Nottingham Forest rename Bridgford Stand the John Robertson Stand on final day | OneFootball

The City Ground united to honour Nottingham Forest’s greatest ever player before the season finale, unveiling the Bridgford Stand as the John Robertson Stand.

According to Nottingham Post, the renaming took place before kick-off against Bournemouth, with members of Robertson’s family and former teammates in attendance.

Robertson died on 25 December last year, aged 72. He played 516 games and scored 95 goals for Forest, setting up Trevor Francis to beat Malmo in 1979 before netting against Hamburg in 1980.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis proposed the change after Robertson’s death and signage was finished on Wednesday 20 May, including Brian Clough’s line that he was a “Picasso of our game”.

Guests attended a private boardroom reception where chairman Nicholas Randall KC spoke, then moved pitchside around 20 minutes before kick-off.

A giant “Robertson 11” shirt was placed on the centre spot as chants of “Robbo, Robbo, Robbo” rang out, followed by a moment’s applause and archive footage on the big screens.

The match programme was dedicated to Robertson and head coach Vitor Pereira wrote that it was a historic day and a fitting tribute, saying supporters would still feel his presence.

He ranks fifth on Forest’s all-time appearance list, including 243 consecutive games between 1976 and 1980.

Source: Nottingham Post