The story of Clough's turbulent 44-day spell in charge of Leeds United was the subject of a novel by David Peace titled The Damned Utd, published in 2006, which focuses on the rivalry between Clough and Don Revie. Despite critical acclaim, the novel was also the subject of controversy for its perceived negative portrayal of Clough as an obsessive, and for some historical inaccuracies. The publishers of the novel were successfully sued by Irish midfielder and former Leeds player Johnny Giles. He wrote: "Many of the things Peace talks about in the book never happened and, for that reason, I felt it necessary to go to the courts to establish that this was fiction based on fact and nothing more". [130] [131] Bob Wilson, in his early days as a BBC pundit, said the “bubble would burst”. It turned out the bubble was made of something more substantial than soap and water, but even when Forest won their first European Cup the team award in the 1979 BBC Sports Personality of the Year show went to the British show-jumpers (“four effing horses,” as Forest’s secretary, Ken Smales, was heard to exclaim). a b c d Bose, Mihir (23 September 2004). "Parry puzzled by Clough 'bungs' ". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 29 May 2007 . Retrieved 26 April 2010.

Derby County and Nottingham Forest competed for the inaugural Brian Clough Trophy at Pride Park on 31 July 2007. [125] In future, any league, cup or friendly game played between Derby and Forest will automatically become a Brian Clough Trophy game. Proceeds from the games will go to charities in the East Midlands. [126] [127] On 27 April 1972, less than two weeks before taking Derby to the league title, Clough and Taylor had briefly resigned for a few hours to manage Coventry City before changing their minds after Longson offered them more money. On 18 January 1989, Clough joined the fray of a City Ground pitch invasion by hitting two of his own team's fans when on the pitch. The football authorities fined Clough and issued him with a touchline ban. [79] Forest defeated QPR 5–2 in that 1988–89 Football League Cup tie. [80] While Aaron joined the army at 16, Craig moved in on a more permanent basis. He was close to Nigel and would go on to work for the eldest brother Simon. He speaks fondly of Clough's wife Barbara - always Mrs Clough to Craig even now. For him to have saved my life, to have welcomed me into his heart and home, and given me open access to everything, and then for me to do that. What kind of person am I?” He answers his own question. “No kind, no decent person would do that.”In the 1979–80 season Forest declined to play in the home and away 1979 Intercontinental Cup against Paraguay's Club Olimpia. Forest defeated F.C. Barcelona 2–1 on aggregate in the 1979 European Super Cup in January and February 1980. Charlie George scored the only goal in the home first leg. Burns scored an equaliser in the return in Spain. [69] In the 1979–80 Football League Cup, Forest reached a third successive final. A defensive mix up between Needham and Shilton let Wolves' Andy Gray tap in to an empty net. Forest missed numerous scoring chances and lost 1–0. [70] In the 1979–80 European Cup quarter final, Forest won 3–1 at Dynamo Berlin to overturn a 1–0 home defeat. In the semi-final they defeated Ajax 2–1 on aggregate. They defeated Hamburg 1–0 in the 1980 European Cup Final at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to retain the trophy. Robertson scored after exchanging passes with Birtles. [71] Forest finished fifth in the 1979–80 Football League.

Peace’s masterful novel depicting the 44-day tenure of Brian Clough as manager of Leeds United depicts how his paranoia and loneliness (and irrationality) grow with his increasing isolation. Insomnia takes hold and the Clough of the novel struggles to understand why the skills and practices that made him a brilliant football player – prior to career-ending injury – and then a mercurial manager, have apparently deserted him. Challenges by bereaved families and survivors were dismissed as “maudlin indignation”, a “kneejerk reaction” that was a byproduct of “a city wallowing in the past”. The outcry from the bereaved, survivors, players, Liverpool and Nottingham councillors and MPs was intense. Clough, however, did “not regret what I said – Liverpool people killed Liverpool people”. The various Clough and Taylor children and grandchildren will also be there, in the ground where there are stands named after both men. The last film about Clough, The Damned United, caused the relatives great distress on the basis, as Nigel bluntly puts it, it was “full of shit, not artistic licence”.The boys would be sent out begging, telling strangers they had to walk 12 miles to see their grandmother because they didn’t have the bus fare. At the same time, their parents brought them up to be polite and respectful (partly because it enabled them to manipulate strangers better). Clough knew nothing of this. “I didn’t tell him how bad life was,” Craig says. “I never told him Dad was a drug dealer.” a b c d e f g Taylor, Daniel (10 October 2015). "Brian Clough and the miracle of Nottingham Forest". The Guardian . Retrieved 3 April 2018. a b Taylor, Daniel (11 November 2015). "Signing 'a hooligan' and a Shankly team talk: how Clough set up Forest for title". The Guardian . Retrieved 3 April 2018. Brian Clough Statue: Nottingham City Council". Nottinghamcity.gov.uk. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009 . Retrieved 11 July 2009.

The League and European Cup winning squad was broken up to capitalise on player sale value. Clough and Taylor both later said this was a mistake. [41] The rebuilt side, comprising youngsters and signings such as Ian Wallace, Raimondo Ponte and Justin Fashanu, did not challenge for trophies. Taylor said in 1982, [75] Nottingham Forest FC 1980/81 uefa.com". Archived from the original on 5 December 2017 . Retrieved 3 April 2018. The Nottingham Forest team with the European Cup after their 1-0 victory over Malmo 1979. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images Clough's manager at Sunderland was Alan Brown, a disciplinarian credited as a big influence on Clough. Brown inspired fear, imposed a strict code of conduct and would fine players for minor transgressions. He once upbraided Clough for talking to a friend during a training session. Such traits would later be adopted by Clough himself when he became a manager. [21] Clough was born on 21 March 1935 at 11 Valley Road, an inter-war council house in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, [8] He was the sixth of nine children of a local sweet shop worker, later sugar boiler and then manager. The eldest, Elizabeth, died on 11 February 1927 [9] of septicaemia at the age of three. [10] When talking of his childhood he said he "adored it in all its aspects. If anyone should be grateful for their upbringing, for their mam and dad, I'm that person. I was the kid who came from a little part of paradise." On his upbringing in Middlesbrough, Clough claimed that it was "not the most well-appointed place in the world, but to me it was heaven". "Everything I have done, everything I've achieved, everything that I can think of that has directed and affected my life – apart from the drink – stemmed from my childhood. [11] Maybe it was the constant sight of Mam, with eight children to look after, working from morning until night, working harder than you or I have ever worked."Winter, Henry (11 June 1993). "Clough wanted cash 'bung', Sugar claims". The Independent. London . Retrieved 14 June 2012. Derby County – the turbulent ‘80s – week by week: Volume 1 of 3 – January 1980 to Summer 1983, S Forsyth Forest lost only three of their first sixteen league games, the last of which was at Leeds United on 19 November 1977. They lost only one further game all season, an 11 March FA Cup sixth round defeat at West Bromwich Albion. [59] Forest won the 1977–78 Football League, seven points ahead of runners-up Liverpool. Forest became one of the few teams (and the most recent team to date) to win the First Division title the season after winning promotion from the Second Division. [nb 1] This made Clough the third of four managers to win the English league championship with two different clubs. [notes 1] Forest conceded just 24 goals in 42 league games. [60] They defeated Liverpool 1–0 in the 1978 Football League Cup Final replay, despite cup-tied Shilton, Gemmill and December signing David Needham not playing. [63] Chris Woods chalked up two clean sheets in the final covering Shilton's league cup absence. McGovern missed the replay through injury, and Burns lifted the trophy as the stand-in captain. Robertson's penalty was the only goal of the game. [53] [64]