ALAN PEACOCK and Brian Clough formed one of Middlesbrough's most prolific strike forces.

The centre-forwards hit 262 league goals between them during their six years together at Ayresome Park and the passing of Clough yesterday left his former teammate stunned and upset.

The pair's careers may have eventually gone separate ways - after Clough joined Sunderland in 1961 - but Peacock has always kept in touch and will never forget the impact he had on his life.

"We go back years and years. We first met in 1954. He was 19 and I was 17. He was in the RAF and I was in the steelworks. But he was a terrific goalscorer, one of the best," said Peacock.

"I was listening to the radio while I was driving and I got the shock of my life when I heard the news.

"I nearly rang him on Friday and I was going to ring him early this week - I didn't know he was in hospital.

"We are forming a former players association and we were going to ask Brian to become honorary president. It completely took me by surprise when I heard and I'm still shaking thinking about it now."

The duo's biggest haul came in the 1958-59 campaign when they scored 62 between them - including an incredible 43 goals in 42 league appearances for Clough.

He went on to record unbelievable career statistics at Boro of 204 in 222 appearances for Boro before Alan Brown took him to Wearside.

"When we first started at Middlesbrough we just seemed to start well and we went from there.

From one season to another we just got better and better," said Peacock, who himself hit 125 goals in 218 games for the club before joining Leeds in 1963.

"After a few years, one of us went one way and the other went the other.

"That's just how things go in football but we enjoyed a great partnership."

Now Peacock, 66, is working on trying to get two more of Middlesbrough's attackers, Billy Day and Derek McLean, from that era to the Riverside Stadium this weekend as a tribute.

"I have nothing but good memories, great memories of Brian. But I want to keep all of those personal to me. There was just something about him that everyone respects and respected," said Peacock.

Along with Peacock, former Boro captain Gordon Jones has his own recollections of working with the sporting legend.

And Jones, who played with Clough during his final season on Teesside, said: "I remember the first time I came across Brian and I always tell the same story, it's one I can never forget.

"I was just a 15-year-old and I got a rollicking from him. There was myself and Arthur Proctor cleaning boots and doing the usual youth team chores. Proctor hung his clothes on Brian's peg and it didn't go down to well.

"He thought I had done it and he rollicked me.

"This was my hero, the legendary Brian Clough and he was rollicking me in the changing room.

"I've learned since that a lot of these jokes were done as fun, like they are today in dressing rooms. But I'll never forget it."

After that day both men kept in touch and Clough made an appearance in Jones' testimonial match at Ayresome Park in the early 70s.

"He was a great man and I was extremely privileged when he came up from Derby to play in that game," said Jones, 61.

"I also remember going to Derby with Middlesbrough and he would always ask me to go in for a drink.

"I have got to be honest and say that when Brian came to the Riverside at the start of last season he did not look well at all that day.

"But I thought he had got over his problem and he was beginning to look strong.

"It's a sad day because he was a real character, a funny character and his achievements in football speak for themselves. He was one of the greats."