50 years ago today, someone came to Nottingham who would change the face of this city forever. Brian Clough, you’ll forever be a legend in our hearts.
In 1975, Nottingham Forest were languishing in the Second Division. Adrift in the league table, in walks an enigmatic man from Middlesborough. Straight talking, brilliantly minded and in the words of Martin O’Neil, “absolutely box office character”.
In the next 4 years he would take Forest from the second division to the unimaginable heights of European football. Taking a club and a city from insignificance to fame across the world.
He inspired the players to outperform and inspired the crowds to be there and support their team everywhere.
That was his greatest quality. He believed that Forest could be whoever they wanted to be, that players held their own destiny in their hands if they dared to believe. A city like Nottingham could dare to dream, because who was anybody else to tell them that they couldn’t. To have the charisma and character to make people believe is more valuable than any tactics book or game winning formation. Without belief, it’s all for nothing.
He embodied the culture of Nottingham. The city of rebels. He was the biggest rebel that football had ever seen. Unapologetically himself. He did things his way. The charisma to question the footballing establishment and stake his own claim. That’s what everyone in this city resonates with, a strength in being who you are and challenging what you think you can achieve. There is a pride you can hear to this day whenever conversations turn to Clough. He was our man and he represented us.
And that’s the thing, his influence on the city to this day cannot be overstated. It’s safe to say that nobody will ever mean more to Nottingham Forest than Brian Clough. It’s safe to say that he is one of a few managers that mean nearly as much to the city as the club itself.
50 years ago today a man from Middlesbrough walked into Nottingham. 18 years later he left as the hero of Nottingham.
“I hope anybody’s not stupid enough to write us off.”
Thank you Brian Clough for the joy and pride you brought to our team and our city.
