Brian Clough at Leeds United F.C

Take a great club and a great, if temperamental manager, and you have one of the most explosive 44 days in British Football.

After leading unfancied Derby County to the top of the English division One, Brian Clough was brought into Leeds United (who in the 1970s were one of the great teams in England) However, Brian Clough’s abrasive style did not endear him to the highly paid stars of Leeds United. Within 44 days the greatest manager England never had (Cloughies own words) was forced out by a player revolt.

David Peace writes a gripping account of this unique episode in Leeds United FC. Now a major film with many glowing reviews.

• The Damned United by David Peace

• Damned United DVD

GB84 By David Peace – A Miners story

• 20 Years with Brian Clough

Memorable Quotes by Brian Clough

“Beckham? His wife can’t sing and his barber can’t cut hair.”

“I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud.”

“I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed. I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me.”

“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.” Looking back at his success.

April 2001 and Leeds United are in the last 4 of UEFA’s prestiguous Champions League. At stake are millions of pounds of TV and sponsorship money.

Leeds United have won the League Championship on 3 occasions, became runners up on 5 occasions. Leeds had been one of the few teams to win the League Championship in the 1990s winning in the 1991 -92 season. They had also reached the semi final of the UEFA cup the previous seaon.

Yet within a couple of years Leeds United had slipped into the third tier of English football and faced the indignity of bankruptcy and administration. From playing the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, Leeds United faced the indignity of playing the likes of Colchester United, Milton Keynes Dons and Hartlepool. In the 2008-09 season there much less renowned local rivals Doncaster United leapfrogged over them gaining promotion to Division One.

It is a tale of financial mismanagement, greed, overconfidence. The bubble that spectacularly burst. Bad signings on credit and the loyal supporters of Leeds United let down by the top management.

How Leeds United could do with  a Brian Clough at the moment..

Leeds United FC