sport news Nottingham Forest vs Wolves: John Barnwell and John McGovern are football's ... trends now
Neighbours John McGovern and John Barnwell usually avoid talking about the 1980 League Cup final but they have made an exception with former clubs Nottingham Forest and Wolves meeting again in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
As the victorious Wolves manager 43 years ago, Barnwell played host in his smart apartment overlooking the River Trent with Brian Clough's Forest captain McGovern walking the few yards from the same block for a coffee and catch-up.
The final at Wembley is still memorable and not only because it remains Wolves' last major trophy. Forest went in as hot favourites as European Cup holders and winners of the previous two League Cups but were undone when their England goalkeeper Peter Shilton collided with defender David Needham to gift Britain's most expensive player, Andy Gray, a tap-in for the only goal. 'Andy could have been a two-year-old kid and scored that,' says McGovern, the pain of defeat not completely erased.
Neighbours John McGovern (L) and John Barnwell (R) usually avoid discussing the 1980 League Cup final, but they've made an exception 43 years on
'There was a mix-up. Our two players went for the same ball. Peter blamed David — he blamed everyone else for goals he let in because he was perfect — but I don't know what the goalkeeper was doing out there. Andy was a lucky b*****d and you can quote me on that!'
Barnwell, now 84, listens intently but does not think the final was won on fortune alone. 'Forest had the better team and we had to work out a way of stopping their dangerman John Robertson. We doubled up on him,' he recalls. 'Peter Daniel was instructed to stay in front of Robertson and cut the supply, and to hit a long ball into Gray when possible. If he had not hit that pass, Forest wouldn't have made the mistake.'
On Robertson's importance to Forest's success, McGovern is in complete agreement. 'He was the best player in our side. Shilton and Trevor Francis might dis-agree but they don't know what they are talking about! The rest of the team would say John Robertson,' he suggests. 'Wolves hustled us and we can't have any complaints. Without that mistake, we'd have gone into extra time, a replay and ended up winning.'
Barnwell (pictured) masterminded Wolves' unlikely victory in that final over 40 years ago
Wolves prevailed against Forest after holding firm for a crucial 1-0 victory at the old Wembley
There were plenty of huge characters involved in that final and none bigger than the legendary Clough, who McGovern played for at Hartlepool, Derby, Leeds and Forest.
Barnwell chuckles at the mind games the managers played on each other. 'I booked a hotel for the final in Southgate (north London) before Cloughie could get it for his team. On the eve of the game two of his staff, Ronnie Fenton and Alan Hill, pulled up as well. Brian had booked them in to keep an eye on us.
McGovern, pictured here lifting the European Cup a year earlier, was on the losing side that day as captain of Brian Clough's Forest
'At Wembley, my plan was to annoy Cloughie and keep him waiting in the tunnel so when the organisers knocked on our dressing room door to come out, I shouted back, 'When we're ready'. Unfortunately, the plan didn't work. By the
