Don Revie: The Biography

F

fmttmadmin

Administrator
Staff member
Looking forward to reading Christopher Evans new biography of Don Revie - he came up to Middlesbrough to help with his research and talked with Alan Peacock. I have told this tale before and will do again because it is just so crazy. We were walking into Albert Park to look at Brian Clough's statue and we were naturally talking about The Damned United and what was the reason they loathed each other when we almost literally bumped into The Damned United actress Liz Carling sitting on a bench. Liz played Barbara Clough in the film. It was a ridiculous coincidence we were just looking towards Rea's cafe where Barbara and Brian first met and thinking about the unveiling of the statue by Barbara and the Clough family.

Anyway, looking forward to reading this and maybe one day Don Revie can be remembered in Middlesbrough as his house and school are still standing, almost over the road from each other.

don revie biography.jpg
 
fmttmadmin said:
Looking forward to reading Christopher Evans new biography of Don Revie - he came up to Middlesbrough to help with his research and talked with Alan Peacock. I have told this tale before and will do again because it is just so crazy. We were walking into Albert Park to look at Brian Clough's statue and we were naturally talking about The Damned United and what was the reason they loathed each other when we almost literally bumped into The Damned United actress Liz Carling sitting on a bench. Liz played Barbara Clough in the film. It was a ridiculous coincidence we were just looking towards Rea's cafe where Barbara and Brian first met and thinking about the unveiling of the statue by Barbara and the Clough family.

Anyway, looking forward to reading this and maybe one day Don Revie can be remembered in Middlesbrough as his house and school are still standing, almost over the road from each other.

View attachment 27770
Click to expand...
I loved "Clough & Revie" by Roger Hermiston. I will definitely give this a go!
 
Wiseman_Vaughn said:
I loved "Clough & Revie" by Roger Hermiston. I will definitely give this a go!
Click to expand...
Yes we talked at length about Roger Hermiston's book and the original autobiography of Revie. We being Christopher Evans and MP Andy McDonald. Andy is a friend and former colleague of Christopher and big Boro fan and had a lot of memories and info to bring to the project. The three of us had a Revie style drive and walking tour of Middlesbrough to help with the book before Chris met up with Alan Peacock. I chipped in with that interview as well as I have known Alan for so many years.
Revie is very much out of fashion but amazing to think that his dossiers on opponents changed football forever and this in turn came from the brilliance of a Middlesbrough guy that ran a junior team from his house in Grove Hill.
 
Last edited:
I recently bought C&R , only in the 1st chapter so far. I get the sense that some of DR actions were shaped by the lack of brass when he was a kid ? Again , only in the first chapter & I don't recall his time at Leeds etc so I cld be wrong
 
I made the point to the author Christopher Evans that Don Revie's school was near enough over the road from the work house. Alright that had more or less become an old people's home by then, in name at any rate but the memory of the place cast a very long shadow. You will find when you read on that Clough too was possibly shaped by that era of economic uncertainty when you could become destitute at any time. It probably shaped the thinking of a generation. But Don's family was thrown on very hard times wasn't it.
 
fmttmadmin said:
I made the point to the author Christopher Evans that Don Revie's school was near enough over the road from the work house. Alright that had more or less become an old people's home by then, in name at any rate but the memory of the place cast a very long shadow. You will find when you read on that Clough too was possibly shaped by that era of economic uncertainty when you could become destitute at any time. It probably shaped the thinking of a generation. But Don's family was thrown on very hard times wasn't it.
Click to expand...
You're certainly correct in your penultimate sentence. My own grandmother was haunted by the thought of the workhouse, and lived in fear of it until her dying day.
 
I recall family talking about it & thoughts of the depression . Interesting to think that such memories and experiences can shape folk for the rest of their days even when they have no need for the extra cash/or to have such worries.
 
It is funny how a lot of people took Cloughy to their hearts but had no time for Revie. Maybe it was because he came over very dour when being interviewed or the style of football Leeds played. My dislike for Revie hasn't waned over the years, which is sad really. I am sure he was a lovely warm and welcoming man when you got to know him.

Cloughy and Revie was like choosing between The Beatles or the Stones.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
It is funny how a lot of people took Cloughy to their hearts but had no time for Revie. Maybe it was because he came over very dour when being interviewed or the style of football Leeds played. My dislike for Revie hasn't waned over the years, which is sad really. I am sure he was a lovely warm and welcoming man when you got to know him.

Cloughy and Revie was like choosing between The Beatles or the Stones.
Click to expand...
Harry Pearson touches on the fundamental differences between the 2 men in 'The Far Corner'. He sees in Clough the archetypal Teesside character whereas he feels Revie didn't reflect the area at all. He's not complimentary about Revie's character at all.
 
chickenrunner said:
Harry Pearson touches on the fundamental differences between the 2 men in 'The Far Corner'. He sees in Clough the archetypal Teesside character whereas he feels Revie didn't reflect the area at all. He's not complimentary about Revie's character at all.
Click to expand...
The fact that Cloughie played successfully for the Boro and Revie rejected the chance to sign for Boro (twice) may colour our perception on Teesside? Fascinating stuff though, I have always felt Revie didn't get the credit and legacy he deserved for what he achieved at Leeds, probably a lot to do with the England debacle, but also due to the chalk and cheese personalities....?

Cloughie always came across as the life and soul of the party, while Revie came across as a private man, both though did seem to cover up their insecurities through these personas, so were probably more similar than they would like to have thought!
 
chickenrunner said:
Harry Pearson touches on the fundamental differences between the 2 men in 'The Far Corner'. He sees in Clough the archetypal Teesside character whereas he feels Revie didn't reflect the area at all. He's not complimentary about Revie's character at all.
Click to expand...
I've read the far corner and found myself agreeing regarding his opinion of Revie. with Pearson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top