built a side that defied logic and resources — one defined by teamwork, trust, and tactical precision.
Promotion in 1977 was just the beginning. By 1978, Forest were First Division champions and League Cup winners, embarking on a 42-game unbeaten run that cemented their dominance. In Europe, they conquered giants, outplaying the likes of Liverpool, Cologne, and Malmö. The signing of Trevor Francis as Britain’s first £1 million player captured headlines, but Forest’s real star was their unity.
Clough’s belief in simplicity shaped everything: short passes, calm under pressure, and man-management that bordered on mystical. Every player knew their job — and knew that Clough trusted them to do it.
The 1979 and 1980 European Cup victories completed football’s most astonishing ascent. From a modest East Midlands club to the top of Europe, Forest’s story is the embodiment of the Greatness Index ethos — proof that true greatness isn’t about money or power, but belief, balance, and belonging.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Brian Clough and Peter Taylor’s partnership and philosophy
Nottingham Forest’s rise from Division Two to European dominance
Key players and smart recruitment strategy
The 42-game unbeaten run and domestic silverware
European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980
The legacy and later fracture of the Clough–Taylor relationship
Promotion from the Second Division (1977)
42-game unbeaten run across 1977–78
1979 European Cup Final win vs Malmö
1980 European Cup Final win vs Hamburg
Signing of Trevor Francis, Britain’s first £1m player
Notable Manager
Brian Clough, Peter Taylor
Notable Players
John Robertson, Peter Shilton, Trevor Francis, Viv Anderson, Kenny Burns, Martin O’Neill, Larry Lloyd, Tony Woodcock, Garry Birtles, Ian Bowyer, Archie Gemmill, John McGovern
Style of Play
4-4-2, possession-based, disciplined, counter-attack, structured, team-oriented
Nottingham Forest under Clough and Taylor were built on simplicity, intelligence, and complete faith in each other. The system was a disciplined 4-4-2, rooted in short passing, width, and organisation — a tactical antithesis to the chaos that often defined English football in the 1970s.
Clough believed in possession as control and man-management as art. Every player knew his role: John McGovern anchored the midfield, Martin O’Neill provided leadership, John Robertson hugged the left touchline like a metronome, and Peter Shilton marshalled from the back. The team’s balance and patience frustrated opponents, while their ability to counter with precision made them lethal.
Defensively, they were immaculate. The partnership of Larry Lloyd and Kenny Burns offered physicality and composure, while Viv Anderson provided modern full-back athleticism. In attack, Trevor Francis and Garry Birtles gave speed and purpose, but the real power came from teamwork — every pass, every press, every movement rehearsed to perfection.
Forest’s style wasn’t romantic; it was ruthless, structured, and psychologically masterful. Clough’s genius lay in making ordinary players extraordinary through belief and clarity. Their football reflected his mantra: “Play simple, play fair, and play as if you love each other.”
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