The Cloughs: Father And Son

JOHN WRAGG reflects on the relationship between Brian Clough and the boy he called The Bairn or The No9…

IT SEEMED like a good idea at the time. A very good idea. I’d put my business card into the top pocket of my jacket ready to give to Brian Clough.

I knew Malcolm Allison very well and he knew Clough. I was moving jobs from Manchester to work in the Midlands and I had to get to know Cloughie.

So I asked Malcolm if he’d have a word for me, give me a reference, smooth the way a bit.

After a game at the City Ground I seized my chance.

“Brian, I’m John Wragg, I’ve just moved into the area to work for the Daily Express. I think Malcolm Allison might have mentioned me to you.”

Clough said nothing. I whipped the business card out of my top pocket, offered it to him.

He just looked at me. I saw disdain. Then he spoke.

“Malcolm has rung. I’m very pleased you’ve got a business card. But I don’t f------ want it.” 

And he was gone.

That was my first lesson. You don’t try and impress Brian Clough. You don’t cut corners. He’ll decide what his opinion is of you. As his managerial co-partner Peter Taylor would say: “You have to earn your corn.”

Clough’s son, Nigel, is different to his dad, different character, different personality. But the rules are the same. Nigel will make his judgement when he’s good and ready.

Brian Clough died in 2004 . He would have been 82 this month, March 21. Nigel's birthday is two days before that.