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 Founded 1865 |
Forest Managers |
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Brian Howard Clough Brian Clough was a striker at Middlesbrough scoring 197 league goals in 213 appearances and 54 in 61 for Sunderland before an injury ended his playing career. Aged only 30 he started his managerial career with Hartlepool in 1965. In 1967 he joined Derby County and by 1972 they had won the first division by a single point. In the European Cup the following year Derby lost the semi final against Juventus after allegations that the referee had been bribed. After a falling out with the Derby chairman Sam Longson Clough was sacked and he and Peter Taylor signed on to manage Brighton, but in pre season whilst holidaying in Majorca Clough was persuaded to move to new Division One champions Leeds Utd where he went alone as Taylor stayed with Brighton. The Leeds job only lasted 44 days after a nightmare stay where Brian had to replace the long serving Don Revie and the players revolted and couldn't fathom Clough's motives. Clough then took a break from football and it was around this time he was offered the coaching role for the national side Iran. Thankfully for Nottingham Forest the long days of doing nothing proved too hard for Clough and he joined Forest who were languishing thirteenth in the Second division at that time. It was January 6th 1975 and the start of an amazing time in Forest's history. Back then the average gate at the City Ground was around 12,000 and the departing Forest boss Allan Brown commented on Clough's arrival 'If the board want Clough - good luck to them' the famous last words. Brian Appleby a Q.C was one of the chairman at this time who wanted Clough, though another board member Jim Wilmer was unconvinced by Clough and worried by his temper. Clough arrived at the City Ground in a Mercedes a parting gift from his time at Leeds saying 'I've left the human race and rejoined the rat race' The City ground at that time was a bank of unwelcoming terracing at one end and a low rattling tin roof for protection on the other. The East stand had hard wooden flat boards for seats and the wind blew off the Trent hitting all those within it. The Main stand had been rebuilt after the fire of 1968 and it was the only modern piece of the ground. The Daily Express reported that Forest sold £4000 worth of season tickets in Clough's first 12 days in charge. His first game at home was a 2-2 league game against Leyton Orient. Peter Taylor his right hand man was still at Brighton when Clough arrived and Jimmy Gordon was lured out of retirement to train the squad in Clough's methods. Clough and Taylor had played together at Middlesbrough and struck up a friendship that would take them to the heights of Europe and last for decades until the transfer of John Robertson would destroy their friendship forever. It was one of Clough's regrets that he never made up with Taylor and upon Taylor's death in October 1990 aged 62 he realised that he had lost the best friend he ever had. Taylor joined Clough at Forest in 1976 and they played the roles of good cop (Taylor) bad cop (Clough) to perfection, that season Forest won their first silverware the Anglo Scottish Cup beating Leyton Orient 5-1 over two legs. The next season Forest finished third in the Second Division gaining promotion to the top filght where they went on to win the first division championship the only one in the club's history at the first attempt. Clough believed it was the signing of Peter Shilton that was instrumental in achieving this feat. Forest won 4 of their opening 5 matches of the 77-78 season where John Middleton was still in goal, when Shilton arrived Forest only conceded 6 more goals in the next 14 matches. In 37 league appearances Shilton only let in 18 goals keeping 23 clean sheets. |