Newcastle United had been confirmed massively fallacious after they let a participant they deemed surplus to necessities at St. James’ Park as a result of their age go on and raise the European Cup in 1979.
Whereas the Magpies have loved success in Europe of their historical past, successful the Inter-Cities Gala’s Cup in 1969, they’ve by no means gotten near lifting the continent’s elite prize.
Frank Clark did in 1979, although, after Newcastle let him go in 1975. Having spent 13 years of his profession at Newcastle, the membership’s board determined that, at 31, Clark did not have something left to supply. Over the following 4 years Clark proceeded to show them extemely fallacious.
Newcastle let go Frank Clark for being too previous – 4 years later he gained the European Cup
Clark performed for Newcastle for 13 years (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“I used to be 31 when the Newcastle board determined I used to be over the hill,” Clark solely tells FourFourTwo . “I’d performed 400-odd video games and thought I nonetheless had so much to supply. Brian Clough requested me to affix Nottingham Forest , who had been a reasonably common Second Division workforce on the time.
We completed third in Division Two [in 1976/77], which was a miracle in itself. Cloughie had engineered it in order that we’d completed our fixtures earlier than everybody else, so on the final day of the season, all of us had been on a aircraft to Majorca at 3pm. Upon touchdown, we had been instructed that Bolton hadn’t gained and so we had been up. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.”
Clough bought Clark in at Forest (Picture credit score: Alamy)
In simply 4 years at Forest Clark loved nice success, incomes promotion to the First Division earlier than successful it in 1977/78, two League Cup s and the European Cup. He proved an integral member of Clough’s facet, too, enjoying a key position in defence all through his 4 years on the Metropolis Floor.
“After signing for Forest, I performed 108 consecutive matches, which wasn’t a nasty approach of answering Newcastle’s accusation that I used to be previous it,” Clarks says. “I performed within the League Cup closing after we beat Liverpool and picked up a medal after we gained the league title, regardless of some harm points.
“Most significantly of all, I used to be within the beginning line-up the following season [1978/79] after we beat Malmo to win the European Cup closing. Cloughie considered placing Ian Bowyer at left-back for that match. The day earlier than the sport itself, it was between myself, Archie Gemmill and Martin O’Neill for the final place. Happily for me, I bought the nod, with Ian shifting into midfield.
That European Cup closing win in opposition to Malmo in Munich in the end proved Clark’s closing sport as an expert, with the Englishman retiring aged 35 when the chance to maneuver into teaching proved too nice a pull.
Clark (far proper) enjoys successful the European Cup (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“It wasn’t actually deliberate,” Clark admits. “I truly had one other yr left on my Forest contract when Sunderland boss Ken Knighton phoned and requested me to turn into his assistant supervisor.
“I used to be nonetheless having fun with my soccer, however this was a superb alternative not solely to get on the teaching ladder, however to maneuver again to the North East with an enormous membership. Cloughie tried to speak me out of it and even provided me one other yr, however Forest had purchased Frank Grey so I knew that I wouldn’t be first selection.”
