Call from Forest great Mcgovern makes fan’s day
IT’S not every day you get the chance to speak to a Nottingham Forest legend over the phone – and one Reds fan was determined to make the most of it.
Far from being starstruck in conversation with John Mcgovern, one follower of the Reds’ glory days channelled the spirit of the great Brian Clough.
Clough famously referred to the club’s best player, John Robertson, as the “little fat guy”.
And seizing his moment, Raymond Stubbs chimed in with his own quip in a call with Mcgovern.
“He said to me, ‘John Mcgovern is one of us, he speaks like us, he’s a proper gentleman,’” Raymond’s grandson, Anthony Sansom, explained.
“He even called John Robertson fat, like when Cloughie said, ‘when you get the ball, pass it to that fat lad on the wing.’
“He said that to John Mcgovern! I thought, ‘grandad, you can’t say that!’”
That Raymond got the chance of a lifetime was thanks to Anthony – with the help of Ashfield MP Lee Anderson and Forest.
Raymond has had a tough time in recent years, overcoming skin cancer and struggling with his mental health.
His grandson got in touch with the MP to see if there was a way of brightening his day through his love of the Reds.
The club duly stepped in, arranging for a chat with Mcgovern and, when coronavirus restrictions allowed, saying he could meet more of the Miracle Men – including Robertson – at a game.
The gesture has “put a smile back” on the face of Raymond.
“Mentally, it had all really got to him, especially with the lockdown and everything that’s been going off,” said Anthony, who, like his grandad, is from Sutton-in-ashfield.
“I’ve seen him go from being the happiest man in the world to being really low. I just wanted to pick him up.
“He was well chuffed. It put a smile back on his face. He’s so happy with it.
“I don’t think anybody’s done anything like this for him. I wanted to help him out. I suffer from mental health myself but I deal with it by helping others. Helping him has helped me, in a way.
“He was only on the phone for 10 minutes. He didn’t tell me the day he had the phone call that the hospital was going to be ringing him!
“He doesn’t want to be in the limelight, so he told me, no more phone calls!
“I’m very jealous he got to speak to John Mcgovern because these are my heroes, too.”
Anthony is also a big Reds fan and is often regaled with tales of the old days, when the club conquered Europe under Clough.
“Back in the day, my grandad was a big fan,” he said. “He always speaks about the old boys and about Forest back in the day.
“I get jealous hearing it, because all I’ve ever seen is League One and Championship.
“He speaks about Brian and the Brian Clough days a lot. He’s got the same kind of charisma as Brian Clough as well. He knows how to talk to people and he’s always making people laugh.
“He always keeps an eye on Forest.
“I’m a massive Forest fan myself. I just wanted to ask for the club’s help to show that people are willing to go out of their way to help people; show him that he’s not on his own.
“I’m so proud of the club. I’m so proud to be a Forest fan.”
A club spokesperson said: “The club are delighted to help on this. John Mcgovern, as club ambassador, has been wonderful in offering to ring fans.
“John Robertson, another Miracle Man, immediately agreed when asked, and we look forward to welcoming them back to the City Ground when it is safe to do so.”
Robertson said: “I was very happy to help. The club has been brilliant in involving the older players and it’s lovely to know we can still help in any way with the fans.
“I’d like to wish all Forest fans the best during these difficult times and I hope to see you all soon.”
On his Facebook page, Lee Anderthe son described the story as one which “choked me up”.
Hearing of Mcgovern’s phone call, he wrote: “What a great thing to do.”