NFFC

Forest needed somebody to play alongside the formidable Larry Lloyd in central defence. And Taylor had a very different future in mind for Burns. “I visualised Kenny turning into a Scottish Bobby Moore.” “He was as skilful as Moore and certainly more ruthless.” At his first training session, he was waiting to find out where he would be playing when trainer Jimmy Gordon started reading out the team. “Middleton, Anderson, Barrett, Lloyd, Burns…” Burns looked around and realised his name had been called immediately after Larry Lloyd. He was playing centre-half. “That was the first I knew about the new partnership with big Larry.” Burns discovered he preferred defending to chasing around up front, and alongside Lloyd he formed one of the most intimidating centre-half partnerships in English football. Forest began the 1977/78 season with a 3-1 victory away at Everton, with Burns and Lloyd keeping the opposition forwards under control. They went on to win the First Division title in their first season back in the top flight, as well as the League Cup. And the player Clough had been so reluctant to sign was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1978. Burns later helped Forest win consecutive European Cups in 1979 and 1980. Years afterwards, Clough was asked about the Scottish defender he had turned into one of the best players in Europe. “The ugliest player I ever signed was Kenny Burns.” “He had no teeth.” “I used to play centre-forward and to have beaten someone with the ball, and then seen Kenny Burns looking at me, I’d have given him the ball.” #football

Yes, this story is an accurate account of one of English football's greatest tactical reinventions. In the summer of 1977, Brian Clough (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fm%2F014n_k&q=Brian+Clough) and Peter Taylor (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fm%2F09835r&q=Peter+Taylor) signed Kenny Burns (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fm%2F0cbmzp&q=Kenny+Burns) from Birmingham City for £150,000 and immediately converted the prolific striker into a title-winning centre-half alongside Larry Lloyd (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fm%2F04l74y&q=Larry+Lloyd).

The Undercover Scouting Mission

• The Reputation. Burns arrived at Nottingham Forest with a "bad boy" image for drinking, fighting, and heavy gambling. Even Birmingham's chairman warned Clough against signing him.

• The Dog Track Investigation. Determined to check the rumours, assistant manager Peter Taylor went undercover in a flat cap and dark glasses to follow Burns at Perry Barr greyhound track. Taylor discovered Burns was only placing modest £10 and £20 bets and was far more disciplined than his reputation suggested.

• The Flower Show Test. Before finalizing the move, Clough tested Burns's temperament by telling him to shave, buy a decent coat, and meet at a garden centre in Long Eaton. Burns went along quietly with an exhibition naming sweet peas after Clough, passing the manager's test of character.

The Tactical Masterstroke

• A Surprise Position. Burns had scored 19 league goals for Birmingham City in the 1976–77 season and assumed he was signed to lead Forest's attack. Without warning him, Taylor and Clough placed him in central defence during his very first training session.

• A "Scottish Bobby Moore." Taylor saw that Burns possessed the ball-playing composure, reading of the game, and physical ruthlessness to thrive as a sweeper-style defender.

• The Defensive Wall. Paired with the towering Larry Lloyd (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fm%2F04l74y&q=Larry+Lloyd) and backed by new goalkeeper Peter Shilton, Forest conceded just 24 goals across 42 First Division matches in 1977–78.

Honours Won at Nottingham Forest (1977–1981)

Following his positional switch, Burns became the cornerstone of Forest's golden era:

Season Major Trophy / Individual Honour

1977–78 First Division Championship, Football League Cup, FWA Footballer of the Year

1978–79 European Cup (1–0 vs Malmö FF), FA Charity Shield

1979–80 European Cup (1–0 vs Hamburger SV), European Super Cup

Would you like to explore more about Brian Clough and Peter Taylor's Miracle Men, or look at other famous positional conversions in football history?