'No-one will match Cloughie'

RAMS fans should cherish Derby County's success under Brian Clough because it can never be repeated.

That is the verdict of Rams football legends Roy McFarland, John O'Hare and Roger Davies as they prepare to celebrate Old Big 'Ead's golden era at the Baseball Ground.

'Listen, young man': Colin Tarrant, who plays Brian Clough in Brian Clough's Way, to be performed at the Assembly Rooms on July 2, with ex-Rams players at Pride Park. Getting a good ticking-off are John McGovern, John O'Hare , Roy McFarland and Roger Davies. Below, the real Clough.

O'Hare, signed by Clough from Sunderland in 1967, was part of the First Division title winning side of 1972.

"They were the best days," he said. "Derby came alive. It was a success story all the way.

"It was all good and Brian created it from very little, but I think those days are gone.

"Who would have thought Derby County, who were not a big club, could come out of the second division and achieve what they would achieve? And who would have thought Nottingham Forest could win two European Cups?

"It was near impossible then and now it's definitely impossible.

"Nobody could transform Derby County in the same way again, the finances of the game dictate who the top clubs are. To get into the top four is so difficult now."

O'Hare will celebrate the golden era of the Rams at Derby Assembly Rooms on Thursday, July 2.

Brian Clough's Way will feature ex-players' anecdotes from those heady times, with actor Colin Tarrant taking on the persona of Clough, as he did to great acclaim at the Nottingham Playhouse in the show Old Big 'Ead: The Spirit of the Man.

Roy McFarland, who played more than 400 times for the Rams, winning two championships, will also be part of the Assembly Rooms tribute.

He also believes those good times can not be repeated.

"I'm not sure it's good for football, but there are only four or five teams now who can do what we did back then," he said. "I don't think it will change as the top teams will get stronger."

He does not believe Clough's son, Nigel, being in charge at Pride Park can alter that stark reality.

"Nigel knows he has a difficult job," says McFarland. "What he has to do now is improve the team.

"He's already improved morale. Now the only way for Derby County to improve is to get better players."

Roger Davies was plucked from non-league football by Cloughie and played more than 100 times for the club's greatest manager. He will also appear at Derby Assembly Rooms.

He said: "When you look at what's happened to Derby County, everything they have now is a legacy of Brian Clough.

"Those heights have carried on, the massive fanbase we have at Derby County, Brian got them awake and interested in the club. Even the stadium is part of his legacy. Would we have moved if it hadn't been for him? Hopefully Nigel can bring some success and, whether he likes it or not, he has many of his father's traits."

Brain Clough's Way can be seen at Derby Assembly Rooms on July 2 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £22.50. Call the box office on 01332 255800.