REMEMBERING TREVOR FRANCIS

Trevor Francis paid a wonderful tribute to Brian Clough when he launched his autobiography, ‘One In A Million.’

The book’s title was a reference to when Cloughie made him Britain’s first £1M footballer (although Brian said he paid a pound less!)

Speaking at the book’s launch, Francis said that Cloughie undoubtedly improved him as a player.

“I realised that playing under him, I was playing for a winner  - a guy who had already tasted success, and further success followed.  To win two European Cups is a bit special.”

Francis added that despite the talent in the Nottingham Forest team, they would not have won anything without Brian Clough.

Francis was full of praise for Cloughie, who once said the striker was so special in producing instant success that he should advertise instant coffee.

As far as Brian’s unpredictability is concerned, Francis experienced it at first-hand. His debut was playing for the Forest third team on a parks pitch - to keep his feet firmly on the ground after his record-breaking transfer.

And when Forest were in Amsterdam to defend a 2-0 first leg advantage against Ajax in the 1980 European Cup semi-final, Brian had a memorable reaction to a group of Dutch fans who were taunting the Reds players as they took a stroll near the hotel.

Recalled Francis: “Clough got a lighter, probably from John Robertson, ran over to them, grabbed their flag and set fire to it. Amazing.”