1978 FA Charity Shield

Background and pre-match

The FA Charity Shield was founded in 1908 as a successor to the Sheriff of London Charity Shield. It was a contest between the respective champions of the Football League and Southern League, and then by 1913 teams of amateur and professional players. In 1921, it was played by the Football League champions and FA Cup winners for the first time. This was the fifth year that Wembley Stadium played host to the Shield.

Nottingham Forest had won the league in the previous season, seven points clear of Liverpool and having been undefeated at home at the City Ground. Despite finishing 18th in the league the previous season,

Forest had lost in their only previous Charity Shield final in 1959, beaten 3–1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers; Ipswich had played in the 1962 FA Charity Shield, a game in which they also conceded five goals, that time against 1962 FA Cup final winners Tottenham Hotspur. , neither Ipswich Town nor Nottingham Forest have played in a Charity Shield match since 1978.

Match

Summary

Ipswich were playing without FA Cup winners and international central defenders Kevin Beattie and Allan Hunter, who were replaced by John Wark and Russell Osman. Roger Osborne and David Geddis were also absent from the side, and Tommy Parkin was called upon to make his full professional debut at Wembley. With eight minutes gone, a volley from Parkin was turned behind by Forest goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a corner. Two minutes later however, Martin O'Neill scored in the tenth minute after a number of Ipswich defenders failed to clear a Robertson cross. According to Ronald Atkin of The Observer, Shilton made another "stunning" save to deny Brian Talbot before Peter Withe doubled Forest's lead on 27 minutes. Robertson cut in from the left and turned the ball back to Colin Barrett whose cross Withe headed past Paul Cooper in the Ipswich goal, sending Forest into half-time with a 2–0 lead.

The second half saw Forest increase their lead, with Lloyd scoring from a Robertson free kick after Wark had fouled Withe. Ipswich's Trevor Whymark was substituted off for Robin Turner on 66 minutes, but Forest scored a fourth from an O'Neill strike following a Robertson cross. O'Neill was then immediately substituted by Forest manager Brian Clough for David Needham before he could complete his hat-trick.

Details

Withe
Lloyd
Robertson

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Post-match

The shield was presented to the Nottingham Forest captain by former England international and 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning Bobby Charlton, and Clough transgressed protocol by following his team up the steps to receive the trophy.

Nottingham Forest went on to finish as First Division runners-up in the 1978–79 season, once again undefeated at home, finishing eight points behind Liverpool. Ipswich finished sixth in the division.

References

References

1. (19 April 1908). "Abandonment of the Sheriff Shield". The Observer.
2. (7 October 1913). "The F.A. Charity Shield". [[The Times]].
3. Ferguson, Peter. (4 August 2011). "The FA Community Shield history". Manchester City F.C..
4. "The FA Community Shield history". The Football Association.
5. "Nottingham Forest 1977–1978 : Home". Statto.com.
6. (1 May 2008). "Ipswich's '78 FA Cup-winning team". BBC Sport.
7. (17 September 2010). "England – List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches".
8. Atkin, Ronald. (13 August 1978). "A Forest picnic for Robertson".
9. Lacey, David. (14 August 1978). "Ipswich offer the charity". [[The Guardian]].
10. "English Division One (old) 1978–1979 : Table". Statto.com.