Another Head Rolls

By your "standards" then Brian Clough would never have got a job and heaven help Paul "Worzel Gummidge" Sturrock! I take it your joking reference to Brabin conveniently ignores the FACT that Cambridge celebrated just getting to Wembley as if they'd already achieved their mission and as for wearing those "special Wembley Kits".......................don't even get me started. At least it's not as bad as turning up looking like some spare willy at a wedding wearing a button hole like some "sartorially elegant" manager I could name...................Paul Buckle could wear Gilbert's suit for all I care as long as he does the job required.

Seriously though, to put George Rolls in his correct context; the Cambridge Chairman is an egotistical, back stabbing so snd so. That's two succesive summers that managers (Jimmy Quinn and Gary Brabin) who led his club to within a cat's whisker of regaining their Football League status have been dismissed.

Such appalling conduct doesn't go unnoticed amongst the better managers looking for places to work and I think that will be reflected in the identities of those who choose NOT to apply for this vacancy, and what does that do to Cambridge's playing prospects doing that sort of rubbish AFTER pre-season has begun; I ask you?

As a point of accuracy, Gary Brabin has overcome a heart condition; not cancer.

Having said that The Chairman is saying today that the two of them "haven't spoken directly for three months ~ apart from disagreements" which culminated in the manager walking out of a meeting six days ago and from there on failing to return any calls from the Chairman.

This is the same chairman who personally re-signed fat boy Lee McHeavily last season AFTER he had been dispensed with by former manager Jimmy Quinn who categorically didn't want the guy anywhere near the club after his loan spell there and then had to pay him off well before the season ended.He is now claiming that the reduced playing budget for this season is still "fantastic" and possibly only bettered by Oxford and Wrexham.

When will these buffoons realise that is not chucking money at an ever changing management and playing side of a club that brings success, but STABILITY. If George Rolls doubts that he wants to take note that the past four champions of the BSP have been nowhere near the biggest spenders...............Dagenham, Accrington, Aldershot and Burton had stable boardrooms, allowed their managers to manage and reaped the rewards. Add to that list clubs such as ourselves and Morecombe and you begin to realise that not ONE of these half dozen enjoyed anything like the crowds and thus turnstile income that Cambridge do and you have to ask yourself if a Chairman who has seen off TWO managers in twelve months who each achieved runners up spot in the league is not the problem. The same George Rolls who's disreputable conduct so alienated other directors that they have left and invested in other nearby football clubs ~ investment that has been sorely missed by Cambridge United.

There are two local businessmen who have only this week invested one hundred thousand pounds between them in city rivals Histon where (quite frankly) there is little kudos to be had and little prospect of any return on their generosity, but again the question needs to be asked why they prefer to get involved there instead of at the city's premier football club . Histon's chairman Gareth Baldwin, by the way; is another former commercial Director of Cambridge United who preferred to get out and start afresh elsewhere.....................things certainly seem bad at the Shabbey!

Merse

I can't fathom that one out at all. Clough was the epitome of the well dressed clean cut young manager, and I don't have the slightest doubt that he turned up for his interview at Hartlepool appropriately dressed.

My light hearted point was obviously referring particularly to Wembley & more often than not I'm sure Brian opted for collar & tie, even if he was leading out a bunch of thugs (below)




here he is at Wembley exchanging fashion tips with Di



Brian's standards slipped in a number of ways in the latter stages of his career, physically assulting fans on the pitch & his alleged liking for the bottle & well stuffed brown envelopes are a few examples that come to mind, but starting out he was a young Manager with a sharp suit & a sharp mind and eminently employable.

We should remember that although Derby County's success of the early 1970's undoubtedly owes a certain amount to Clough's managerial talent the main factor was the continuing influence of Sydney Bradley over the Club.





Here is Sydney checking that young John O'Hare's shirt has been ironed correctly.



Cloughie knew the importance of insuring that both he & his team were smartly turned out in case Sydney was watching.



Brian Clough with (from left), Sam Longson (chairman), Ernie Hutchinson, Peter Daniel, Phil Waller, Mick Hopkinson, Ron Webster, Gordon Hughes, Bobby Saxton, Mick Jones, Billy Hodgson, Ron Metcalfe and Nigel Cleevely.



Below we see Sam Longson congratulating young Roy MacFarland on spending his first weeks wages at Sydney's outfitters.




and below we see the affable Syd (matching tie & hankerchief) finally handing over to Sam Longson with the words " keep Cloughie and the lads smartly dressed and success will shortly be ours"




..what good advice..& how right he was proved to be ;D


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Don't get me started on Sturrock, but all I will say is that I was present at the play off final at the Millennium between Wednesday & Scunthorpe a few years back (sat quite near David Blunkett & Steve Bruce if anyone's interested.......ok you're not) & I do recall Wurzel Sturrock making a special effort for the occasion.

and finally to anyone thinking I could have made the same point a lot quicker without all the photos, and wondering whether the pictures might be there as I possibly get a perverse pleasure in slowing down a particular computer in north London...I'd just like to say nothing could have been further from my mind

It hasn't slowed down my PC....................I think it's the plethora of full coloured ones that do that.

What a brilliant post and it reminds me of the story I was told about how Queens Park FC used to impose really strict dress codes on their players even though they were amateurs. Apparently they used to employ a valet who would iron and press their white shirts and flannel trousers whilst they were training so that they looked even more immaculate going home on the tram than they did when they arrived.

Match day dress codes stayed in place for training and that was white shirt, club tie, blazer and grey flannels.

It was the same at Rangers FC where manager Scot Symon even had his office window enlarged just so that he could stand and watch over his players reporting to the ground for training and ensure their dress code was strictly observed.

Once sartorially correct Arsenal, now have totally ,different and more "Continental" rules....................For a Saturday game the players are required to report to the Emirates at Friday tea time where they park their cars and change into club "travelling" tracksuits. They then file into the press briefing theatre for a talk from Arsene Wenger before boarding the club coach to their overnight hotel well away from the stadium before returning prior to the match the next day having enjoyed a lay in if they want one, a pre match meal of the club's approval and drive to the stadium.....................again in those club travel suits.

A far cry from turning up individually on the Tube as they did in the old days!

Or Stan Bowles in his full QPR strip and boots in the bookies 10 minutes before kick off. ;D

Sydney Bradley (looking more like Arthur Lowe each time) gets the signing underway, with Brian Clough & Peter Taylor either side of him. The other Derby County directors look on.