If you want to hear more on this story, it’s one of the main discussions on this week’s episode of On This Week on Haway the Podcast...
But, there’s been so much said about Brian Clough, how many of you have heard everything there is to say? “Old Big ‘ead” has potentially had more words written about him than any other footballer in history, but I’m here to report that on this day, he did sign for Sunderland from his hometown, Middlesbrough, which is our first port of call.
Clough said many times that Middlesbrough is where he grew up, and he was proud of it, so it’s interesting when you look at the move and there may be some interview or book where this is answered, but on paper, it does raise a question or two.
Clough had a ridiculous goalscoring record at Middlesbrough, scoring 197 goals in 213 league games, which were all in Division Two, with Boro coming very close to gaining promotion to the top flight in that time.
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Despite the goals and the thinnest of margins in terms of Clough missing out on First Division football, things weren’t rosy at Ayresome Park and Clough described in his book “Walking on Water” that he felt something didn’t feel right:
> _We were often in front, mainly on the strength of my goals - it had to be my goals when you look at my scoring record. But I sensed a nasty smell. There was something wrong, something obvious to a blind man. It struck me as simple, straightforward incompetence at the time, but I came to wonder if it might be something sinister._
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> _The injustice of it all at Middlesbrough, the good work I did was so blatantly undone by others in the team, produced more than anger and resentment._
Clough requested a transfer, and based on his goal record for Middlesbrough, the fact that he’d gained a couple of England caps. At the same time, a Second Division player and his ambition and self-confidence, you would have thought he would entertain no other options than those in the First Division.
But this all changed following a cruise around the Mediterranean:
> _I wasn’t that chuffed at the idea of a Mediterranean cruise in the close season of 1961 because sailing is like flying to me - something I can well do without. But Barbara relished the prospect so who was I to argue?_
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> _In the event, I loved it, but I wasn’t prepared for the welcoming party that greeted us when we returned to Southampton. Alan Brown, the straight-backed guardsman who managed Sunderland, was waiting on the quayside._
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> _I’m known as the one who speaks his mind, who gets to the point without fuss, but Browny was the master at it. He tipped the porter a couple of bob, heaved our luggage on to a trolley, looked at me straight in the eyes in a way that made lesser men freeze to the spot and asked “would you sign for Sunderland?”_
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According to Clough, despite the fact that Sunderland had struggled for a couple of years in the second division following relegation, he didn’t hesitate and agreed to the move:
> _Would I sign for Sunderland? Done! “Yes” I blurted out without the need to be asked again._
The trust and respect that Clough held for Brown was there from the beginning, with Brown being as good as his word:
> _Brown said he’d see me at Roker Park in a week and assured me I would be on top money at Sunderland, whatever that might have been at the time. We’re back to good solid standards here. I didn’t know Alan Brown personally, But I knew of him. I was aware of his reputation as a strict and honest man. I took him at his word._
It would all come to an end on Boxing Day 1962, when the Roker Park pitch froze and Bob Stokoe’s Bury travelled north. In the end, 63 goals in 74 appearances for the Lads is another Sunderland ‘what could’ve been?!’.