Founded 1865

Peter Taylor was Brian Cloughs' sidekick who was happy to stay in the background but his influence of the success that Forest had is not to be forgotten. Clough and Taylor were football's first and last truly great double act.The pair met in the Middlesbrough dressing room years back when Clough was a hopeful striker and Taylor a back up goalkeeper. Taylor had sung Clough's praises at Boro and got him his big chance which he took to become a truly outstanding striker who was cut off in his prime by injury, he scored 197 league goals in 213 matches for Middlesbrough, then 54 in 61 for Sunderland. Yet it was that injury that made him turn to management at Hartlepool, he never forgot his mate Taylor and only accepted the job if it meant Peter could join him as his assistant. Together they impressed in their first season where Hartlepool were settled in a comfortable position in the final table.

It was at Derby County however where they transformed the sheep from middle of the road second division side into title winners and European Cup semi finalists where they were cheated by the officials. It was a disagreement with the Derby chairman Sam Longson that saw to them leaving the Baseball Ground where they went their seperate ways for a time before being reunited in 1976 at Nottingham Forest where something truly magical was about to happen.

It was Taylors keen eye for a player that was so instrumental to the success that Forest saw at that time. He was instrumental in signing Burns, and transforming Robertson from a nobody to a legend. Clough carried the charisma that would persuade players to come Trentside, where Taylor would befriend the players with his wry sense of humour and comic timing. Clough would burst into the dressing room ten minutes before kick off and deliver his short but inspirational words of encouragement whilst Taylor would be the more constant presence around the team, being Cloughies eyes and ears looking for anyone who might need encouragement or counselling.

In 1982 after the Division One title, two European Cups and a League Cup a rift grew between Clough and Taylor which saw Taylor return to Derby as boss. The greatest management partnership was now broken for good. The 1981-1982 season was a mediocre season for the Reds and the fact that Forest had been knocked out of the FA Cup by 3rd Division Wrexham and were finishing a poor 12th in the League was a sign that the wheels were coming off for Clough and Taylor. The sale of players like Trevor Francis who was amazingly replaced by Justin Fashanu, Ian Wallace, Peter Ward, Kenny Burns, Larry lloyd took its toll on the team. But it was Peters autobiography which Clough took exception to. The book was called 'With Clough By Taylor' and offered a personal perspective of the inner workings at the City Ground and before. Clough felt that the trust had been broken and regarded Taylor's behaviour as inforgivable.

During that 81-82 season Clough and Taylor had gone through the campaign practically ignoring one another with their horrendous collision of egos. In public they tried to show that all was well but behind the scenes it was madness. Taylor placed Mcgovern on the transfer list, Clough duly took him off again. In May 1982, Clough sorted out a pay off for Taylor and ensured he could keep his club car.