Did anyone read this by David Peace ? It tells the story of Brian Clough’s wretched 44 days in charge of “dirty dirty Leeds” in 1974. It flicks back and forth in time between when he broke his leg in 1962 to effectively end his football career and his subseqenut spell in charge at Derby. Its all told from his viewpoint with lots of the actions taking place “in his head”.
He hated Leeds with a passion. Hated Don Revie. Hated most of the team with a passion and they hated him back. He thought them cheats and dirty players and he wanted them to win his way – “playing proper football”. Needless to say he didn’t get his wish. There’s a great scene where he is on holiday and drunk at breakfast he starts tearing strips of Leeds to a startled Turkish waiter – the rant goes on for about 5 pages and finishes with the waiter going “but you’re the manager of Leeds Brian?”.
Cracking book. Most of the anecdotes are apparently lifted directly from players biographies (extensive bibliography in the back). He starts his short reign by telling the players to burn all their cups and medals in a dustbin as they were all won by cheating.
I’ve read one other David Peace book – “GB84” which is about Thatcher’s dirty tricks during the miner’s strikes. Another cracking book but very violent. You’ll be depressed afterwards mind. Got a new one out called “Tokyo Year Zero” which is about a serial killer stalking post war occupied Tokyo in 1946 which I’m going to pick out as soon as it comes out in paperback.
12-09-2007, 09:06
