On Christmas Day, as families gathered and carols filled the air, Nottingham Forest delivered news that silenced the festive cheer. John Robertson, the man Brian Clough once called "the Picasso of our game," has passed away at the age of 72.
A Legend Written in Red
There was nothing glamorous about John Robertson at first glance. Clough himself admitted as much, describing his young winger as "a scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time." But give him a ball and a yard of grass, and something extraordinary happened. The overweight lad from Uddingston became an artist, painting masterpieces down the left flank at the City Ground.
Robertson joined Nottingham Forest as a 15-year-old in 1970. What followed was the stuff of football folklore. Under Clough's transformative guidance, he became the heartbeat of one of English football's most remarkable dynasties.
Two European Cups, One Unforgettable Legacy
The numbers tell part of the story: two European Cup winners' medals, a First Division title, two League Cups, and 28 caps for Scotland. But statistics cannot capture the magic of his crossing, the precision of his deliveries, or the courage he showed.
In Munich in 1979, just days after losing his brother Hughie in a road accident, Robertson provided the cross from which Trevor Francis headed the only goal against Malmö. Forest were European champions. A year later, at the Bernabéu in Madrid, Robertson himself found the net against Hamburg. Forest had defended their crown, a feat that remains almost unimaginable in modern football.
His captain John McGovern once compared him to Ryan Giggs, but with two good feet instead of one. Coach Jimmy Gordon rated him above Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews. Yet Robertson remained humble, devoted to Forest until the very end.
A Life in Football
After hanging up his boots, Robertson became Martin O'Neill's trusted assistant, following his former teammate from Wycombe to Norwich, Leicester, Celtic, and Aston Villa. His eye for the game never dimmed.
In 2015, Nottingham Post readers voted him their favourite all-time Forest player. Not Peter Shilton. Not Stuart Pearce. John Robertson.
The Club's Tribute
Forest's statement captured the mood of a city in mourning: "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend, John Robertson. A true great of our club and a double European Cup winner, John's unrivalled talent, humility and unwavering devotion to Nottingham Forest will never ever be forgotten."
They added simply: "Rest in Peace, Robbo... Our greatest."
A Final Farewell
Robertson leaves behind his wife Sharyl, daughter Liz, and sons Andrew and Mark. He leaves behind generations of supporters who watched him weave his magic at the City Ground. And he leaves behind a legacy that transcends the beautiful game.
Brian Clough's words echo across the decades: "Give him a ball and a yard of grass, and he was an artist."
The artist has set down his brush. But the masterpiece endures.
