Warning To Fans – Behave Or Else

Tuesday night sees the inaugural Brian Clough Trophy game at Prideless Park, between Nottingham Forest and Derby County. As rivalries go, Forest and Derby might not get much attention in the national media, but ask fans of either club their views on the other and you will be left in no doubt as to the intensity of feeling.

Both clubs and the police have rightly urged that fans treat the event as a family occasion, as the Great Man would have wished. Pc Russell of Derbyshire police told the BBC ‘We know there is a fierce local rivalry between Derby and Forest, but we expect that this game will be treated as a celebration of Brian Clough’s memory no matter who you support. We would expect the fixture to be a family-orientated event and hope it’ll be observed how Brian and his family would expect. We will deal robustly with anyone who seeks to spoil the evening for others through any potential disorder.’

20,000 are expected to turn up for the game that will see Brian Clough’s widow Barbara present the trophy to the winners. Former greats from both sides will be at the game (not so many of them then) and will be on the pitch at half time. Any future game between the two sides will be classed as a BCT game, whether it’s a League or Cup game. Let’s hope that football is the winner come the end of the night.