FOOTBALL

Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest dominated domestic football in 1978.

They won the League Cup in March before lifting the Division One championship the following month. They joined a small and exclusive company of clubs to have won the league championship one season after promotion. West Ham United, Newcastle United and Leicester City were all relegated.

In the Second Division, Bolton Wanderers, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur were all promoted, while Blackpool, Mansfield Town and Hull City were all relegated.

Manchester United broke the British transfer fee record in February by paying Leeds United £495,000 for Scottish defender Gordon McQueen.

Despite a poor league finish, Bobby Robson led Ipswich Town to victory in the FA Cup.

Liverpool thrashed Hamburg 6-0 to win the European Super Cup 7-1 on aggregate and beat Club Brugge 1-0 to help retain the European Cup.

Don Revie outraged the nation when he walked out on the England team to take charge of the United Arab Emirates in a four-year deal - which made him the highest-paid manager in the world. West Ham United general manager Ron Greenwood was appointed as caretaker manager and later given the job on a permanent basis, despite failing to achieve qualification for the 1978 World Cup.

BOXING 

Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali by decision in 15 rounds to win the World Heavyweight Championship in February. Ali regained the title later in the year and thus became the first boxer to win it on three occasions.

OTHER SPORTS 

Bernard Hinault won the Tour de France while Dallas Cowboys were the top side in American Football after triumphing in the Superbowl with a 27-10 victory over Denver Broncos.

Ray Reardon beat Perrie Mans 25-18 to collect the World Snooker Championship.

GOLF

Gary Players shot 64 in the company of Seve Ballesteros in the final round to win the US Masters. Seve famously grabbed Player on the final green and proclaimed: 'You've shown me how to win the Masters!' Jack Nicklaus won his third British Open title while unknowns Andy North and John Mahaffey secured victories in the US Open and USPGA respectively.

TENNIS

Bjorn Borg was the big winner in 1978, scooping the French Open and Wimbledon crown. Jimmy Connors was in outstanding form to secure the US Open while Guillermo Vilas was the man of the moment in the Australian Open.

Chris O'Neil (Australian), Virginia Ruzici (French), Martina Navratilova (Wimbledon) and Chris Evert (US) were the female champions.