COLIN BARRETT won the European cup as part of one of the most iconic English sides of all time.
However after retiring from football he found a new career, in painting and decorating.
After starting his career at Manchester City in 1970, Barrett was signed by Nottingham Forest in 1976, who were managed the legendary Brian Clough.
Over the next few years he helped Forest win promotion from the second division in 1977, and helped them win the first division, the League Cup and the Charity Shield in 1978.
In 1979, Forest were drawn against reigning European champions Liverpool in the first knockout round.
Barrett scored a stunning volley in a 2-0 win at the City Ground, sealing a vital first leg advantage.
On the goal, Barrett told The Telegraph in November 2025: “I’ve allegedly won the most important goal ever scored at the City Ground. There is supposedly a trophy for it but I’ve never seen it. We had it on video but my missus recorded Dallas over it. Can you believe that?“
Sadly a knee ligament injury 10 days after the game meant that he only made 12 professional appearances for the rest of his career.
This included the quarter final against Grasshopper and the semi final against Koln, as well as an appearance in the 1979 league cup final win against Southampton at Wembley.
Barrett missed the European cup final due to his injury and never played competitively for Nottingham Forest again, leaving for Swindon in 1980.
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Sadly he only made five appearances for the club and ended his professional career in 1981.
He told the Daily Mail in 2018 how he ended up as a painter and decorator after becoming unemployed: “I went down to the dole office and signed on. “What sort of job are you looking for?” they asked. “Well I have been a professional footballer”.
“I’m sorry, we don’t get many of those jobs in here”. I’ve got no qualms with it.”
After working in hospitality at his former club Forest, as well as jobs in a pub and building snooker tables, the former defender got into painting and decorating after people requested his services whilst he was painting his own house.
“I need mine painting”. Then another. So I carried on and became a painter-decorator,” Barrett said.
Barrett is now retired, however his name is always etched in Nottingham Forest history due to his viral contribution to their iconic first European cup win.
