There are many stories about Brian Clough; arguably one of the best football managers to ever work in the game and most lovable characters.
However, there are very few people who tell them as good as his former player at Nottingham Forest, Mark Crossley; the former goalkeeper, even being able to do his accent to a tee! In fact this isn’t even the first Mark Crossley story we’ve covered, you can read about when Clough got him to play in his lads Sunday League team here.
When Crossley started at Forest in the youth team, his wages were on par with every other ‘academy’ player, though he is famous for saying that what he earned in a week barely covered a train fare home. However, his food and accommodation were free.
Having made it into the first team and starting to play regularly, Crossley began to realise that the time could be right to discuss a professional contract.
How The Story Developed
Crossley arrived at the stadium one day at 8.30am having been summoned to see the man himself; both he and Teddy Sheringham being in the dressing room; both of them needing to arrive early because they were injured.
Crossley made his way to try and find Clough who was actually in the bath, ducking up and down into the water at which point Crossley knocked on the door.
Seemingly not expecting him, Clough then got out of the bath and asked him: “get me a f****** towel son!”. At which point Crossley went to find one, came back and found him in the sauna.
At which point Clough asks “when’s your contract up son?” as Crossley replied “end of the season” as the boss asked whether he would like a new one and to go and see him first thing the following Monday.
What Happened Next
In what is possibly one of the most unbelievable moments in Crossley’s career, he arrived to see his manager as instructed and on time.
What followed was something he did not expect as Clough pulled out a contract from the draw and asked him to sign it, despite the fact that it was blank.
When telling Clough he couldn’t sign it because there was nothing on it, Clough reassured him that he would fill it in, or he could “F*** o** and play for Barnsley” where he was from.
Leaving him with little choice, Crossley signed the contract and received a phone call that night from Clough thanking him to play for four more years and to pick up his new contract the next morning.
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Little did Crossley know that there was a surprise. His new contract was on par with everyone else in the first team, as well as his daughter’s car (which she didn’t want). When you passed your driving test, you had to ask permission to get a vehicle and Crossley had been asking repeatedly.
Despite this nice gesture, the contract still included monthly deductions for the car, though the story is a poignant reminder of how, if you demonstrated you could trust Clough, he would know he could trust you and look after you and that is exactly what happened in this situation.
