Rogues' Gallery

Kenny Burns - Nottingham Forest - A0, A1, A2 or A3 Greatest Ever Series Prints

£9.99

We have planned a retro 'Name & Number' series to mirror the popular one of our promotion winning Forest team. On his 72nd Birthday we release a print of the striker turned defender, Player of the Year during the Clough era and one of the rocks upon which that team was built - the controversial Kenny Burns. Kenneth as Cloughie would call him. A worthy member of our greatest ever team.

Kenny Burns remains one of Nottingham Forest’s most celebrated figures — his time at the club under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor was transformative both for him and for Forest. Here are some highlights of his success and legacy at the club:

Positional transformation & arrival

Burns was signed from Birmingham City in 1977 for around £150,000.
Perhaps most significantly, Clough and Taylor converted him from a striker back to a central defender (or sweeper) — a move that seemed odd at the time, but proved to be one of the smartest adjustments in Forest’s history.

Domestic & cup success

In his first season (1977-78), Forest won the English First Division title (just after promotion) — Burns played a huge part.
That same season, they also won the League Cup; Burns, deputising for injured captain John McGovern, lifted the trophy.
The following season (1978-79), Forest retained the League Cup.

European glory

Burns was central to Forest’s European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. His defensive partnership with Larry Lloyd was crucial to Forest’s success in Europe during that period.
He also scored in the second leg of the 1979 UEFA Super Cup against Barcelona.

Individual honours & legacy

Burns was awarded the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1977-78.
He was also Forest’s Player of the Year in that same season.
Over his four-year spell at Forest, he made about 137 league appearances, scoring around 13 goals, which is impressive for someone playing in defence after the transformation.

In conclusion, Kenny Burns exemplifies how a bold positional change, combined with tactical intelligence and grit, can produce outstanding results. He helped lead Forest from newly promoted status to national champions and then to the pinnacle of European football — all within a few short seasons. His contributions endure in the club’s history and in the affection of Forest fans.

Limited Edition of 250. Just 25 each of larger sizes. Custom wall vinyl option is also available - contact us for details!

A3 shipped in cardboard backed envelope. Larger sizes in rigid tubes.