Forty whole years have now elapsed since the Garibaldi travelled all the way to Tokyo, Japan, to compete for the 1980 Toyota (Intercontinental) Cup.

Contested between the victors of the previous seasons’ European Cup (Nottingham Forest) and Copa Libertadores (Nacional), the Intercontinental ran between 1960 and 2004 with Forest being one of just four English sides to have competed – Manchester United (twice, winners in 1999, runners-up in 1968), Liverpool (runners-up in 1981 and 1984) and Aston Villa (runners-up in 1982).

In fact, for that lack of English inclusion, read ‘super-club’ dominance with the Italian giants, AC Milan appearing the most (seven times) and with three victories equalled buy that of Penarol (Uruguay), Real Madrid (Spain), Boca Juniors (Argentina), and Forest’s 1980 final opponents, Nacional (Uruguay).

Both clubs had succeeded in lifting their respective confederations’ continental cup competitions via a solitary goal victory in the summer of 1980.

Over in South America, contested over two legs, the Libertadores tournament was decided between eventual winners, Nacional, and their Brazilian counterparts, Internacional when, following a goalless first leg, a goal thirty-four minutes into the second, from, remember the name, Waldemar Victorino, settled the tie; meanwhile in Europe, Forest would see off German outfit, SV Hamburg, their goal coming after just twenty minutes, via Scotsman John Robertson and, having declined to take part in the previous final, Forest found themselves at the second time of asking, off to Japan.

Lining up alongside the Israeli referee, Abraham Klein, on 11 February 1981, were that of:

Forest: Peter Shilton, Viv Anderson, Kenny Burns, Larry Lloyd, Frank Gray, Stuart Gray, Martin O’Neill, Raimondo Ponte, Trevor Francis, Ian Wallace, John Robertson; Used sub: Peter Ward. Unused substitutes: John McGovern, David Needham.

Nacional: Rodolfo Rodriguez, Jose Moreira, Juan Blanco, Daniel Enriquez, Washington Gonzalez, Denis Milar, Victor Esparrago, Arsenio Luzardo, Alberto Bica, Waldemar Victorino, Julio Morales.

It was to be a match that was settled after just ten minutes, Nacional’s Uruguayan international, Waldemar Victorino, netting the only goal, the most important of what was a somewhat brief spell at the club.

As for the game itself, John McGovern would watch from the sidelines due to an injury as Forest were seen to outplay their South American opponents; it was a game that would prove to be Larry Lloyd’s last for the East Midlands club, leaving to become manager of Wigan Athletic three days later, whilst ten days after the game in Japan, Martin O’Neill also departed, he heading to Norwich City.

At the end of their report of the final, the first under new sponsors, Toyota, soccernostalgia.blogspot.com talked about what was then Forest manager, Brain Clough’s, seeming disdain.

“Brian Clough also complained about the grassless pitch, especially given the advanced state of Japanese technology.

“Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough felt they were not unlucky to lose as they had many chances and failed to capitalise.

“He felt his players were unlucky not to win the car. He would have preferred either Trevor Francis or Kenny Burns to be elected man of the match.

“That honour went to the goal scorer Waldemar Victorino, who won the Toyota Celica after a vote by Japanese journalists.

“The experience had been a positive one and the competition had found a new home and a new lease of life.”

Having taken to the field a few days earlier, in the English Football League, Forest were perhaps hampered by the fact that they travelled, to the other side of the world, on the Sunday, and played in a major final, on the Wednesday lunchtime.

Oh, and Forest boss, Clough, travelled with a somewhat small, fourteen-man squad, and at least one of those was carrying an injury.

An experience indeed….

For an authentic experience with full Japanese commentary you can watch footage below and reminisce the great Brian Clough team as Forest took on Nacional in Japan for the Intercontinental Cup, with Nintendo like graphics and ‘names’ on the back of the Reds shirts, it all seems very modern, just a shame the Reds didn’t go on to win and create more unprecedented history to remember under their greatest ever Manager.

*Video courtesy of Chris Parker (YouTube)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mark280268 the Forest team lined up in Tokyo before the final.