That Brighton game was the first my Mam and Dad took me to. Only 4 so don't remember much/anything about it.Brian Clough went on to score 11 hattricks, 5 different games when he bagged 4 goals & 5 in one game, Brightons 1st ever 2nd division match
Read a great story years ago in I think Charles Buchans Football Monthly about that game where Clough got 5 against Irish League. All the goals came in second half if I remember correctly. The story came from John Connelly who was then playing for Burnley in the then Division 1. Connelly said when they came off at half time Cough said to him you aren't putting the ball in right for me. Connelly thought something along the lines of "who the hell does he think he is" coming from Middlesbrough in 2nd Division. Anyway when they started the second half he thought ok I'll give him it how he wants it and see what he can do with it. Cloughie scores. Same thing again Clough scores. Can't remember how many Connelly made but he said every time we put it like he told us too he scored.Just looking through my book, Brian Clough played in two football league representatives games, scoring in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in 58 & as mentioned, all 5 in a 5-0 win over the Irish league in 59, he earlier played for the FA XI v the Army in 57 scoring 5 goals in a 6-3 win & England B team v Scotland, scored a goal in a 4-1 win at St Andrews
Never played for the England youth
Thanks for that Rishworthian.Interesting Holgate, I don't think I'd argue much with your dad over those three and I'd probably agree with him about Clough being the best striker.
What made him special ? I've asked my self the same question a thousand times. For a man who was not a good header of a ball his record is even more remarkable.
He always seem to know exactly where the goal was and be able to direct the ball within the posts. I lost count of the number of times he took a ball coming up to him with his back to goal and turned and shot in one movement without having brought the ball under control. I know that sounds impossible but it isn't. He'd made up his mind whilst the ball was approaching and acted when it reached him or maybe even slightly before.
Against Fulham he'd taken the ball out of the area and was tight on the byline turned and swiveled all in one movement to curve the ball round the keeper who'd followed him and into the back of the net. Just think about that as a possible scenario
I'd probably class that as the best goal he ever scored and the only thing I've ever seen that rivalled it for the best Boro goal ever was Marvin Emnes at Morecambe in preseason when he performed two pirouettes and went right across the penalty area from right to left and then scored to the right post with his right foot
Nice story Holgate & nice story to remember your dad withThanks for that Rishworthian.
My Dad was Boro through and through, Middlesbrough, Teesside, North
Yorkshire, and everything about it, he bled it, it was just a way of life for him but he was the most critical Boro fan you could meet.
He thought the second division was below the club. He thought Hickton didn’t put a full shift in every match. He thought Schwarzer didn’t command the box enough. He didn‘t rate Downing at all, and I mean at all.
But he thought the Robson era with all it‘s international stars was marvellous, he loved Rav, he thought Emerson was on a different level, Karembeau, Zenden, Ziege, Boateng, Jimmy, Viduka and the rest - fantastic, he loved it. And he loved Juninho and his unbelievable skill with the ball.
So for him to single out Clough from that second division era, it really did mean something. He thought Clough was the best striker he had ever seen playing for anybody, Boro or opposition. Never seen anybody put the ball away like him, just as you describe above.
I‘m too young for Clough as a player, my memory is the colourful Derby and Forest manager who achieved miracles with modest clubs.
But my Dad saw the player and I wish I had, there is very little footage of Clough unfortunately.
Thanks for sharing your memories Rishworthian, it just backs up what my Dad told me, we must keep the memory of our great players alive as best we can
Not boring at all Rishworth, love reading about the older timesThe Robson era was interesting Holgate but I have to disagree on Rav. As a striker you need a man who will score the goal that makes the difference against a good side. Rav was never that man. He scored a lot of goals against poor/er opposition but very rarely against sides where he could make a difference.
I thought the most interesting comment on Juninho was by Mannion. He said he'd be more effective if he passed the ball a bit sooner. Mannion was regarded by many as the finest player of his generation. His contempories have been known to comment that they like playing with him as he made them look better. I only caught the tail - end of his career and I'm not sure I saw the best of him live
I liked Bosic when he was in the mood - unstoppable
I also liked Downing for his ability to cross a ball round people. By that I mean if you keep up with a winger they as a general rule cannot get a cross in.
The other man I loved was Murdoch. It was almost impossible to get the ball off the man and he could pass it anywhere on the field to the nearest yard anywhere he liked under any pressure. He " made" Charlton's promotion side tick as he always had Foggon , Mills and Armstrong to chose from with usually only two defenders. Almost unerringly he chose the "right" one
Sorry boring every one again
Rishworthian, I should have said I rarely agreed with my Dad but he did like watching the quality players who had that bit extra.The Robson era was interesting Holgate but I have to disagree on Rav. As a striker you need a man who will score the goal that makes the difference against a good side. Rav was never that man. He scored a lot of goals against poor/er opposition but very rarely against sides where he could make a difference.
I thought the most interesting comment on Juninho was by Mannion. He said he'd be more effective if he passed the ball a bit sooner. Mannion was regarded by many as the finest player of his generation. His contempories have been known to comment that they like playing with him as he made them look better. I only caught the tail - end of his career and I'm not sure I saw the best of him live
I liked Bosic when he was in the mood - unstoppable
I also liked Downing for his ability to cross a ball round people. By that I mean if you keep up with a winger they as a general rule cannot get a cross in.
The other man I loved was Murdoch. It was almost impossible to get the ball off the man and he could pass it anywhere on the field to the nearest yard anywhere he liked under any pressure. He " made" Charlton's promotion side tick as he always had Foggon , Mills and Armstrong to chose from with usually only two defenders. Almost unerringly he chose the "right" one
Sorry boring every one again
Agree with all that HolgateRishworthian, I should have said I rarely agreed with my Dad but he did like watching the quality players who had that bit extra.
I think Rav was probably past his best but he did give some memorable moments including the Liverpool hat-trick and the lovely curled second goal at Derby to break their spirit and put us into the semi finals for the first time. Personally I also thought Rav and Juninho played off each other very well.
That said, we did agree on the likes of Murdoch and Souness, a rare Boro side with world class craftsmen in the midfield! Murdoch has to be the best passer of the ball I’ve seen in terms of both vision and accuracy. And Souness was the complete central midfielder.
Boksic is one of the few Boro players I’ve seen to genuinely terrify the opposition‘s crowd, I was in the main stand at Newcastle when he put us 2 up after half an hour and the Geordies were literally screaming at their players to get the ball off him! Great days.
Downing? Played a major part in putting us into a European final in my opinion
I watched Brian Clough all through his career starting with the time he came into the side replacing another Boro young centre forward who had got injured making his debut, Doug Cooper I think he was called .Rishworthian, I should have said I rarely agreed with my Dad but he did like watching the quality players who had that bit extra.
I think Rav was probably past his best but he did give some memorable moments including the Liverpool hat-trick and the lovely curled second goal at Derby to break their spirit and put us into the semi finals for the first time. Personally I also thought Rav and Juninho played off each other very well.
That said, we did agree on the likes of Murdoch and Souness, a rare Boro side with world class craftsmen in the midfield! Murdoch has to be the best passer of the ball I’ve seen in terms of both vision and accuracy. And Souness was the complete central midfielder.
Boksic is one of the few Boro players I’ve seen to genuinely terrify the opposition‘s crowd, I was in the main stand at Newcastle when he put us 2 up after half an hour and the Geordies were literally screaming at their players to get the ball off him! Great days.
Downing? Played a major part in putting us into a European final in my opinion
Brian Clough & Raymond Henderson were the 1st goalscorers after I was born, the day after in fact in a 2-0 home win over Norwich, 15th October 1960I watched Brian Clough all through his career starting with the time he came into the side replacing another Boro young centre forward who had got injured making his debut, Doug Cooper I think he was called .
I saw practically every Clough home game until we sold him to Sunderland and I think that anyone who actually watched him live would find it hard to say they have seen a better centre forward than BC. I am still a Boro fan and although we've had wonderful strikers, none of them were better than Clough at scoring when someone gave him the ball in the opposition's half .