Arguably one of the most divisive, yet undoubtedly effective managers in football history, Brian Clough made an impact on the sport and those around him.
Known for his extraordinary methods, phrases and brash behaviour, in addition to his superb success, there is one story that borders on the incredible.
Having played a gruelling First Division game for Nottingham Forest on the Friday night, goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who was often the ‘butt’ of many of Clough’s antics and jokes due to the respect he had for him, received a phone call from his ‘gaffer’ early on the Sunday morning.
And this is Mark Crossley, on playing for him in a Sunday League game.
“‘SHITHOUSE!’ he shouts at me, and then he gives me the famous Brian Clough thumbs up, clap above the head, so I put my thumb up back to him… and as I put my thumb up back to him, the other team score” pic.twitter.com/pSdR4CXDzR
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) September 24, 2020
The instructions were short and sharp with no ‘please’ or ‘thankyou’. He was to drive from his house in Barnsley to Clough’s house in Derby for 9.00am, the whole way there wondering what on earth was happening.
What Materialised After
Knocking at the Clough residence’s back door, he was warmly greeted by his wife Barbara who explained that Brian was upstairs. The next thing the goalkeeper knew he was invited to sit down and found himself with a cup of tea and a couple of slices of toast in front of him.
Still completely bewildered, Clough appeared in the kitchen where he went on to say (accounts differ): “Alright there Mark…now, I won’t call you ‘S***house’ (an affectionate nickname) in front of Barbara, but I wanted to say thank you for agreeing to play for our Simon’s team this morning. They haven’t got a goalkeeper and I thought you’d do, son.”
Reportedly, Crossley couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing; especially as he thought he was there for a ‘dressing down’ or tactical chat. He had played a tough 90 minutes only 36 hours before and now he was expected to turn out for an amateur side many, many tiers below.
It’s Unbelievable What Happened Next
Clough’s son, Simon was in charge of a Sunday League side, AC Hunters, a team considerably lower in the football pyramid and a completely different level.
Crossley himself had no gear, though an old pair of gloves and boots were found for him, while he found there was a kit waiting for him in the dressing room when he turned up at what was essentially a park, that had multiple football pitches (with many other teams playing), that was littered in broken glass and dog excrement.
However, shortly after the end of the game, it was found out that a ‘ringer’ (ineligible player) had been fielded (Crossley) and the club was subsequently fined £50, which was the standard amount at the time for that level.
When Clough found out, instead of expressing sympathy or paying the fine himself, he took it out of Crossley’s wages! His reasoning being that it was the goalkeeper’s fault for getting caught! You really couldn’t make this up.
It’s a story that Crossley has spoken about at length since on various podcasts and while as a guest on the radio show TalkSPORT; one that often is greeted by hysterics.
