Garry Birtles

Nottingham Forest

Birtles was signed by Nottingham Forest from non-league Long Eaton United for £2,000. He made his Forest debut as a winger in March 1977 in the old Second Division against Hull City. His second competitive first team appearance was not until 18 months later in September 1978. Peter Withe had been sold to Newcastle and Steve Elliott failed to make the grade. This allowed Birtles a chance that he grasped. He scored his first goal for the club in his third match, a first round 1978–79 European Cup tie against holders Liverpool. Birtles kept his place for the rest of the season capping his success with two goals in the 3–2 win over Southampton in the 1979 League Cup Final. He also won a 1979 European Cup winner's medal via the 1–0 victory over Malmö FF of Sweden in Munich's Olympic Stadium. He scored 14 times in the league alone that season. He gained another winner's medal in the following season's European Cup against Hamburg providing the return pass from which John Robertson scored the only goal. Birtles also played in every First Division game for Forest that season scoring 12 goals. He began the 1980–81 season in fine form, scoring six goals in nine league games for Forest, before a £1.25 million fee took him to Manchester United.

Manchester United

Under manager Dave Sexton, Birtles made his debut for Manchester United in a First Division victory over Stoke City at the Victoria Ground on 22 October 1980. He made 28 appearances in his…

During the final months of his first spell at Nottingham Forest, when he was still reputed as one of the English league's finest strikers, he was capped three times at senior level for England. His first cap came on 13 May 1980 in a 3–1 friendly win over Argentina. His last came on 15 October that year in a 2–1 defeat against Romania in a 1982 World Cup qualifier.

Nottingham Forest

League Cup: 1978–79 European Cup: 1978–79, 1979–80 European Super Cup: 1979 Grimsby Town

Lincolnshire Senior Cup: 1989–90 Individual

Nottingham Forest Player of the Year: 1978–79 Bravo Award: 1979 Supporters Player of the Year: 1989–90