Summer Reading: Provided You Don't Kiss Me 20 years with Brian Clough

Brian Clough biographies are far and wide but this is probably my favorite

Duncan Hamilton, who was the ace writer for the Nottingham Evening Post during the glory years of Brian Clough’s reign at Nottingham Forest has won multiple awards through the years for his book writing.

His first William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award came in 2007, for Provided You Don't Kiss Me 20 years with Brian Clough.

Brian Clough as most of you no doubt realize is among the most controversial and colorful figures in the history of English football. Anything about Clough, that is out there, I will read, but this book is a logical starting point if you want to begin with the heights and the fall of the man. Many other works concentrate on his rise to prominence at Derby or his failed 44-day stint in charge of Leeds United, which was a massive step up for him in terms of size of club (Clough prior to Leeds had managed Hartlepools, Derby and Brighton - all small clubs in the 1970’s in comparison to Leeds United).

Hamilton’s work takes us through the ins and outs of Clough at Nottingham Forest. The great players, the back-to-back European triumphs, the break with Peter Taylor, the relationship with fans, the battles with opposition managers, breakdown of relationship within Forest, and his own messy personal life fraught with alcoholism. And even more interesting is discussion of Hamilton’s and other journalists own relationship with Clough.

The entire Clough journey at Forest is one of great achievements, but ultimately of sadness and emptiness. The 18 years that Clough spent at Forest was more than at every other club, combined so as much as books or movies that focus on other periods of his career are entertaining and useful, you get the full Clough feeling from this work.

You can find the book at Amazon here or ideally, patron your local independent book shop who can hopefully procure a copy.