Exeter City v Nottingham Forest

February 19th 1979

In the testimonial match for Nicky Jennings, who retired at the end of last season, Nottingham Forest at St James's Park, gave a brilliant display of football to beat Exeter City by 5 goals to 0.

Exeter City:- O'Keefe; Templeman, Giles, Roberts, Hore; Delve, Randell, Hatch; Neville, Sims, Pearson.

Nottingham Forest :- Shilton; Anderson, Needham, Lloyd, Clark; Burns, O'Neil, McGovern; Birtles, Woodcock, Robertson.

Referee:- Mr T.Atkins of Exeter. Linesmen:- Messrs R.Spray and M. Mason.

The supporters, who have already seen a few good teams at Exeter this season (Blackburn, Bolton, West Bromwich Albion) went home happy to have witnessed the superlative skill of the League Champions, and the beneficiary, Nicky Jennings, was equally happy that his testimonial match gamble had paid off handsomely by attracting a crowd of 9,479 people, who were also pleased to see the debut of the first "million pound footballer," Trevor Francis, whose recent move from Birmingham cost the Forest club that amount, but who because of the "big freeze up" had not until this match had a chance to show his new club what he can do. In any case, he only came on to the field for the final ten minutes, when he entered in a triple substitution with Bowyer and Barrett in exchange for McGovern, Birtles, and Anderson.

The Nottingham goals were scored by Woodcock and Birtles (first half), and Anderson, Bowyer, and Woodcock (second).

The programme