Evangelos Marinakis gesture ensures 'important piece' of Nottingham Forest history comes home
Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis secures hugely significant item for club museum
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveNottingham Forest will add one of Miracle Man Viv Anderson’s European Cup medals to the club museum after agreeing a private sale with the former defender.
Reds great Anderson was part of Brian Clough’s legendary back-to-back European Cup-winning side. He had included the medal from the 1980 final triumph over Hamburg in a collection of sporting memorabilia put up for auction.
However, an intervention by the club saw the medal pulled from the auction at the last minute. Amid a personal intervention by owner Evangelos Marinakis, Forest agreed a private sale with Anderson for the gong and are to display it in their recently-opened museum at the City Ground.
A club spokesperson said: “Mr Marinakis has enormous respect for Viv Anderson, as well as all the European Cup winners, and recognises the importance of the club celebrating its rich history. The medal will be a prominent addition in the club’s museum and we are delighted to acquire this important piece of history from one of the players who brought greatness to Nottingham Forest.”
Anderson had put a number of items up for sale at an auction held at Old Trafford cricket ground. The shirt the 68-year-old wore when he became the first black footballer to play for England at full international level failed to reach its reserve price of between £30,000 and £50,000, but many other items were sold.
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Anderson had said it was the right time to let some of his mementos go. Ahead of the auction he had said: “The time has come to sell some of the wonderful memories of my time as a professional footballer - I'd like to see my family benefit, and I hope some of the items will be shared around the world for people to enjoy.”
It is understood Forest intend to follow up their purchase of Anderson’s medal with a similar gesture when a collection of memorabilia from the late Trevor Francis’ personal estate is auctioned later this month.
Among the items up for sale at the Reds legend’s 1979 European Cup medal, when he scored the only goal of the game to see off Malmo. It has an estimated price of between £12,000 and £20,000. Francis died in July 2023 at the age of 69.