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Heartfelt tributes paid as Nottingham Forest comes together to remember John Robertson

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Heartfelt tributes paid as Nottingham Forest comes together to remember John Robertson

Heartfelt tributes have been paid as Nottingham Forest comes together to remember John Robertson ahead of their game against Man City.

It was sadly announced by the club and his family that Robertson had died on Christmas Day at the age of 72, following a long illness.

A beautifully observed moment of applause could be heard around City Ground while a banner with the words ‘The Picasso of the Game’ was displayed in the home end.

A club statement read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend, John Robertson.

“A true great of our Club and a double European Cup winner, John’s unrivalled talent, humility and unwavering devotion to Nottingham Forest will never ever be forgotten.

“Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and all who loved him.

“Rest in Peace, Robbo… Our greatest.”

A statement from John’s family: “It is with immense pain and sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful husband, dad and grandad.

“John passed away peacefully on Christmas morning with his wife and family by his side, after a long illness. Our only comfort in our grief is that his struggles are now over, and he is reunited with daughter Jessica.

“‘Robbo’ was treasured by many as a footballing hero but to us he was just John and dad, the family man…kind, loving, witty, fun and loyal.

“Although our hearts are breaking, we will always be grateful for the years we were privileged to share with him and the amazing memories we made. We will miss him every day and love him always.

“John leaves wife Sharyl, daughter Liz and sons Andrew and Mark, as well as granddaughters Jess and Phoebe.”

Evangelos Marinakis said: “This week is one of profound sadness for everyone connected with Nottingham Forest as we come together to mourn the passing of John Robertson – a true legend of this great club in every sense of the word.

“I extend my sincerest condolences to his family, his friends, and all who loved him.

“Today, I have recommended to the Board that the Bridgford Stand be renamed ‘THE JOHN ROBERSTON STAND’ IN HIS HONOUR and in lasting recognition of his extraordinary contribution to our club, so that his legacy – and our great hero – will forever be remembered.”

A tribute to John Robertson from Nottingham Forest Chairman, Nicholas Randall KC:

“Yesterday we lost our greatest player but we also lost a great man. Others will no doubt talk of his exploits on the pitch but it is important that we honour his character too.

“Robbo was, of course, the former player I most wanted to meet when I arrived as Chairman because of his legendary status as a player. But on meeting it was impossible not to be struck by his humility, kindness and generosity of spirit.

“Robbo was the wisest of men. His knowledge of the game was second to none but his analysis was always tempered by fairness and understanding. He disliked the modern approach to criticise the game with personal attacks as he understood the complexities and difficulties of every situation, from the pitch to the boardroom.

“He was wonderful company. His joke telling was legendary, as was his Mick Jagger impression. You never left an encounter with him without your life enhanced.

“He wore his genius lightly and he was incredibly supportive of us when we became proud custodians of the Club. That support remained throughout. In particular I will remember his support for us and the ownership when we were rooted to the bottom of the Championship and he urged us just to keep going and that he was sure that better times were ahead. His pleasure when the success came was a joy to see. He truly loved Nottingham Forest and its fans.

“He was also a very proud Scotsman and it was a wonderful occasion when he was reunited in the boardroom a few years ago with the shirt he had worn at Wembley when scoring the winning penalty against England. The signs of tears in his eyes when reunited with the shirt he thought had been lost for all time.

“But we will, of course, remember him for Munich and Madrid. His composure and elegance on the greatest nights of our history.

“Albert Einstein said “try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value”. Robbo was the rarity that achieved both. He will be greatly missed.”

Manager Sean Dyche said: “Firstly, on behalf of the club, super sad. We give all of our thoughts really to the family at this time. His wonderful wife, Sharyl, who unfortunately had to live with him as his health deteriorated, which is a lot to take on. I saw some of it first hand myself.

“So on behalf of the club, I think we recognise that and I’m sure the fans will be amazing in remembering who is an legend at this football club, without a doubt, in John Robertson.

“And then for myself, I got to know him over the last few years with the Thursday club, as we call it, and all the legends.

“He certainly is a legend, there’s no two ways about it. But as a fella as well, he’s behind super humble.

“For someone who’d done what he’s done and who he was in the game and how he was in Nottingham, he was super humble. Always had a kind word.

“I was amazed at the amount of times he was so supportive of me when I was in work and when I was out of work. Just an all-round great fella.

“I think Brian Clough probably summed it up the most, about him being the Picasso of football. He’d give me 10 yards of grass and he was a genius. All them quotes used to come out about him.

“I was a young boy then, but I still remember him jinking down the line and how he could. That famous drag when he’d hold the ball back and almost entice the defender in and then burst past them. Super clever football.

“I didn’t see him in his pomp really because I was very young then, but some of the guys who spoke so highly of him playing-wise were always in awe of him and the talent that he had. Immense talent without a doubt. As a character, there’s no two ways about it.

“Who would ‘fired a cannon’ joke, we’d always ask him to tell it again and again and again.

“The biggest thing for me, honestly, is his memory of football is unbelievable. He’d pull back results and games and moments in games and what happened there and what happened there.

“Both as a player and when he was assistant manager, of course. and very successful at that too. Just his general demeanour.

“He was always humorous even though when his health started deteriorating, he was always super to be around. I was fortunate to go to his 70th and he sang, he loved singing, he loved his music and I watched him sing there. Incredible.

“Just an all-round great character. Not just a great fella, but a great character as well.

“I think he’d want to be remembered as just being him.

“It sounds too simple to say that, but super humble, as I said. Great guy. Not even aware, I don’t think, of how good he was as a footballer.

“No matter how many times people told him, he was always humble about it.

“I remember as a young player, he was always trying to coach you about living your life right. Not drinking too much and all that sort of stuff.

“He was just an all-round, genuinely brilliant bloke as well as being an absolutely legendary footballer, without a doubt.”

ROBERTSON’S CAREER:

Senior
1970–1983 – Nottingham Forest – 386 games (61 goals)
1983–1985 – Derby County – 72 games (3 goals)
1985–1986 – Nottingham Forest – 11 games (0 goals)
Total – 469 games (64 goals)

International career
1978–1983 – Scotland – 28 games (8 goals)

Honours

Nottingham Forest
First Division: 1977–78
League Cup: 1977–78, 1978–79
FA Charity Shield: 1978
European Cup: 1978–79, 1979–80
European Super Cup: 1979
Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1976–77

Individual
PFA Second Division Team of the Year: 1976–77
PFA First Division Team of the Year: 1977–78



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