On This Day – 1st December
It was on this day in 1973 that Brian Clough’s Brighton and Hove Albion side lost 8-2 at home to Bristol Rovers. The ITV cameras went down to the Goldstone Ground to film the match and the 8-2 hammering was broadcast to the nation. Not the greatest of starts for Clough!
Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor resigned from Derby County on 15th October 1973 and had shocked the footballing world by joining Third Division side Brighton and Hove Albion less than three weeks later. Their new charges drew three and won one of their first four matches with Clough at the helm before drawing non-league Walton and Hersham in the FA Cup First Round.
A goalless draw at the non-league’s ground meant a midweek replay at the Goldstone. The match was played mid-afternoon due to the three day week and the non-league side pulled off a real shock by winning 4-0!
Sensing something was going on down in at the South Coast, ITV’s ‘The Big Match’ went down to film Brighton’s next game on the Saturday. They were at home to Bristol Rovers and contrived to lose 8-2!
Clough’s son and future England international Nigel Clough sat on Brian Moore’s knee on the following day’s episode of ‘The Big Match’. His father was sat off-camera as Moore addressed the camera, summarising the end of the show. After mentioning the eight goals that Bristol Rovers netted the day before, the camera cut to Clough who looked decidedly unimpressed!
In the 32 games that Brian Clough managed Brighton, his side could only win 12 of them. The club finished in 19th position, only two places above the relegation zone.
As if Brian Clough’s career hadn’t been dramatic enough, he became the shock successor of Don Revie two months after the turbulent 1973/74 season was over. More about that another time…
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