1985–86 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

During summer the Board appointed Archie Gemmill as its new coach assistant, the former midfielder returned to the club after six seasons.{{cite news

|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2863155/brian-cloughs-nottingham-forest-stun-english-football-rewind-to-1978

|title=Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest stun English football – Rewind to 1978

|publisher=ESPN

|date=3 May 2016 |access-date=21 March 2022}} Another arrival was midfielder Neil Webb in June, manager Brian Clough paid Portsmouth £250,000{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=8366|title=Neil Webb – Football Stats – No Club – Age 54 – 1980–1997 – Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com|access-date=3 April 2018}} reinforcing an ageing squad. To reinforce the defensive line, Left-back Defender Stuart Pearce was brought by manager Brian Clough. Pearce was the makeweight in a £300,000 deal that saw Coventry City centre-back Ian Butterworth move to Forest.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/stuart-pearce-reveals-not-leave-2129701|title=Stuart Pearce reveals why he did not leave Nottingham Forest for Manchester United or Rangers|publisher=nottinghampost.com|author=Jonty Colman|date=21 October 2018|accessdate=20 September 2023}} The already ageing squad is rebuilding for this season, Dutch Goalkeeper Hans Segers with several injuries was replaced by Steve Sutton as starter. In defence, after the departure of Kevin Swain the right back position was covered by Northern Irish Gary Fleming.{{cite news |url=http://www.thegaryflemingpractice.co.uk/services.html |title=The Gary Fleming Practice |date=17 April 2009 |publisher=Derry Journal}} Central backs Paul Hart and Chris Fairclough were replaced by arrival Buttersworth and young defender Des Walker who had his breakthrough as starter. On the left back Scottish Jim McInally left his post as starter being replaced by arrival young defender Stuart Pearce. In the midfield, Clough reinforced the line with Right winger Franz Carr (he was already in the team since August 1984) and the new arrival Neil Webb for the central midfield amongst Metgod and veteran Ian Bowyer. The strikers line was completed by young forward Nigel Clough and veteran Davenport who clinched a transfer to Manchester United on 12 March 1986 for a fee of £750,000.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=39353|title = Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net}}

The rebuilding had a cost for the club finishing on a mediocre 8th spot in League. The club opted out of Full Members' Cup in its 1985–86 edition.

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=Steve Sutton}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=NED|name=Hans Segers}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=Darren Heyes}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=NIR|name=Gary Fleming}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Des Walker}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=SCO|name=Jim McInally}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Ian Butterworth}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Chris Fairclough}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Brett Williams}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Stuart Pearce}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Franz Carr}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Ian Bowyer|other=c}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=NED|name=Johnny Metgod}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=NIR|name=David Campbell}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Neil Webb}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Gary Mills}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Steve Wigley}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Colin Walsh}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Steve Hodge}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Brian Rice}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=John Robertson}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Steven Murray}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Leigh Palin}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Peter Davenport}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Garry Birtles}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Nigel Clough}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Mick Perry}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=David Riley}}

{{fs end|date=August 2023|s=Lotto}}

{{clear}}

{{clear}}

{{clear}}

{{main|1985–86 Football League}}

{{:1985–86 Football League|transcludesection=First Division|showteam=NFO}}

{{#invoke:sports rbr table|table|legendpos=b

|header=Round

|label1= Ground

| res1=A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A

|label2= Result

|res2=D/L/W/L/L/L/W/L/W/L/W/W/W/W/W/L/L/D/D/L/W/L/W/D/W/W/W/W/L/L/D/W/D/W/W/D/D/D/W/D/D/W

|label3= Position

| res3=12/19/12/14/18/20/16/17/15/16/15/12/9/8/7/9/10/10/10/11/10/10/11/10/9/9/8/6/7/9/10/10/10/10/8/8/8/8/7/7/8/8

|text_H=Home|text_A=Away

|color_W=green2|text_W=Win

|color_D=yellow2|text_D=Draw

|color_L=red2|text_L=Lost

| color_1 = #FFD700| text_1 =Champions, Disqualified to 1986–87 European Cup

| color_2-5 = blue2| text_2-5 =Disqualified to 1986–87 UEFA Cup

| color_20-22 = red1| text_20-22 =Relegated to Division Two

|update=complete

|source=https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1985/

|date=September 2023

}}

On June 2, 1985 English teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on until the season 1990–91 because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/02/how-heysel-tragedy-changed-english-football-clubs-banned-europe|title='Quarantine our sad, sick game': how Heysel tragedy changed English football|publisher=theguardian.com|date=2 June 2020|author=Simon Burnton|accessdate=2 September 2023}}

• .- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/matches/season/1986/

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=17 August 1985

|time=

|round=1

|team1=Luton Town

|score=1–1

|report=12

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|result=D

|goals1=Brian Stein {{goal|20}}

|goals2={{goal|52}} Neil Webb

|referee=JE Martin

|attendance=11,318

|location=Luton

|stadium=Kenilworth Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=21 August 1985

|round=2

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Sheffield Wednesday

|result=L

|score=0–1

|report=19

|goals2=Simon Stainrod {{goal|2}}

|attendance=18,367

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=24 August 1985

|round=3

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Southampton

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=12

|goals1= Johnny Metgod {{goal|22}}
Mark Wright {{goal|44|o.g.}}

|goals2={{goal|65}} David Armstrong

|referee=Art. Robinson

|attendance=12,643

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=27 August 1985

|round=4

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Queens Park Rangers

|result=L

|score=2–1

|report=14

|goals1= Gary Bannister {{goal|6}}
Terry Fenwick {{goal|37|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|17}} Neil Webb

|referee=JC Deakin

|attendance=9,799

|location=White City

|stadium=Loftus Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=31 August 1985

|round=5

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Manchester United

|result=L

|score=1–3

|report=18

|goals1=Peter Davenport {{goal|46}}

|goals2={{goal|2}}Mark Hughes
{{goal|5}}Peter Barnes
{{goal|40}} Frank Stapleton

|referee=KS Hackett

|attendance=26,274

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=3 September 1985

|round=6

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Liverpool

|result=L

|score=2–0

|report=20

|goals1=Ronnie Whelan {{goal|55}}, {{goal|70}}

|referee=T Mills

|attendance=27,135

|location=Liverpool

|stadium=Anfield

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=8 September 1985

|round=7

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Leicester City

|result=W

|score=0–3

|goals2=Neil Webb {{goal|35}}
Peter Davenport {{goal|78}}
Brian Rice {{goal|89}}

|referee=TJ Holbrook

|attendance=14,247

|location=Leicester

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=14 September 1985

|time=

|round=8

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Tottenham Hotspur

|result=L

|score=0–1

|goals2={{goal|85}} Hughton

|referee=TJ Holbrook

|attendance=14,247

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=21 September 1985

|round=9

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Watford

|result=W

|score=3–2

|report=15

|goals1= Neil Webb {{goal|35}}
Peter Davenport {{goal|78}}
Brian Rice {{goal|89}}

|goals2={{goal|34}} Callaghan
{{goal|90}} Rostron

|referee=TJ Holbrook

|attendance=14,247

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=28 September 1985

|round=10

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=West Ham United

|result=L

|score=2–4

|report=16

|goals2={{goal|61}}Johnny Metgod
{{goal|70}}Nigel Clough

|goals1=Tony Cottee {{goal|6}}
Frank McAvennie {{goal|12}}, {{goal|20}}
Alan Dickens {{goal|59}}

|referee=DJ Axcell

|attendance=14,540

|stadium=Boleyn Ground

|location=Upton Park

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=5 October 1985

|round=11

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Ipswich Town

|result=W

|score=3–1

|report=15

|goals1=Stuart Pearce {{goal|8}}
Ian Bowyer {{goal|11}}, {{goal|27}}

|goals2={{goal|48}} Ian Atkins

|referee=TA Jones

|attendance=12,120

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=12 October 1985

|round=12

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Aston Villa

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=12

|goals1= Colin Gibson {{goal|67}}

|goals2={{goal|60|o.g.}} Brendan Ormsby
{{goal|72}}Nigel Clough

|referee=AN Buksh

|attendance=15,315

|location=Birmingham

|stadium=Villa Park

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=19 October 1985

|round=13

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Newcastle United

|result=W

|score=0–3

|report=9

|goals2={{goal|28}} Brian Rice
{{goal|78}}, {{goal|87}} Peter Davenport

|referee=NL Wilson

|attendance=23,304

|location=Newcastle-upon-Tyne

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=26 October 1985

|round=14

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Arsenal

|result=W

|score=3–2

|report=8

|goals1=Peter Davenport {{goal|29|pen}}, {{goal|65}}, {{goal|72}}

|goals2={{goal|89}} Graham Rix
{{goal|90}} Paul Davis

|referee=J McAulay

|attendance=17,756

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=3 November 1985

|round=15

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=West Bromwich Albion

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=7

|goals1=Neil Webb {{goal|38}}
Peter Davenport {{goal|75|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|44}} Steve Hunt

|referee=N Midgley

|attendance=19,610

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=9 November 1985

|round=16

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Chelsea

|result=L

|score=4–2

|report=9

|goals1= David Speedie {{goal|1}}
Kerry Dixon {{goal|24}}, {{goal|61}}
Micky Hazard {{goal|35|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|10}}, {{goal|55}} Nigel Clough

|referee=RG Milford |attendance=17,743

|location=Fulham

|stadium=Stamford Bridge

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=16 November 1985

|round=17

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Manchester City

|result=L

|score=0–2

|report=10

|goals2={{goal|28}} Clive Wilson
{{goal|55}} Paul Simpson

|referee=VG Callow

|attendance=15,140

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=23 November 1985

|round=18

|time=

|team1=Everton

|score=1–1

|report=10

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|result=D

|goals1= Paul Bracewell {{goal|76}}

|goals2={{goal|70}} Nigel Clough

|referee=J Lovatt

|attendance=27,869

|location=Walton

|stadium=Goodison Park

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=1 December 1985

|round=19

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Oxford United

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=10

|goals1= Peter Davenport {{goal|59|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|19}} Andy Thomas

|referee=PA Tyldesley

|attendance=15,317

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=7 December 1985

|time=

|round=20

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Sheffield Wednesday

|result=L

|score=2–1

|report=11

|goals1= Brian Marwood {{goal|57}}
Mark Chamberlain {{goal|85}}

|goals2={{goal|54}} Neil Webb

|referee=TJ Holbrook

|attendance=22,495

|location=Sheffield

|stadium=Hillsborough

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=14 December 1985

|round=21

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Luton Town

|result=W

|score=2–0

|report=10

|goals1= Nigel Clough {{goal|30}}
Neil Webb {{goal|78}}

|referee=JE Bray

|attendance=12,078

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=20 December 1985

|round=22

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Southampton

|result=L

|score=3–1

|report=10

|goals1= Steve Moran {{goal|10}}, {{goal|38}}
David Armstrong {{goal|73}}

|goals2={{goal|43}} Franz Carr

|referee=HW King

|attendance=12,500

|location=Southampton

|stadium=The Dell

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=26 December 1985

|round=23

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Birmingham City

|result=W

|score=0–1

|report=11

|goals2={{goal|17}} Neil Webb

|referee=K Walmsley

|attendance=10,378

|location=Birmingham

|stadium=St Andrews

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=28 December 1985

|round=24

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Liverpool

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=10

|goals1=Neil Webb {{goal|11}}

|goals2={{goal|55}} Kevin MacDonald

|referee=KW Baker

|attendance=27,141

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=1 January 1986

|round=25

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Coventry City

|result=W

|score=5–2

|report=9

|goals1=Neil Webb {{goal|40}}, {{goal|52}}, {{goal|76}}
Johnny Metgod {{goal|80}}
Peter Davenport {{goal|84}}

|goals2={{goal|19}} Cyrille Regis
{{goal|20}} Micky Adams

|referee=MJ Cotton

|attendance=13,860

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=11 January 1986

|round=26

|team1=Tottenham Hotspur

|score=0–3

|report=9

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|result=W

|goals2={{goal|47}}, {{goal|69}} Peter Davenport
{{goal|51}} Colin Walsh

|referee=RG Milford

|attendance=19,043

|location=Tottenham

|stadium=White Hart Lane

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=18 January 1986

|round=27

|team1=Manchester United

|score=2–3

|report=8

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|result=W

|goals1=Jesper Olsen {{goal|46|pen}}, {{goal|67}}

|goals2={{goal|43}}, {{goal|80}} Colin Walsh
{{goal|88}} Nigel Clough

|referee=JM Key

|attendance=46,717

|location=Manchester

|stadium=Old Trafford

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=1 February 1986

|round=28

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Queens Park Rangers

|result=W

|report=6

|score=4–0

|goals1= Colin Walsh {{goal|20}}, {{goal|84}}
Franz Carr {{goal|27}}
Neil Webb {{goal|59}}

|referee=T Fitzharris

|attendance=11,538

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=8 February 1986

|round=29

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Newcastle United

|result=L

|score=1–2

|report=7

|goals1=Colin Walsh {{goal|80}}

|goals2={{goal|66}}, {{goal|73}} Peter Beardsley

|referee=JW Lloyd

|attendance=15,388

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=8 March 1986

|round=30

|time=

|team1=Ipswich Town

|score=1–0

|report=9

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|result=L

|goals2=Terry Butcher {{goal|52}}

|referee=DV Reeves

|attendance=12,827

|location=Ipswich

|stadium=Portman Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=15 March 1986

|round=31

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Aston Villa

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=10

|goals1=Nigel Clough {{goal|62|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|72}} Mark Walters

|referee=JA Moules

|attendance=12,933

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=22 March 1986

|time=

|round=32

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Leicester City

|result=W

|score=4–3

|report=10

|goals1= Ian Bowyer {{goal|7}}
Franz Carr {{goal|38}}
Nigel Clough {{goal|65}}, {{goal|89}}

|goals2={{goal|5}}, {{goal|68}}Alan Smith
{{goal|48}} Tony Sealy

|referee=D Scott

|attendance=14,484

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=29 March 1986

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Coventry City

|result=D

|score=0–0

|report=10

|referee=C Downey

|attendance=9,447

|round=33

|location=Coventry

|stadium=Highfield Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=31 March 1986

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Birmingham City

|result=W

|score=3–0

|report=10

|goals1=Nigel Clough {{goal|28|pen}}
Johnny Metgod {{goal|46}}
Neil Webb {{goal|88}}

|referee=JB Worrall

|attendance=12,134

|round=34

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=2 April 1986

|round=35

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=West Ham United

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=8

|goals1= Johnny Metgod {{goal|39}}
Brian Rice {{goal|88}}

|goals2={{goal|69}} Tony Cottee

|referee=LR Dilkes

|attendance=17,498

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=5 April 1986

|round=36

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=West Bromwich Albion

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=8

|goals1=Martyn Bennett {{goal|76}}

|goals2={{goal|21}} Johnny Metgod

|referee=CC Trussell

|attendance=7,901

|location=West Bromwich

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=8 April 1986

|round=37

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Arsenal

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=8

|goals1=Ian Allinson {{goal|19|pen}}

|goals2={{goal|65}} David Campbell

|referee=LM Robinson

|attendance=15,087

|location=Islington

|stadium=Highbury

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=12 April 1986

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Chelsea

|result=D

|score=0–0

|report=8

|referee=D Shaw

|attendance=18,055

|round=38

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=19 April 1986

|round=39

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Manchester City

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=7

|goals1=Gordon Davies {{goal|85}}

|goals2={{goal|71}}Neil Webb
{{goal|82}} David Campbell

|referee=J Lovatt

|attendance=19,715

|location=Moss Side

|stadium=Maine Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=21 April 1986

|time=12:00

|round=40

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Watford

|result=D

|score=1–1

|report=7

|goals1= John Barnes {{goal|12}}

|goals2={{goal|22}} Nigel Clough

|referee=A Gunn

|attendance=11,510

|location=Watford

|stadium=Vicarage Road

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=26 April 1986

|round=41

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=West Bridgford

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Everton

|result=D

|score=0–0

|report=8

|referee=B Hill

|attendance=30,171

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=3 May 1986

|time=15:00

|round=42

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Oxford United

|result=W

|score=2–1

|report=8

|goals1=Jeremy Charles {{goal|27}}

|goals2={{goal|16}}, {{goal|81}} Nigel Clough

|referee=RL Hamer

|attendance=11,842

|location=Oxford

|stadium=Manor Ground

}}

{{main|1985-86 Football League Cup}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=25 September 1985

|round=2

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=Nottingham

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Bolton Wanderers

|result=W

|score=4–0

|goals1= David Campbell {{goal|66}}, {{goal|74}}
Brian Rice {{goal|70}}
Nigel Clough {{goal|79}}

|referee=PW Vanes

|attendance=10,530

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=8 October 1985

|round=2

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Bolton Wanderers

|result=W

|score=3–0

|goals2=Brian Rice {{goal|62}}
Peter Davenport {{goal|74}}
Nigel Clough {{goal|84}}

|referee=D Hutchinson

|attendance=4,010

|aggregatescore= 0–7

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=30 October 1985

|round=3

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Derby County

|result=W

|score=1–2

|goals1=Jeff Chandler {{goal|9|pen}}

|goals2={{goal| 12}}Johnny Metgod
{{goal|68}} Franz Carr

|referee=D Shaw

|attendance=25,000

|location=Derby

|stadium=Baseball Ground

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=25 November 1985

|round=4

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Queens Park Rangers

|result=L

|score=3–1

|goals1=Terry Fenwick {{goal|8|pen}}
Gary Bannister {{goal|87}}
John Byrne {{goal|90}}

|goals2={{goal|80}} Nigel Clough

|referee=ML James

|attendance=13,052

|location=White City

|stadium=Loftus Road

}}

{{main|1985-86 FA Cup}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=4 January 1985

|round=3

|team1=Nottingham Forest

|location=Nottingham

|stadium=City Ground

|team2=Blackburn Rovers

|result=D

|score=1–1

|goals1=Garry Birtles {{goal|65}}

|goals2={{goal|43}} Chris Thompson

|referee=G Courtney

|attendance=15,772

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date=13 January 1986|round=3

|team2=Nottingham Forest

|team1=Blackburn Rovers

|result=L

|score=3–2

|goals1=John Lowey {{goal|17}}
Noel Brotherston {{goal|42}}
Chris Thompson {{goal|44}}

|goals2={{goal|24}} Colin Walsh
{{goal|88}} Garry Birtles

|referee=G Courtney

|attendance=11,710

|location=Blackburn

|stadium=Ewood Park

}}

{{Efs start|Football League
Division One|FA
Cup|Football League
Cup}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=Steve Sutton |31|0|2|0|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=NIR|name=Gary Fleming |16|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Ian Butterworth|22+1|0|1|0|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Des Walker |36+3|0|2|0|2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Stuart Pearce|30|1|0|0|4|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Ian Bowyer |25+1|3|2|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Neil Webb|38|14|2|0|4|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=NED|name=Johnny Metgod|37+2|6|2|0|4|1}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Franz Carr|23|3|0|0|1+1|1}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Nigel Clough|37+2|15|2|0|4|3}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Peter Davenport |27|13|2|0|4|1}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=NED|name=Hans Segers|11|0|0|0|1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Garry Birtles|24+1|0|2|2|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Brian Rice|19|3|0|0|3|2}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Colin Walsh|16+4|6|1+1|1|1+1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=NIR|name=David Campbell|14+4|3|0|0|1|2}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Gary Mills|13+1|0|1|0|3|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=SCO|name=Jim McInally|12|0|0|0|1|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Brett Williams |11|0|2|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=John Robertson|10+1|0|1|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Steve Wigley|8|0|0|0|2|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Steve Hodge|2|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Archie Gemmill|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=SCO|name=Steven Murray|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=Leigh Palin|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=Mick Perry|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=Darren Heyes|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=Chris Fairclough|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=David Riley}}

{{Efs end|date=September 2023|s=https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/players/season/1986/}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Nottingham Forest F.C. seasons}}

{{1985–86 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Nottingham Forest F.C. season}}

Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. seasons

Nottingham Forest