 | Cloughie with his most prized posession the first Championship trophy won whilst at Derby County |
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A wonderful documentary programme shown on ITV last night entitled simply 'Clough' was a sobering and true reflection of a Derby County, Nottingham Forest and football legend.Brian Clough will always be held in the highest regard at Derby County as the man who brought the club its first league title, winning the old league Division one in the 1971-72 season and to Nottingham Forest fans for the two European Cups he won there.
Brian's Forest success came after a less successful time at Leeds United. The outspoken manager went to Elland Road to take over the then league Champions, but did not like the way in which they had won the Championship and coined a phrase which has stuck with the Yorkshire club till this day, that of "Dirty Leeds".
 | The Damned United, another controvertial book written by David Peace |
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His stay at Leeds only lasted 44 days and a book and film of his time there and at Derby County has been written by David Peace, entitled "The Damned United". The book has been widely condemned by the Clough family anf friends, as they think it doesn't portray the Brian Clough they knew and what really happened during those 44 days at Leeds.In the ITV programmes last night the book and film was also said not to be a true reflection of what occurred at Leeds United by Johnny Giles, former Leeds United and Irish International. A touching and honest thing for Giles to do as he was expected to take over as manager of Leeds before his arrival. Giles also sued the writer of the book the Damned United and stated that had Clough, Revie and Billy Bremner been alive to defend their portrail in the book it would never have been published.
Clough was also said in David Preace's book and film to have burned the desk of ex Leeds manager Don Revie when he arrived at Elland Road on a bonfire, something that Nigel Clough can't remember having happened as he was with his father on that day and an excited youngster would "have certainly known if there was any bonfire happening".
 | David Peace, writer of the Damned United |
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Ex players also gave their view on Brian Clough, many had seen Clough as a demanding and sometimes overbearing manager. John McGovern, who played under Clough at three clubs said he wouldn't want to socialise with him but he would have crossed a burning desert to have worked with him.The documentary seems to have been intended as a way of putting the record straight after Mr Peace's mixture of fact and fantasy concerning one of the greatest managers England never had.
 | The Damned United film released tomorrow will not be viewed by the Clough family who say it is not a true reflection of the man they knew. |
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At the very end of the programme Barbara Clough, Brian's wife was asked what his most treasured medal was. She answered it was the first league title won at Derby County, Brian had two medals made, one for his wife and one for his Mum. Barbara was wearing her medal as she revealed this fact.The film "The damned United" is released tomorrow, Friday 27th March 2009 and the Clough family have refused to see it. Many fans however will go to see it, if only to satisfy themselves that the writer of the book and film makers haven't blackened the name of Brian Clough...