When We Were Young
Stan Collymore, Brian Roy and Frank Clark – an unlikely combination, but it worked. Good lord, it worked.
Frank Clark, Stan Collymore, Bryan Roy. Clark was named Manager of the Month in September 1994. (Pic: EMPICS Sports Photo Agency)
Having secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking in 1994 (with today’s opponents taking the title that season), Frank Clark signed Bryan Roy to play alongside the free-scoring Stan Collymore. But would it be enough to make the team competitive in the Premier League?
In a word – a simple and resounding – yes. Forest chalked up an opening day win at Ipswich Town thanks to a delicate goal from Roy. All well and good, but up next were champions Manchester United at the City Ground. Could this team do it against the big boys?
Once again – a simple and resounding – yes.
“Inevitably, I scored. I always scored against United. Almost always.” said Collymore. “I picked the ball up midway inside their half and touched it past Incey [Paul Ince] who was tempted to go through me but rather uncharacteristically backed off. I took it on and shot from about 25 yards and it beat (Peter) Schmeichel at his near post. I thought that if I had scored against the champions, I could score against anybody.”
Between them, Stan Collymore and Bryan Roy were responsible for just under 50% of goals scored by Forest up to the mid-October point in the 1994/95 season, at which point, Forest were second in the table, just two points behind leaders Newcastle United. Moreover, they were unbeaten in their opening 11 games in the Premier League, scoring at least three goals in five of those games. This was fun.
Collymore went and scored against United again in December but this time at Old Trafford, helping to secure a famous win. Stuart Pearce played a crisp ball forward to the feet of Roy who in turn found Collymore. As the red shirts of United converged on him, the striker unleashed a blistering left foot shot which found the corner of the goal. Old Trafford went eerily quiet in disbelief, apart from a corner of the ground which absolutely and totally lost its collective mind.
The season culminated in a defining third place for Forest. Only a wretched November and February kept the title out of reach, which Blackburn Rovers claimed, inspired by Alan Shearer in his pomp.
For Stan Collymore, 50 goals in 78 games meant that he was hot property: “Forest were offering me £12,000 a week to stay, which at the time would probably have put me second only to Alan Shearer among the best-paid players in the Premiership, and Frank Clark was hassling me to sign it. But I had my heart set on a move.”
And so, after the tantrums, the isolated celebrations, the brushing off of teammates’ celebrations and more memorably, the scarcely believable goals, Collymore joined Liverpool, leaving Forest to embark upon their European adventure without him.
Collymore joined a club on its knees, writhing around on the cold, hard floor, struggling to find its feet after relegation from the Premier League. He didn’t do it alone, but he did play a significant part in helping the club shake off its self-pity and elevating it to its highest standing since Brian Clough was at the helm. They were fun times while they lasted. Fun and loaded with goals.
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Which Side Are You On?: Sort, the Troubles and Me by Teddy Jamieson.
In truth, I’ve not quite finished this yet, but it’s a fascinating read. In short, it’s the story of Norther Ireland’s memorable sporting achievements told through the lens of the author who grew up entranced by it all, while treading carefully through the background of the Troubles. Alex Higgins, Dennis Taylor, Mary Peters, Barry McGuigan, George Best, the 1982 World Cup, Derry City…all this and more.
If you don’t know me, I am the author of ‘Reds and Rams: The History of the East Midlands Derby’ and ‘The History Boys: Thirty Iconic Forest Goals’ (both available in the Forest club shop). I have written pieces for Mundial magazine, Football Weekends magazine and edited two award-nominated fanzines.
If you do know me, I’m truly sorry.