Cooper’s writing another chapter
STEVE COOPER went for a pint with Forest’s European Cup heroes to get an idea of what it was like in the good days. Today Cooper has the chance to make his own history as the manager who beat Liverpool and took Nottingham Forest to a first FA Cup semi-final in 31 years.
Cooper has lifted Forest from bottom of the Championship to the verge of the play-offs in an amazing six months in charge.
He is eager to eat up all the knowledge and history of the club he can and Garry Birtles (below), who won two European Cups with Forest, says: “Not many of the managers Forest have had since have embraced the success we had with Brian Clough.
“But Steve Cooper has got it massively. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He wants us behind the scenes, the doors are open. He’s come for a drink with us.the lads go out on a Thursday. Me, John Robertson, Frank Clark, Colin Barrett, John O’hare.
“Steve Cooper has just put a smile on everybody’s face.the fans, the buzz, it is a totally different atmosphere and it’s down to what he’s done.”
Cooper refers to standing on the shoulders of those who made Forest the best in Europe.
He wants to know about those years from those who won the medals.
“It wasn’t all brand new, I knew something about it before I came in because it is something I am interested in,” said Cooper.
“When you become part of it you delve even more.then you have the opportunity and the honour of meeting some of these greats of the club.
“We will always stand on the shoulders of these players, rightly so, and it’s something we should embrace and be proud of.”
Cooper (right) has engineered a run of one defeat in 14 games, including the
FA Cup giant-killings of Arsenal and Leicester.
But injuries to Steve Cook and Max Lowe, plus Scott Mckenna – out after doing hamstring damage in the midweek win over QPR – are serious blows.
But flying full-back Djed Spencer, on loan from Middlesbrough, has a £10million fee on his head with Bayern Munich favourites to get him and Arsenal, Tottenham and Roma seriously interested.
“We are in the infancy of trying to build something,” added Cooper, who spent part of his early years coaching at the Liverpool academy.
“But we’ve not turned it round yet.there is still a lot of work to do.
“We are trying to create next chapters and that’s the exciting bit.”