Viewpark’s trees for goalposts and the rise of John Robertson | OneFootball

In Viewpark, 10 miles east of Glasgow, a modest strip of grass framed by terraced houses produced an extraordinary cluster of footballers, led by Nottingham Forest great John Robertson.

According to NY Times, the unmarked pitch in Woodview saw boys play until dusk, two trees serving as goalposts on a roughly 70-metre stretch that was one goalkeeper short of a full professional XI.

Robertson grew up at 12 Woodview and could step from his front door onto that turf. Brian Clough later called him “the Picasso of our game”, and as a boy he treated Woodview as the closest thing to Hampden.

Tributes have flowed since Robertson died on Christmas Day, aged 72, with a stand at the City Ground to bear his name in the coming months. Forest rose from the Second Division in 1977, won the title a year later, then lifted Europe’s biggest prize in 1979 and 1980.

Iain Munro, Robertson’s neighbour and a Scotland international, estimates nine or 10 boys within 200 yards turned professional, and 25 to 30 across Viewpark. He collected youth and senior honours for Scotland yet says he was not even the best on his street.

The roll call stretches from Johnny Doyle, a Celtic title winner and Scotland cap who died aged 30 after being electrocuted in an accident at home, to Jimmy Johnstone, the Lisbon Lion raised within a mile of Woodview.

Viewpark remains modest, the Tunnock’s factory still a main employer, yet the grass now lies quiet as children favour screens over muddy shoes.

Forest’s Bill Anderson first knocked on 12 Woodview to sign Robertson at 15. Munro recalls they shared a proud day for Scotland in 1979, a 4-0 win against Norway in Oslo.

Source: NY Times