A HONITON man will have a special reason to watch new film The Damned United.
A HONITON man will have a special reason to watch new film The Damned United.Retired sports reporter Tony Smith was in Munich and Madrid when Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest team won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980, five years after he quit Leeds United.The film concentrates on his 44 days at Leeds but Tony, working for the Press Association, covered matches at both grounds and under Don Revie and Mr Clough."He was a great coach and, at all the clubs he managed, he organised and inspired his players - except at Leeds - but he was never happy working with the press," said Tony. "His long-time Number 2 player, Peter Taylor, was different and, in fact, he persuaded the boss to pose with the media men on the tarmac after coming home after Forest retained the splendid trophy."Tony added: "When Revie quit England to take charge of an Arab team all the press, including myself, went to the FA offices to confirm Clough was to be the next England boss. Instead the job went to Ron Greenwood, of West Ham, a man more cautious with his words."The old-style FA top table clearly didn't want a man whose first words to the Leeds players had been 'forget your medals and caps'. If that scene is in the film, I'm sure Clough's words will be a bit stronger.
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