Discover Notts > Famous people > Famous footballers Viv Anderson
Viv Anderson, born in Nottingham in 1956, broke through taboos to become the first black player to represent England. Viv Anderson played more than 400 games for Nottingham Forest before leaving the City Ground in 1984. He was an integral part of Brian Clough's team during their heyday and was in the side that won the European Cup in 1979. In 1997, 96% of Forest fans voted Viv Anderson as the team's best ever right-back, and in 1999 he was awarded the MBE for services to football. Gary Birtles
Born in 1956 in Nottingham, Gary Birtles joined Manchester United in 1980 from Nottingham Forest for £1.25 million. With two European Cup Winners' Medals to his name from the previous two seasons, Gary joined United with a growing reputation. He'd made his international debut only a few months earlier. He now appears on local radio and has a column in the Nottingham Evening Post. Andy Cole
The Nottingham born striker, joined Manchester United in January 1995 for a British record transfer fee of £6million. Cole broke Dennis Law's European goal scoring record (14) when netting a hat-trick against Anderlecht in the Champions League in 2000. He currently plays for Manchester City. Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough was born in Sunderland in 1966. Son of the legendary Brian Clough, Nigel made his name at Nottingham Forest under the managership of his father and had a very impressive strike rate for a midfield player of a goal nearly every three games. He transfered to Liverpool for over £2m in 1993 and signed for Manchester City in 1996. He retired shortly after the start of the 1998-99 season and turned his hand to the management of Burton Albion football club. He also gained 14 full England caps. Roy Dwight
After 61 years without a trophy, Nottingham Forest reached the FA Cup final on 2 May 1959. It was quite a day for the Reds player. He put them ahead after nine minutes but half an hour later was stretchered off after breaking his leg in a tackle. He watched the rest of the game from a hospital bed but had firmly staked his place in Forest's history pages as the Reds won 2-1. Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby was born in Nottingham in 1976. On loan at Nottingham Forest during 2002-2003, the striker only played 11 games for his hometown club. He's also played for Lincoln, Newcastle United, Coventry City, Leeds and Manchester City, and is currently at Norwich City. Stuart Imlach
The Scottish international appeared in the winning Nottingham Forest line up in the 1959 FA Cup final against Luton Town. A left winger, he won ‘man of the match’ and was known as “The Rabbit” due to his incredible speed. He represented Scotland in the 1958 World Cup. He died in 2001 aged 69. A book about Stewart Imlach, 'My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes', written by his son Gary, won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2005. It is published by Yellow Jersey Press (2005). Jermaine Jenas
Born in Nottingham, Jenas plays midfield and is a former England under 19 captain. He began his career at Nottingham Forest where he immediately impressed during the 2001/02 season. After a single season at Nottingham Forest, he was sold to Newcastle United for £5 million in February 2002. It was the second most expensive transfer involving a teenager at the time. He now plays for Tottenham Hotspur. Seamus McDonagh
Notts County goalkeeper between 1983 - 1984, McDonagh also played for Ireland, Bolton, Sunderland and clubs in the USA. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Coventry City Football Club and lives in Nuthall, Nottinghamshire. Stuart Pearce
Pearce's early career saw him under the tutelage of Bobby Gould at Coventry City and then Brian Clough. It was at Nottingham Forest that Pearce spent most of his time, becoming a legend for club and country. He established himself as an uncompromising defender with a cannon shot (gaining the nickname "Psycho"). He became captain in 1987 and in the same year earned the first of 78 England caps which made him a household name. He spent more than ten years at Forest, most of it as club captain and briefly also as player manager, a caretaker role he held while the club found a long-term boss. Jermaine Pennant
A gifted midfielder, Pennant started playing football at his hometown Notts County FC. He made his debut against Sheffield United coming on as a substitute at the age of 15. After just two league games for Notts County he signed for Arsenal in a £2million deal. In 2005 he signed with Birmingham City Football Club. Chris Sutton
Born in Nottingham, but nominated The Scottish Footballer of the Year, Sutton plays for Celtic. He had his best season for Celtic as his team won the double. He scored 19 goals in 25 appearances, including hat-tricks against Kilmarnock FC and Dundee United FC. The price Blackburn paid for Sutton was then a British record fee. Des Walker
Des Walker established himself as a centre-back at Nottingham Forest when he joined the club as an apprentice. And manager Brian Clough had him playing regularly for the first team aged just 20. Walker made his international debut in June 1989 and totalled 59 England caps. His first spell at Forest lasted from 1983 - 1992, and he then played for Sampdoria and Sheffield Wednesday. Walker returned for the 2002 - 2004 seasons and made almost 60 more appearances for Forest, nearly a decade after he'd left them. He retired at the age of 38 with a total of 354 appearances for the club to his name - and one goal. Dave Watson
Dave Watson was brought up in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. After work as a farm labourer and trainee electrician, he trialled with Notts County and became a professional footballer aged 20. During his career he won an FA Cup medal in 1973 with Sunderland and a League Cup medal with Manchester City in 1976. Dave's career ended where it had begun at Notts County. His playing career spans clubs such as Rotherham United, Werder Bremen, Southampton, Stoke City and Derby County plus sixty-five full England appearances. < Brian Clough < Sporting heroes Capital for learning | Famous people | Nottingham history | Interesting facts | The Dukeries | Postcards | Virtual tours | Videos | Souvenirs | Nottingham hotels | UK family holidays | Nottingham bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) | Nottingham holiday cottages |
