With players now moving clubs more often than ever before and also the higher wages that players now receive mean that testimonials that are awarded to players are becoming less frequent. But there was a time when these games were essential to a footballer.

The earlier versions of testimonials were called benefit games and also instead of arranging a special game they used an actual league game as their benefit game. One of the earlier benefit games awarded to a Forest player was for goalkeeper Harry Linacre in 1909. Linacre had initially joined Derby County from local team Draycott Mills but on the recommendation of Forest star of the time Frank Forman, Linacre who was also the nephew of the Formann brothers (Frank and Fred) was signed by Forest as a replacement for 1898 Cup Final keeper veteran Dennis Alsopp.

He quickly became a firm favourite with Forest fans with many performances proving the difference between victory and defeat for the club. These performances saw Linacre awarded two England caps in 1905 and in a 10 year career at Forest he played in 308 league games. With his career coming to a close he was awarded a benefit game at the end of the 1908/09 season when Bristol City visited.

10,000 fans turned up to show their appreciation and although the game ended in a 1-1 draw everyone was aware with how much he had contributed to the club and if it needed proving the fact that within two years Forest were relegated showed how much Linacre would be missed.

Saturday 10 April 1909

FIRST DIVISION

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 BRISTOL CITY 1

Sammy Gilligan (own goal)

NFFC

Harry Linacre, Walter Dudley, George Maltby, Edwin Hughes, George Wolfe, John Armstrong, William Hooper, Thomas Marrison, Enoch West, Grenville Morris,Alfred Spuncer

Referee :           C.Fallowfield

Attendance :      10,000