This time we look at a victory over Nottingham Forest & Brian Clough.

Saints had had a very transitory season in 82/83 after the departure of Kevin Keegan only weeks before it had kicked off, however Saints fans had a degree of optimism that perhaps this could be one where the 12th spot could be beaten, after all it was only losing the final three games that had cost Saints at least 9th and add to that an appalling start then things could only get better this term.

However it couldnt be much tougher on the opening day, a trip to Nottingham Forest who despite finishing 5th had only been two points off second spot behind runaway champions Liverpool.

Like this season Saints had had a major clearout in the summer, releasing seven players, although in truth most were not first teamers and only peter Wells who had been on loan at Millwall for the 2nd half of the season had any real games under his belt for the club, add to that the fact that Chris Nicholl & Ivan Golac had both moved to coaching positions elsewhere and the squad was a little short with the only major signings being Frank Worthington who was about to turn 35 and was joining, including loans, his 10th club and unknown Ken Armstrong who joined from Kilmarnock to replace Nicholl.

It was a late start to the season 27th August to be exact and both new signings were in a side that lined up Shilton, Agboola, Mills, Williams, K Armstrong, Wright, Holmes, Moran, Worthington, D Armstrong, D Wallace.

A very attacking formation, it was 4-3-3 on paper but relied on Danny Wallace or Steve Moran chasing back when we didnt have the ball with Worthington the holding player up front.

Crowds in football were in decline at this point due in the main to the problems with crowd trouble along with the crumbling stadia, luckily this was a sunny day as the away section at the City Ground was a corner completely open to the elements and Saints had around 800 supporters in the crowd of 14,626.

Forest of course were certs for an opening day win, but Saints new formation was very organised defensively unlike most of the previous seasons when outscoring the opposition was the main tactic, the home side had been European Champions only three years earlier and still had a strong side, but the difference would be ex Forest European Cup Winning keeper Peter Shilton, now in Saints colours, he did his job well and that aligned with a well drilled defence meant that the game was still scoreless as it went into the last 25 minutes.

Then if not completely against the run of play, definately a little unexpected up popped Danny Wallace with a low drive that went in off the post for the only goal of the game, all it then needed was the visitors to continue with their determined defending and at the final whistle it was another three points in the bag on the opening day, something that although not quite the norm back then, was at least a fairly regular occurrence.

IT was a statement of intent from Lawrie McMenemy's side a warning to the rest of the First Division that this was a new side, one with experience but also a number of exciting youngsters ready to prove themselves in the top flight and as we all know this would be a season that we would never be out of the top 10 at any stage, in fact we would only be out of the top 6 on 5 occasions, eventually storming to a finish with Liverpool finsishing only three points behind them in second spot.

Ironically Forest played a big part in the season, not only did Saints return to Nottingham to beat them again at home in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, but before the 4th round McMenemy took a gamle and persuaded Brian Clough to slot in the home game 5 days before the big trip to Fratton in the January, the original fixture had been called off because of the weather nine days earlier, this was done so Steve Williams could serve a suspension and play at Pompey, sadly it was again 1-0 this time to Forest and the three points could have seen Saints joint first should they have won that game, as they surely would have if played later in the season.

Indeed it was January that cost Saints dear in the league, although winning both Cup ties as mentioned, they failed to win a league game in January drawing 1 and losing 2.

Forest themselves would finish 3rd, three points behind Saints who ironically returned to Nottingham for the last game of the season, winning 3-1 at already relegated Notts County to pip Forest for runners up                

Photo: Action Images

st_bangkok added 08:04 - Jul 27 I remember these years well, good to read about them matey. I have often thought about putting some of my early 80's memories on paper as they really were great. Odd season that 82/83 one. As you say, very much a transition and re-building year. It worked though when you look at how well we did in 83/84.
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