O'Neill leads tributes to Clough
Football colleagues and thousands of fans tonight turned up teeming rain at Pride Park to pay respects to the late Brain Clough.
Demand for tickets to the memorial was so great that the venue was moved to the Derby stadium from the city Cathedral.
Clough was Rams manager from 1967 to 1973, guiding them to the Division One title and the semi-final of the European Cup. He then took Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cups.
Prayers, poems and tributes to the charismatic manager were accompanied by the thunderstorm which descended on the ground half-an-hour before the start of the service.
Martin O’Neill, former Nottingham Forest player and current Celtic manager, was the first to pay tribute. He recalled the day Clough took over at the City Ground in January 1975.
O’Neill said: “A youthful self-confident genius stepped inside and changed out lives forever.
“For the next five-and-a half years, with Peter Taylor by his side he took us on the most wondrous journey imaginable.
“He awakened in us previously latent abilities and moreover a courage to deliver them effectively.
“With absolute belief in our leader came unswerving trust. We felt no prize was impossible with him guiding us.”
The Celtic manager spoke about Clough taking Forest to European glory but, like others, could not define Clough’s genius.
“Many who knew him little say it was fear,” O’Neill added. “Personally, he scared the life out of me. Braver men than me saw the gaffer come along the corridor and dive out of sight.
“Could I sum up Brain Clough’s genius in three words? He would have been insulted if he was summed up in three volumes.
“The ultimate realisation was that I wanted to please him, I desperately wanted that sign of his approval.
“That sign of approval when it did come meant everything to me. For that fleeting moment I was in his esteem.
“In a team of various degrees of talent there was a recurring theme – in moments when you thought your legs could carry you no further, when you felt your heart was going to burst open, there was not an ounce of endeavour in your body you would deny him.
“We will always remember him, almost involuntarily. Last night I thought ’what the great man would do’? He was still with me, but as Dave McKay said to me once, ’he was unique, no one could do it like him’.”
O’Neill also voiced his support of naming the A52 – which separates Derby and Nottingham – after Clough.
“Two rival clubs set apart by history, colours, tradition and a 15-mile stretch of tarmac, but one common thread,” he added.
“Adored equally at the end of each road, maybe that road should be named after him.
“It is safe to say no-one will eclipse his deeds and triumphs.”
Former referee and close friend Clive Thomas added: “The loss of Brian is immense to his family and the sporting world.
“We had an exceptional relationship, because how many players or managers like referees?
“There are many stories said about Brian in the last few weeks.
“Although our positions were different, we both loved the game and would do anything to better it.
“Not once did he try to change my mind about a decision.
“Off the field he was a family man but very ambitious, loyal, dedicated.
“On the field he managed to gain the respect of his players.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if other managers followed his line of discipline then the game would be easier to referee.
“There will never ever be another.”
