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| The Times, Thursday 12th November 1998 |
| 'Clough mixes new Brew for Burton' |
| On television in the bar
at Moor Green on Tuesday night, Liverpool were playing Tottenham Hotspur.
Outside, one of Liverpool's not-so-old boys was adjusting to life downstairs.
"It is still a game of football and you still want to win," Nigel
Clough had been saying, before taking the field. Worthington Cup, Dr Martens
Cup? Liverpool, Burton Albion? "Things are much the same, just on a smaller scale," Clough insisted, applying the philosophy of the raffle winner who, after drawing the second prize of a weekend in Bournemouth, instead of the fortnight in Hawaii, says: "It is still a holiday, just smaller scale." The scale of Moor Green to Anfield was less than one to 150, though the 126 spectators who turned up for the Dr Martens Cup tie were no less entertained. The 2-2 draw, featuring Clough playing only his second 90 minutes for Burton, was lively, highlighted by a goal that the main man in his heyday would have been proud to score. Emeka Ejiofor's first goal had been followed by a corner-flag celebration of the kind that earned him a ticking off when he tried it under John Barton, the previous Burton manager. Perhaps Clough, newly appointed player-manager, will rule by fear in time, though one doubts it. "I have mum's personality, not dad's," he said. Dad, as you will know, is Brian Clough, who never won the FA Cup as a manager. One day Clough Jr hopes to provide the missing piece in the family jigsaw but, for now, taking Burton forwards towards a possible tie against one of his former clubs - Nottingham Forest, Liverpool or Manchester City - is the priority. On Saturday, Clough, 32, and forced to retire from League football this year because of injury, is involved in the FA Cup first round for the first time. The heel trouble is not so bad that he cannot turn out at non-League level and he may be among the substitutes. So much importance does Clough attach to the FA Cup tie away to Kingstonian that he fielded a team of reserves against Moor Green. Burton are a league lower than their Conference opposition but, in seven matches under Clough's management, they have lost only once. Nobody is singing his praises too loudly yet. How is he doing? "Wait and see - he has a big job on - it has really gone to pot," Terry Eyley, 35 years a Burton supporter, said. But the path of history is there for the taking for Clough. In 48 years since they were formed, Burton have won nothing of note, not even in the late Fifties era of Gentleman Jack Grainger who, Eyley recalled, once scored five goals without getting his shirt dirty. Why Gentleman Jack? "He never fouled anyone, never tackled, and never headed the ball unless he had to," Eyley said. "He would never survive today." Time moves on, though, as Clough is finding out. "I would like to do a few years at Burton, get the grounding, then try to progress into the league." In the meantime he selling his Mercedes. "It is a symbol of the professional side - good money, good lifestyle - but that part of my career has gone." Clough Snr has not been to watch Burton yet, although he was consulted before Nigel accepted the job. "We discussed whether I should try to keep playing in the lower leagues, get some coaching, take a youth team or reserve team appointment, or dive in at the deep end with Burton," Clough said. "I chose Burton because it was available and I would rather be in charge from day one. "If you go somewhere as No 2 you may get labelled as that and I fancied living or dying by my own decisions. There are a lot of people applying for jobs in football, a lot of players and coaches out of work, and you have got to take what is available." Having made his own name as a player, Clough Jr is undaunted at following Ol' Big 'Ead into management. "He comes over as likeable and charming but there is steel and determination there," Ben Robinson, the Burton chairman, said. "We are confident he is going to achieve." And Gentleman Nigel is prepared to get his shirt dirty to succeed. |
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