Brian Clough and Peter Taylor Best of friends

Brian Clough and Peter Taylor: Best of friends. 1

In 1965, after injury cut short his playing career, Brian Clough became manager of Hartlepool’s United Football Club. He appointed his former teammate Peter Taylor as his assistant. Offering Taylor the job, Clough reportedly said, ‘I’ve been offered the managership of Hartlepool and I don’t fancy it, but if you’ll come I’ll consider it. ’ 2

It was a genuine partnership. Clough proved to be an inspirational motivator, Taylor an exceptional judge of talent who took the lead in identifying new signings. In 1967, the pair moved to second division Derby County. Three years later they were the champions of England. Three years after that they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. 3

Their friendship was strained at Derby when Taylor found out that Clough had accepted a pay rise without telling him about it. The partnership was split up when Taylor decided not to leave Brighton and Hove Albion to follow Clough to Leeds United. 4

After Clough lasted just 44 days at Leeds, he was reunited with Taylor at Nottingham Forest. They won promotion, then won the First Division in 1978, becoming only the second newly-promoted team to win the title at the first attempt. Clough and Taylor then won the European Cup in 1979. 5 And 1980.

They fell out again after Taylor failed to consult Clough before publishing his own autobiography, With Clough, by Taylor. The final straw in their friendship came when Taylor, now manager of Derby County, signed John Robertson from Nottingham Forest without speaking to Clough about it. 6

At the time, Clough commented, ‘We pass each other on the A 52 going to work on most days of the week, but if his car broke down and I saw him thumbing a lift, I wouldn’t pick him up. I’d run him over. ’ Peter Taylor died in 1990, before the pair had been able to repair their broken friendship. 7

Clough dedicated his autobiography to Taylor in 1994. The inscription read: ‘To Peter. Still miss you badly. You once said: “When you get shot of me there won’t be as much laughter in your life. ” You were right. ’ When Clough was awarded the freedom of the City of Nottingham in 1993, he said, ‘My only regret is that my mate is not with me. ’ 8