How Brian Clough started a football revolution in 1966

While Sir Alf Ramsay was plotting global domination, Brian Clough was on the way to becoming a football icon, a national and North-East treasure.

Clough, and Peter Taylor, built a team 50 years ago at Hartlepools United that would later secure the club’s first promotion.

The pair had moved onto Derby by the time Pools moved up a division. Gus McLean followed Clough as manager, but there’s no doubt who built the foundations.

John McGovern would go on to twice win the European Cup with Clough at Nottingham Forest, and he started out as a raw 16-year-old on the Central Estate in Hartlepool.

Clough’s playing career had come to an end. A cruciate knee ligament injury today would see a player return to action a year later.

In the 60s it was career-ending. Sunderland’s loss was Hartlepools – and management’s gain.

McGovern said: “When Cloughie arrived from Sunderland and appointed Peter Taylor in October 1965 the club was skint - we had regular battles to get some training kit when they threw what seemed like rags on the dressing room table.

“They got involved with the local schools, attended loads of games and quickly linked themselves to the town and County sides, offering the players a clear route to their youth team, and one-to-one coaching, it was irresistible.’’

Club captain John Sheridan would later work as a coach for Clough and Taylor at Derby County, Brighton and Notts Forest.

He recalled: “A pile of us signed for the club on the same day in July 1966 and we were all from the East Midlands - myself, Tony Bircumshaw, Terry Bell, Mick Somers.

“The pair clearly stated that this would be the start of something special. I was only given a short contract after being freed by Notts County, due to the fact that I had a nasty leg injury. The three-month contract was the start of three of the best years of my life.

“I loved the town, the people, the players - in fact everything! Even today at home in Derby, I reflect on the 'never say die' attitude we all had.

“Clough and Taylor were basic - they told you what position you were playing, they would never play you out of position. They would get you bonding as a squad, demand 100 per cent effort and then fill you with confidence ahead of going on the pitch.’’

It was around that time that young Jeff Stelling was watching his heroes from the terraces. Now best known for his work with Sky Sports, the club’s honorary president’s all-time hero was key to Pools’ success.

Tony Parry had been outstanding player in Taylor's Burton Albion and followed his boss to the North-East despite interest from Arsenal.

Stelling recalled: “He was named player of the year in 1966-67. A cultured centre back with time on the ball, the fact that he was a rarity by being black made it all the more difficult for him. The opposing crowds would make life very uncomfortable - but Padger would just rise above it.

“Clough signed Tony for Derby in 1972 with Hartlepool being threatened by the taxman - the transfer fee was paid directly to the tax office to save the club from folding, it really was that bad.’’

Centre-half Bob McLeod, now living in Ryhope, tells the story of Clough's battles with the then dictator style chairman Ernie Ord.

“I remember one day turning up at the ground to sign some forms for Brian, he was in a raging argument with Ord as I arrived. He jumped in his car on Clarence Road and took me away from the situation.

“He had left the forms in his home on the Fens Estate in Hartlepool so he drove me there. The trip probably lasted about quarter of an hour across a busy town - all he did in the car journey was swear literally non- stop, he was fully out of control, seething with the chairman.

“When we arrived at his house he was greeted by a kiss from his wife Barbara, and he just turned into another person. He chatted with Barbara about her day, what was for tea and what she was planning to watch on TV that night.

“They invited me to stay for tea as I signed the forms, and he never once mentioned the explosive scene at the ground. It was quite surreal. I was only a young lad at the time, so it really took some working out what he was all about - how he could change from being so scary to then become the doting husband back home.

“In the subsequent years it was plain to see that he was a complex character, that many of his players would tell similar tales of how he was - totally unpredictable.’’

Lifelong Hartlepool fan Paul 'Goffy' Gough, travelled across the country to meet up with Pools’ promotion heroes of 1966 for a special programme on BBC Tees to be aired on Saturday from noon to 2.30pm.

He said: “It has been a wonderful and uplifting journey to meet my Pools heroes that made history for the town in the 67 / 68 season – and it soon became obvious that the summer of 66 was when it was all instigated.

“The other notable thing when meeting the surviving squad was how they had all remained in contact and the bond between them is still huge. They were a right old mix, some journeymen, last hopers, and many discarded by other clubs and given one last chance to prove what they could do.’’