| Club: | Nottingham Forest |
| Season: | 1981–82 |
| Manager: | Brian Clough |
| Chairman: | Geoffrey McPherson |
| Stadium: | The City Ground |
| League: | First Division |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Fifth round |
| Pattern La1: | _3_stripes_border_white |
| Pattern B1: | _3 stripes_vneck_white |
| Pattern Ra1: | _3_stripes_border_white |
| Pattern Sh1: | _adidaswhite |
| Pattern So1: | _3_stripes_white |
| Leftarm1: | DD0000 |
| Body1: | DD0000 |
| Rightarm1: | DD0000 |
| Shorts1: | DD0000 |
| Socks1: | DD0000 |
| Pattern La2: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern B2: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern Ra2: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern Sh2: | _blue_stripes_adidas |
| Pattern So2: | _3_stripes_blue |
| Leftarm2: | FFFF31 |
| Body2: | FFFF31 |
| Rightarm2: | FFFF31 |
| Shorts2: | FFFF31 |
| Socks2: | FFFF31 |
| League Topscorer: | Ian Wallace (9) |
| Season Topscorer: | Ian Wallace (12) |
| Highest Attendance: | 26,327 vs West Ham United (League) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 15,037 vs Swansea City (League) |
| Average Attendance: | 20,593 (League) |
| Prevseason: | 1980–81 |
| Nextseason: | 1982–83 |
The 1981–82 season was Nottingham Forest's 117th year in existence and fifth consecutive season in the First Division.
In his eighth season as manager, Brian Clough appointed Alan Hill as new trainer after the departure of Jimmy Gordon in the previous season.[1] Meanwhile forward Trevor Francis was transferred out to Manchester City being replacing by Norwich City striker Justin Fashanu.[2] The team finished in a disappointing 12th spot with a defensive line (4th overall) not being helped by his offensive line in a mediocre season delivered by Fashanu, Wallace and Ward. The club was early eliminated in FA Cup on third round. Meanwhile, the squad reached the League Cup fifth round only to be defeated by Tottenham Hotspur after a 1–0 score.
After six seasons with the club, assistant Peter Taylor announced his appointment as new manager of Derby County.[3] Also, goalkeeper Peter Shilton left the club by the end of the season to be transferred out to Southampton.[4] Central back Dave Needham was transferred out to Canada,[5] and Scottish midfielder John McGovern signed with Bolton Wanderers for the next campaign.
| In | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=33% | Name | width=28% | from | width=36% | Type |
| FW | £875,000 | ||||||
| MF | £440,000 | ||||||
| MF | |||||||
| Out | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=33% | Name | width=28% | To | width=36% | Type |
| FW | £735,000 | ||||||
| DF | £300,000 | ||||||
| In | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=33% | Name | width=28% | from | width=36% | Type |
| FW | Peter Davenport | Free | |||||
| MF | |||||||
| DF | £50,000 | ||||||
| Out | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=33% | Name | width=28% | To | width=36% | Type |
| DF | £400,000 | ||||||
| FW | loan | ||||||
| Out | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=33% | Name | width=28% | To | width=36% | Type |
| FW | loan | ||||||
See main article: 1981–82 Football League.
Manager: Geoff Twentyman
See main article: 1981-82 FA Cup.
See main article: 1981-82 Football League Cup.