Forever Forest: Nottingham Forest's greatest ever six-a-side team

They may have been out of the English top-flight since 1999 but fans of the former two-time European Champions have seen a host of top talent at the City Ground down the years and Alan March had the task of choosing just six of the best.

Featuring three of the team who won the First Division title and the European Cup, this side reflects the fantastic history which Forest are able to boast with more than a nod to the nineties too, all led by one of the greatest managers of all time, “Old Big ‘ed” himself.

Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton was regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world for much of his career, which saw him play well into his 40s. But it was while at Nottingham Forest that he probably enjoyed his greatest success, winning two European Cups and a league tire while also representing England over 100 times.

Stuart Pearce

Know as ‘Psycho’ for his no-nonsense approach to the game, it’s no surprise that this Forest favourite made it into the starting line-up with few opposition players wanting to go one-on-one with one of the most tiresome defenders the game has ever seen for club and country. “Any team needs a leader and this man leads the leaders,” explains Alan.

Viv Anderson

Another hero of Forest’s glory days of the 1970s Viv Anderson is the type of player and six-a-side team needs with his ability to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye. “Spider will be up and down the pitch all day,” says Alan of a man who was the first black player to represent England in a full international before going on to play for Arsenal and Manchester United.

Roy Keane

If it wasn’t scary enough facing Stuart Pierce on the close-confines of a six-a-side pitch the addition of Roy Keane means this could well be the hardest line-up we’ll see. But apart from his physical presence, the box-to-box midfielder would also be able to cover every blade of astroturf.

John Robertson

A player who Alan describes as, “Forest’s greatest ever,” John Robertson had an uncanny knack of, not only creating goals, but scoring them also, either from close range or outside the box. Just as he did in Madrid in 1980 when he fired in the winning goal against Hamburg in the European Cup final.

Stan Collymore

Collymore was nothing short of sensational during his two-year spell Forest and his 19 League goals, in just 28 games, fired Forest back to the top flight at the first time of asking following relegation in 1993. “A man that had it all, his pace and power will win this team games,” is how Alan describes this firm favourite with the City Ground faithful.

Brian Clough

“GOD… or as some people called him, Brian Clough!” says Alan of a man who transformed Nottingham Forest from a Second Division mid-table side to champions of England before going on to conquer Europe, not just once, but twice. So just imagine what he could do with this delectable half dozen.