Larry Lloyd was a larger than life character who became one of Brian Clough's European Cup heroes. The no-nonsense centre-back was part of Cloughie's Miracle Men who won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

Following the news of his death in April 2024, much was published about the funny story in which Cloughie gave Lloyd Nottingham Forest's battered old washing machine as part of the signing-on negotiations - much to the disgust of the laudry women at the City Ground (more of that later).

But little (if anything) was reported about how Lloyd managed to win-over the Forest fans after receiving a hostile reception when he made his debut for the Reds at Hull City in 1976.

This website has trawled the archives to find a local newspaper cutting from 1976, in which Lloyd describes the abuse he received because Forest fans feared he was taking the place of the popular Sammy Chapman.

Writing in Nottingham's Football Post, journalist John Lawson reported: "I can picture the incident now. The train carrying Forest's team to Hull pulled into the platform adjacent to the Boothferry Park ground where he (Lloyd) was to make his debut.

"And as Lloyd stepped from the train he was met by supporters chanting the name of the man Lloyd replaced in the Forest side, Sammy Chapman. The chorus from Forest's horde continued until the match began, but it was soon silenced by the authority that characterised Lloyd's display."

Lawson said that, in some ways, Lloyd faced a bigger battle against the Forest supporters than he did convincing Clough of his ability. Despite the defender being a prominent figure in Liverpool's domestic and European conquests, Brian was concerned about his fitness. Lawson added: "...that uncertainty soon disappeared."