1994–95 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

Nottingham Forest
1994–95 season
ChairmanFred Reacher
ManagerFrank Clark
StadiumCity Ground
Premiership3rd
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Stan Collymore (22)
All: Stan Collymore (25)
Highest home attendance28,882 vs Manchester City
(6 May 1995, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance10,076 vs Hereford United
(21 Sep 1994, League Cup)
Average home league attendance23,633

During the 1994–95 English football season, Nottingham Forest F.C. competed in the FA Premier League. Surprisingly for a newly promoted side, Forest finished in third place, behind Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United: no newly promoted club has achieved as high a finish in the Premier League since, although this achievement was matched by Newcastle United's previous season and six seasons later, Ipswich Town would finish fifth which, to this day, is the highest placing finish a promoted club has achieved since.

Season summary

After achieving promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt, Nottingham Forest continued to succeed in life after Brian Clough as new manager Frank Clark guided them to an impressive third-place finish and UEFA Cup qualification, giving Forest their first European campaign of the post-Heysel era. Never out of the top-six throughout the season, Forest seemingly mounted an unexpected serious title challenge in the first quarter of the season, finding themselves in 2nd. Unfortunately, they couldn't quite keep up the title push and hit a bad run of form throughout most of winning just five out of 20 league games but an unbeaten run of nine wins in their final 12 league games during Spring saw them finish third, 12 points adrift of champions Blackburn Rovers, nonetheless a magnificent achievement.

Striker Stan Collymore was on target 22 times in the league and speculation that he would be on his way to another club proved correct at the end of the season when he sold to Liverpool for a national record fee of £8.4 million. The failure of Clark to buy a proven replacement cast significant doubt over whether Forest could mount a serious challenge for honours in the post-Collymore era.

Kit

The kit was sponsored by Canadian brewery Labatts.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Blackburn Rovers (C) 42 27 8 7 80 39 +41 89 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Manchester United 42 26 10 6 77 28 +49 88 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
3 Nottingham Forest 42 22 11 9 72 43 +29 77
4 Liverpool 42 21 11 10 65 37 +28 74
5 Leeds United 42 20 13 9 59 38 +21 73
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Leeds United were rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
42 22 11 9 72 43  +29 77 12 6 3 36 18  +18 10 5 6 36 25  +11

Source: Statto

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHAAAHHAHHAHAHAHA
ResultWDWWWDWWDWWLLDLLDWWDWLWLLWDLLDDWWWWWDWWWWD
Position624122322222345554454544555555555444433333
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Premier League

20 August 1994 1 Ipswich Town 0–1 Nottingham Forest Ipswich, Suffolk
Roy Stadium: Portman Road
30 August 1994 4 Everton 1–2 Nottingham Forest Liverpool
Rideout 68' Hinchcliffe 24' (o.g.)
Cooper 60'
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 26,689
10 September 1994 5 Nottingham Forest 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday Nottingham
Bohinen 52'
Black 34'
Pearce 63' (pen.)
Roy 82'
Hyde 56' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,022
8 October 1994 9 Manchester City 3–3 Nottingham Forest Manchester
Quinn 41', 54'
Lomas 70'
Woan 89'
Dibble 22' (o.g.)
Collymore 53'
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 23,150
22 October 1994 11 Aston Villa 0–2 Nottingham Forest Birmingham
Pearce 1' (pen.)
Stone 70'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 29,217
5 November 1994 13 Liverpool 1–0 Nottingham Forest Liverpool
Fowler 14' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 33,329
7 November 1994 14 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Newcastle United Nottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,102
19 November 1994 15 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Chelsea Nottingham
Spencer Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,092
26 November 1994 16 Leeds United 1–0 Nottingham Forest Leeds, West Yorkshire
Whelan Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 38,191
3 December 1994 17 Nottingham Forest 2–2 Arsenal Nottingham
Pearce 36' (pen.)
Roy 60'
Davis 76'
Keown 59'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,662
26 December 1994 20 Coventry 0–0 Nottingham Forest Coventry
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 19,224
27 December 1994 21 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Norwich City Nottingham
Bohinen Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,010
31 December 1994 22 West Ham United 3–1 Nottingham Forest Newham, London
Cottee 25'
Bishop 27'
Hughes 45'
McGregor 90' Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 20,644
2 January 1995 23 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Crystal Palace Nottingham
Bull Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,326
14 January 1995 24 Blackburn 3–0 Nottingham Forest Blackburn, Lancashire
Warhurst 54'
Wilcox 78'
Chettle 88' (o.g.)
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 27,510
21 January 1995 25 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Aston Villa Nottingham
Collymore 53' (pen.) Fashanu 32'
Saunders 68'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 24,598
25 January 1995 26 Chelsea 0–2 Nottingham Forest Fulham, London
Collymore Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 17,890
4 February 1995 27 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Liverpool Nottingham
Collymore Fowler 90' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 25,418
21 February 1995 29 Arsenal 1–0 Nottingham Forest London
Kiwomya Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,441
11 March 1995 33 Leicester 2–4 Nottingham Forest Leicester
Draper 71'
Lowe 16'
Pearce 8' (pen.)
J. Lee 90'
Collymore 64'
Woan 68'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,423
22 March 1995 35 Nottingham Forest 3–0 Leeds Nottingham
Roy
Collymore
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 26,299
1 April 1995 36 Sheffield Wednesday 1–7 Nottingham Forest Sheffield
Bright 52' (pen.) Pearce 17'
Woan 20'
Roy 48', 64'
Bohinen 86'
Collymore 78', 80'
Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 30,060
8 April 1995 37 Nottingham Forest 1–1 West Ham Nottingham
Collymore Dicks Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,361
12 April 1995 38 Norwich 0–1 Nottingham Forest Norwich
Stone Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 19,005
13 May 1995 42 Wimbledon 2–2 Nottingham Forest London
Holdsworth 35', 40' (pen.) Stone 73'
Phillips 14'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 15,341

FA Cup

League Cup

21 September 1994 R2 1st leg Nottingham Forest 2–1 Hereford United Nottingham
Collymore White Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 10,076
4 October 1994 R2 2nd leg Hereford United 0–0
(1-2 on agg)
Nottingham Forest Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8,953
30 November 1994 R4 Nottingham Forest 0–2 Millwall Nottingham
Berry Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 12,393

Squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Wales WAL Mark Crossley
2 DF England ENG Des Lyttle
3 DF England ENG Stuart Pearce (captain)
4 DF England ENG Colin Cooper
5 DF England ENG Steve Chettle
6 DF England ENG Carl Tiler
7 MF Wales WAL David Phillips
8 MF Scotland SCO Scot Gemmill
9 MF Norway NOR Lars Bohinen
10 FW England ENG Stan Collymore
11 MF England ENG Steve Stone
12 FW England ENG Jason Lee
13 GK Northern Ireland NIR Tommy Wright
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF England ENG Ian Woan
15 FW England ENG Robert Rosario
16 MF England ENG Neil Webb
17 MF Northern Ireland NIR Kingsley Black
18 DF Norway NOR Alfie Haaland
19 MF England ENG Bobby Howe
20 FW England ENG Paul McGregor
21 FW England ENG Gary Bull
22 FW Netherlands NED Bryan Roy
23 GK England ENG Malcolm Rigby
24 DF England ENG Vance Warner
30 GK England ENG Billy Mercer (on loan from Sheffield United)

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF England ENG Brian Laws (to Grimsby Town)
20 MF England ENG Gary Crosby (to Huddersfield Town)
No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK Australia AUS John Filan (on loan to Cambridge United)

Reserve squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Steve Blatherwick
DF England ENG Craig Armstrong
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Republic of Ireland IRL John Burns

Transfers

In

Date Pos Name From Fee
1 August 1994 MF John Burns Belvedere Signed
1 August 1994 GK Malcolm Rigby Notts County £50,000
4 August 1994 FW Bryan Roy Foggia £2,500,000

Out

Date Pos Name To Fee
13 July 1994 GK Mark Statham Wigan Athletic Free transfer
13 July 1994 MF Ian Kilford Wigan Athletic Free transfer
2 August 1994 FW Lee Glover Port Vale £200,000
27 September 1994 MF Gary Crosby Huddersfield Town Free transfer
1 December 1994 DF Brian Laws Grimsby Town Free transfer
20 March 1995 MF Lee Marshall Stockport County Free transfer
Transfers in: Decrease £2,550,000
Transfers out: Increase £200,000
Total spending: Decrease £2,350,000

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Wales WAL Mark Crossley 46 0 42 0 2 0 2 0
13 GK Northern Ireland NIR Tommy Wright 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 GK England ENG Malcolm Rigby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 GK England ENG Billy Mercer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF England ENG Des Lyttle 44 0 38 0 2 0 4 0
3 DF England ENG Stuart Pearce 40 10 36 8 1 0 3 2
4 DF England ENG Colin Cooper 40 1 35 1 1 0 4 0
5 DF England ENG Steve Chettle 47 0 41 0 2 0 4 0
6 DF England ENG Carl Tiler 4 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
18 DF Norway NOR Alfie Haaland 22 1 18+2 1 1 0 0+1 0
24 DF England ENG Vance Warner 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
7 MF Wales WAL David Phillips 44 1 38 1 2 0 4 0
8 MF Scotland SCO Scot Gemmill 22 1 19 1 2 0 1 0
9 MF Norway NOR Lars Bohinen 39 7 30+4 6 1 1 4 0
11 MF England ENG Steve Stone 47 5 41 5 2 0 4 0
14 MF England ENG Ian Woan 41 5 35+2 5 1 0 2+1 0
17 MF Northern Ireland NIR Kingsley Black 12 2 5+5 2 0 0 2 0
16 MF England ENG Neil Webb 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
19 MF England ENG Bobby Howe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
10 FW England ENG Stan Collymore 43 25 37 22 2 1 4 2
12 FW England ENG Jason Lee 24 3 5+17 3 0 0 0+2 0
15 FW England ENG Robert Rosario 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
20 FW England ENG Paul McGregor 11 1 0+11 1 0 0 0 0
21 FW England ENG Gary Bull 2 1 1 1 0+1 0 0 0
22 FW Netherlands NED Bryan Roy 43 14 37 13 2 0 4 1
Players transferred out during the season
19 DF England ENG Brian Laws 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF England ENG Gary Crosby 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
30 GK Australia AUS John Filan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last updated: 31 June 1995
Source: Competitions

Starting 11

Considering appearances in all competitions[2]
No.
Pos.
Nat.
Name
MS Notes
1 GK Wales Mark Crossley 42
2 RB England Des Lyttle 38
5 CB England Steve Chettle 41
4 CB England Colin Cooper 35
3 LB England Stuart Pearce 36
11 RM England Steve Stone 41
7 CM Wales David Phillips 38
9 CM Norway Lars Bohinen 30
14 LM England Ian Woan 35
10 CF England Stan Collymore 37
22 CF Netherlands Bryan Roy 37

References

  1. ^ "FootballSquads - Nottingham Forest - 1994/95".
  2. ^ "All Nottingham Forest players: 1995".