ARCHIVE 2019

Look A Like 

Cloughie was trending on social media after a new appointment to the British government was mistaken for the Master Manager. Ten Downing Street tweeted the photo of the new Welsh Secretary, Simon Hart.

There was a huge response from Twitter users who wrote about the Tory politician's likeness to the Labour-supporting Clough (December 2019). One tweet (@Hoppurrsneeze) said: "He looks more like Brian Clough than Brian Clough's children." Another wrote: "Cloughie is alive and well."

Also on Twitter, as a weakened Liverpool side faced Aston Villa in the League Cup, while the first team prepared for the World Club Championship in Qatar, we posted a reminder of Cloughie's comment when Manchester United opted out of the F.A. Cup in order to play in the World Club Championship. 

He said: "Manchester United in Brazil? I hope they all get bloody diarrhea." Our social media post led to one follower recalling an amusing story in Nottinghamshire. 

Lucky Lee (@leemartin1963) wrote: "Back in 1979-ish, our Newark Centrals football manager tried to claim £20 petrol expenses for travelling 20 miles off Mr Clough, for bringing Newark trialists to Forest. 

"Cloughie said: 'What did yer come in, a bloody tank?' A true legend, he paid up but always had the last word."

He's For Keeps 

Long before signing him for Nottingham Forest, Cloughie was full of praise for goalkeeper Peter Shilton. In December 1973, the Miracle Manager wrote in his column for TV Times magazine that Shilts was England's natural successor to World Cup winner Gordon Banks.

Banks, who was Shilton's mentor, had retired and Clough said the man he had tried to sign from Leicester in 1971 was now the man to carry the flag for the great British goalkeeper. Clough wrote: "Peter Shilton, in my opinion, is even better than Banks."

Clough wrote that Shilton had a calm and commanding temperament, which he said was the most important asset a goalkeeper could possess. "He is still only 22 and he's by far the greatest in the world," said Clough. 

In 1977 Cloughie eventually got his man, with Forest going on to secure the First Division title before winning back-to-back European Cups. The magazine column is featured in the book 'Me and My Big Mouth - When Cloughie Sounded Off In TV Times' by Graham Denton (Pitch Publishing, RRP £12.99).

Trophy History 
History was made in November 2019 when Nottingham Forest won three consecutive Brian Clough Trophy matches for the first time. All three wins came within the same year, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Derby at the City Ground. More information on our Brian Clough Trophy page. 

Ten Pound Note
Former Cloughie midfielder Brian Rice has been reflecting on his time playing for the Miracle Manager. "He was a one-off and a genius," says Rice, who was signed by Clough from Hibernian in 1985.

"I think he invented reverse psychology. If I knew I'd played well he'd stop me on the way out: 'Hey, you're not as good as you think.' If I'd had a bad game he'd go: 'Well done.'"

Rice, now Head Coach at Hamilton, adds: "...even though I missed out on some big games I was on the bench for the final of the Simod Cup in 1989. We won so I shared in the team's bonus. We all got a box of chocolates with a ten pound note sellotaped to it!" 

The full interview with Rice is by the Scotsman (October 2019). 

Goodnight Young Man
Cloughie fans around the world said 'thanks for the memories' as we marked the 15th anniversary of Brian's passing. The world of football was stunned when the news broke that the Master Manager had died on 20th September 2004. Nottingham Forest ensured the Miracle Man and his achievements were remembered 15 years on, with a minute's applause during the Championship match at home to Barnsley (21st September 2019).