Forest's Cult Heroes

Examines the trials and tribulations of twenty of the legends in the club's history.

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From Old Big 'Ead to Pineapple Head; from lazy, fat and ugly to dashing, trim and unbearably handsome; nature's random selection process when allocating physical attributes can be as diverse as it is divisive - and at Nottingham Forest, there is no doubt that heroes have come in all shapes and sizes over the decades. But Nottingham Forest's Cult Heroes have also arrived with personality and, on one occasion, an ego that required several fleets of pantechnicons to ferry it tenderly from Derby to the south bank of the River Trent. But if Brian Clough is the idol that eclipses all before and after him, Forest supporters can also reflect on a rich legacy of talented, quirky and downright outrageous individuals who were embraced by fellow professionals and spectators alike. "Forest's Cult Heroes" examines the trials and tribulations of twenty of the biggest legends in the club's history and gets beneath the skin of the men who brought entertainment and success in equal measure to the City Ground. The club's Cult Heroes have never conformed to the image of a text book footballer and this book celebrates the characters who have stirred Forest fans over 140 years of history. Inspired by an ambition to play in the top flight, Wally Ardron scored goals for fun as his manager Billy Walker revitalised Forest during the 1950s. A decade later, inspired by an ambition to drink the top shelf dry, 'Slim' Jim Baxter was also having fun, while Joe Baker was hailed as the new darling of the Trent End. Then there was tubby winger John Robertson and his alter ego Bryan Ferry, Ian Storey-Moore's sartorial elegance and Jason Lee's hirsute faux pas that mirrored his predatory powers and put an end to his top flight career in the most public way imaginable. For better or for worse, all shapes and all sizes are contained within these pages. But all twenty Cult Heroes were faithfully adored by Forest fans, brought up on a diet of wayward genius.