MIDDLESBROUGH'S CLOUGHIE STATUE

It was an emotional day as Middlesbrough's tribute to Brian Clough was unveiled (16th May, 2007). Cloughie's wife Barbara performed the unveiling of the statue in Albert Park, near his childhood home, with help from youngsters from his old school, Marton Grove. 
 
Cloughie used to walk through the park on his way to Middlesbrough's old football ground, Ayresome Park. Said Mrs Clough: "Brian and I spent many sunny days in this park, so it is really appropriate that it is here.

"Wherever we went, Brian made sure everybody knew he was from Middlesbrough," added Mrs Clough. "He used to say, 'that's in Yorkshire, you know,' and then he would talk about the Yorkshire cricket team. That's the way he was. He was so proud of Middlesbrough." 
 

The bronze statue, costing £65,000, shows a 24-year-old Cloughie with his boots slung over his shoulder. It was paid for through a combination of donations, fund-raising events and the Heritage Lottery Fund. 
 
Speaking to the gathering at the unveiling event, Mrs Clough said Brian would have been very proud:

"He would have been absolutely amazed at the very idea of a statue and he would have been so touched at the different ways you have raised the money. You have done him proud and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know the whole family feel the same way."

Mrs Clough also said Brian would have loved to have managed the Boro. "I think if his success as a manager had happened here, that would have been his ideal. But life is not that perfect." 

All generations of the Clough family attended the ceremony. His son Nigel said it was an emotional day for all the family. "It's lovely that my Dad's brothers and sisters are here to see the statue," he said. "Dad would have been very proud."

Cloughie's sister Doreen, who lived in Middlesbrough, said: "I think the statue is lovely. The ears are perfect and his nose is just right. The statue even has that twitch around the mouth which was just like Brian."

Members of the Clough family gathered around the statue for a photo, as one person in the crowd shouted: "What a team!" 
 

The chairman of the fund-raising committee, Cllr John McPartland, said at the time: "The statue is in recognition of one of the greatest people to ever come from Middlesbrough. There is a deep feeling for Cloughie from the people in this town and they don't want him to be forgotten."

The statue was created by sculptor Vivien Mallock who said it had been one of her toughest assignments. 

An exhibition at the nearby Dorman Museum includes the original green sweatshirt Cloughie wore for his last league home match for Forest against Sheffield United. It was loaned to the exhibition by his sister Doreen. 
 
The lottery grant made not only a significant contribution to the cost of the statue, but also funded a series of educational projects including a Clough Trail leaflet, a teaching resource pack and the museum exhibition. 
 
During 2008 a fatigue fracture was discovered in the statue's right leg, which mirrored the ligament injury which ended Cloughie's playing career. The sculpture was fenced-off for a while before being removed in March 2009 for repairs to be carried out, at a cost of around £20,000. The statue returned in June 2009 with extra support for the left leg. 

Councillor John McPartland said: "It's the same leg Cloughie injured in 1962. I think he might be telling us something from up in heaven."