Ipswich Town

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Lore & Background

The 1978 FA Charity Shield was the 56th edition of the annual match between the Football League champions and FA Cup winners. Nottingham Forest had won the league seven points clear of Liverpool, remaining undefeated at home at the City Ground. Ipswich had beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup final three months earlier, the only goal coming from Roger Osborne. Forest had lost their only previous Charity Shield appearance in 1959, beaten 3–1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ipswich had played in the 1962 FA Charity Shield, a game in which they also conceded five goals, that time against Tottenham Hotspur. As of 2023, neither club has played in a Charity Shield match since 1978.

In Their Own Story

Ipswich were without four of their FA Cup-winning team through injury, including Kevin Beattie, Allan Hunter, Roger Osborne, and David Geddis. Tommy Parkin made his full professional debut at Wembley. With eight minutes gone, a volley from Parkin was turned behind by Forest goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a corner. Two minutes later, Martin O'Neill scored in the tenth minute after Ipswich defenders failed to clear a Robertson cross. Ronald Atkin of The Observer reported that Shilton made another 'stunning' save to deny Brian Talbot before Peter Withe doubled Forest's lead on 27 minutes. Robertson cut in from the left and turned the ball back to Colin Barrett, whose cross Withe headed past Paul Cooper. In the second half, Larry Lloyd scored from a Robertson free kick after John Wark had fouled Withe. Ipswich's Trevor Whymark was substituted for Robin Turner on 66 minutes, but Forest scored a fourth from an O'Neill strike following a Robertson cross. O'Neill was immediately substituted by Forest manager Brian Clough for David Needham before he could complete his hat-trick. Just three minutes before full-time, Robertson scored Forest's fifth goal. Ipswich's George Burley waited too long for a pass from Russell Osman and let Robertson steal in to take the ball and strike it past Cooper from the edge of the area. The game ended 5–0, a winning margin that, as of 2023, remains unbeaten. It was also the largest winning margin in the Charity Shield since the 1968 match where Manchester City beat West Bromwich Albion 6–1.

Reader's Guide

The shield was presented to the Nottingham Forest captain by former England international and 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning Bobby Charlton. Clough transgressed protocol by following his team up the steps to receive the trophy. Nottingham Forest went on to finish as First Division runners-up in the 1978–79 season, once again undefeated at home, finishing eight points behind Liverpool. Ipswich finished sixth in the division.

Did You Know?

• The 1978 FA Charity Shield was both Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest's second appearance in the Shield.
• Ipswich were unable to field four of the previous season's FA Cup-winning team through injury, with Tommy Parkin making his debut.
• Martin O'Neill was substituted by Brian Clough immediately after scoring his second goal, preventing him from completing a hat-trick.
• The 5–0 winning margin remains unbeaten as of 2023 and was the largest in the Charity Shield since 1968.
• Brian Clough transgressed protocol by following his team up the steps to receive the trophy from Bobby Charlton.