Episodes
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"Brian would have a chat with us at half-time, not about the game, but we'd put the world to rights."
Barrie Saunders would often referee matches involving Brian Clough's A-Team at Nottingham Forest, including first team players returning from injury.
In this episode, Barrie recalls the impact Cloughie would have from his sheer presence on the touchline.
"I was in awe of this incredible character, but it never affected by judgment as a referee," Barrie tells pod host Marcus Alton.
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"He gave me the opportunity to play for the football club I supported as a boy."
Former Nottingham Forest defender Steve Chettle shares his special Brian Clough memories with Marcus Alton.
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Missing episodes?
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This extended episode includes memories of Brian Clough as a centre-forward at Sunderland. There's also a chat with former Cloughie player Alan Hinton who recalls a special reunion. You'll also hear from the Ray Mundo Futbol podcast, following an interview with Green Jumper host Marcus Alton.
Our thanks go to the Roker Report for introducing us to Jim Wales who remembers watching Cloughie at Sunderland. He was 15 when he went to Roker Park on his own for the first time - and he saw Brian score a hat-trick!
Cloughie made his debut for Sunderland in August 1961 (joining from Middlesbrough) and scored 63 goals in 74 appearances (league and cup) for the club. He suffered a devastating knee injury against Bury on Boxing Day 1962.
There are more memories, classic quotes and books/souvenirs (supporting good causes) at brianclough.com.
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"He's absolutely teeming with talent. I'm just trying to teach him to tackle like Archie Gemmill now." Brian Clough was full of praise for his young midfielder Neil Webb back in the 1980s.
In this fascinating conversation with pod host Marcus Alton, the former England international shares special memories of playing for the Miracle Manager.
The stories include signing a blank contract ('Seriously, you want me to sign it and then I'm yours, regardless of what's on it?'), being dropped from the first team after volunteering to go in goal ('Working with the gaffer, I learned not to volunteer for anything') and Cloughie's last-ditch effort to keep the star midfielder when Man Utd came calling ('I was shocked to see him at the tribunal which set the transfer fee').
If you're enjoying the Green Jumper, please visit the tribute website brianclough.com and buy a souvenir or book to help support the podcast. Thank you.
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When Neil Webb scored in a Wembley cup final to help secure his first major trophy in English football, Brian Clough ensured the young midfielder's family shared the celebrations in the dressing room.
"He invited my dad and grandad into the dressing room, but my mum wasn't allowed in - he even apologised to her!" recalls Webb. "We all had a photo with the cup - he knew it meant that much to me. My mum still has that photo on the living room wall."
That special memory is one of many Webb shares with Green Jumper host Marcus Alton in this trailer for the full interview.
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"You didn't get a lot of praise, but when he said 'Well done, young Gunn,' that's all I needed to hear."
In this second part of the conversation with pod host Marcus Alton, former Nottingham Forest defender Bryn Gunn recalls the life lessons he was taught by Brian Clough and what happened behind the scenes after the European Cup Final.
There are also memories of the relaxing mid-season breaks in the Spanish sunshine. "We didn't train a lot and we didn't play a lot, but we drank a lot. I think you call it team-bonding."
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As a teenager, defender Bryn Gunn was described by Brian Clough as 'a fine young left-back - an absolute natural.' In this conversation with one of Cloughie's European Cup winners, Bryn recalls working for the unpredictable manager at Nottingham Forest.
The stories include being substituted at half-time after giving away a penalty in a friendly. "That's Cloughie - he never missed a trick," says Bryn.
In Part One of Marcus Alton's conversation with Bryn, he also describes getting a telling-off from Clough after coming on as a substitute for the legendary winger John Robertson. "Robbo was the best player I ever played with," adds the former left-back.
There are also memories of playing cricket with Clough and why that sport remains close to his heart.
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When Bryn Gunn received the 'thumbs-up' signal from Brian Clough, along with "Well done, young Gunn," he felt six-feet tall.
In this trailer for the full interview, Bryn recalls working for the unpredictable Clough at Nottingham Forest, where the young defender was part of the European Cup winning side in 1980.
Says Bryn: "Some people need wrapping up in cotton wool, some need a rollicking. But that's why he was so good. He knew what to do."
During this entertaining chat with pod host Marcus Alton, you'll also hear what happened when the full-back gave away a penalty in a friendly match. "Cloughie doesn't miss a trick," recalls Bryn.
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A special tribute to John Robertson, the man Brian Clough described as an artist with the ball at his feet - the Picasso of our game.
This episode includes an exclusive interview with John's friend and former Nottingham Evening Post journalist John Lawson, who highlighted Robbo's skills to Cloughie in the early days at Nottingham Forest.
Robertson never forgot John's help in putting-in a good word for him with Brian Clough and when the time came to write his own autobiography, he asked John to help him. The result was the brilliant 'Supertramp' - the title being a reference to Clough's tongue-in-cheek descriptions of Robbo's appearance.
Whatever Clough said about how John dressed and disliked shaving, the Miracle Manager knew that his left-winger was a genius who could perform on any stage in the world.
"No other player has given me more pleasure than watching John Robertson," says John Lawson, who recalls how Robbo thought his career was going nowhere - until the arrival of Brian Clough.
In this episode, you'll also hear host Marcus Alton pay tribute to his boyhood hero.
You can read more tributes and memories on the tribute website, brianclough.com.
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Highlights from the home of the best Brian Clough stories.
During 2025, the Green Jumper heard from many great guests.
This is a special collection of just some of those wonderful memories.
From a chip shop treat to a dressing room drama, these are some Cloughie classics you'll love to hear, in the company of pod host Marcus Alton.
There are more stories on the tribute website, brianclough.com, where you can buy souvenirs to help the running costs of the podcast.
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The Green Jumper's 100th episode tells the story of how a young, rookie journalist managed to secure an interview with Brian Clough at the height of his European success.
Alicia Rudzka was a trainee at the London College of Printing when she wrote to Cloughie at Nottingham Forest. What followed was a meeting that the young reporter would never forget.
"I was mesmerised," recalls Alicia in her conversation with pod host Marcus Alton. "I couldn't believe I was sitting in the company of one of my all-time heroes. It remains the highlight of my life probably, as well as my career."
This milestone episode also includes exclusive extracts from a live event of Clough nostalgia presented by Marcus.
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"He was eccentric and a great man-manager. He knew the players inside out."
There are some great Brian Clough stories in this conversation with former Nottingham Forest winger Franz Carr. He tells pod host Marcus Alton: "Your archive newspaper cuttings are fantastic - I've never seen some of them before!"
Franz talks about the matchday instructions from Cloughie, the principles of life and football he learned from the Miracle Manager and even the nicknames he was given by Clough's captain, Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce.
Franz was the flying winger whom Clough said he would run as a greyhound if he ever considered a change of career! Enjoy reliving those magical days in this entertaining and informative conversation.
You can see some of the archive features, which are mentioned in the podcast, on the tribute website, brianclough.com.
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"He knew when to put players in the team and when to take them out. He was a genius at that. He was a psychologist and a mentor."
Brian Clough signed speedy winger Franz Carr when he was just 17. Carr became a key part of Clough's re-built Nottingham Forest sides that achieved huge success in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
In this fascinating interview with Marcus Alton from brianclough.com, Carr recalls those magical times and enjoys reflecting on some archive newspaper reports he'd not seen before - including special praise from Cloughie himself.
This is a trailer for the full forthcoming interview.
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This Green Jumper episode looks back at an often overlooked part of Brian Clough's career. He had an incredible goalscoring record as a centre forward before becoming the Miracle Manager.
"He was my boyhood hero and I loved to watch him play at Middlesbrough," recalls Geoff Readman in this fascinating chat with pod host Marcus Alton. "As a young boy, I tried to copy everything he did - the way he kicked the ball and even the way he walked."
Geoff also collected newspaper cuttings of his footballing hero and you can see some of those archive articles on the accompanying page on brianclough.com. Just visit the podcast page.
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"I had some great times with Brian. He once paid me a wonderful compliment by saying if he could have chosen a brother, it would have been me."
Colin Shields was a close friend of Brian Clough and in this fascinating chat with pod host Marcus Alton he describes life 'behind the scenes' with the charismatic Cloughie.
Colin's book Champagne Memories, supporting good causes, is available at brianclough.com and contains many more great memories.
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It's a church service that the hundreds of people in the congregation will never forget - thanks to the unpredictable Brian Clough. The fantastic story behind this event is told by Malcolm Bramley, who was with Brian on the day of the sportsman service.
This is Part Two of Malcom's entertaining chat with Marcus Alton (Part One was episode 94: 'Call Me Mr Clough').
Malcolm worked closely with Brian for several years and has some wonderful memories of the Miracle Manager, including witnessing one of Cloughie's unique team-talks before a match and accompanying him on a trip to make one of his famous signings.
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Malcolm Bramley was in his smart working clothes - suited and booted - when Brian Clough picked up a ball and took shots at him in the goal at Sunderland's Roker Park. "It's an experience I will never forget," Malcom tells the Green Jumper podcast in this fascinating interview.
After first encountering an outspoken Cloughie while Assistant Secretary at Sunderland, Malcolm was later invited by Brian to apply for the job as Club Secretary at Derby County. It led to many more incredible stories, including a telling-off for the tea lady who later saw the kinder side of Cloughie.
This is part one of Marcus Alton's entertaining conversation with Malcolm. With thanks to the Roker Report for putting us in touch.
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Ian 'Bomber' Bowyer played a vital role in Brian Clough's European Cup success. In this Green Jumper Gem he describes the 3-3 battle with Cologne in the semi-final first-leg as one of the most exciting matches he played in. Bowyer also recalls the message from Cloughie ahead of the second leg.
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"The thought we would ever win the league was absolutely beyond comprehension. So when Cloughie arrived in '75, it all changed."
Paul Ellis has special memories of Brian Clough, including watching him play for Middlesbrough at Nottingham Forest's City Ground in the 1950's.
Many years later, Paul became a focal point for the UK's media when they needed someone to speak to following the sad death of Brian in September 2004. Paul was the chairman of the Nottingham Forest Supporters Club and paid tribute to the Miracle Manager in countless interviews.
In 2005, he became chairman of the Brian Clough Statue Fund in Nottingham. In this personal reflection with pod host Marcus Alton, Paul describes some of the behind-the-scenes work of the fundraisers and his pride when the stunning sculpture was unveiled by Mrs Clough.
This episode also includes excerpts from one of the Green Jumper events in front of a live audience at a book festival.
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Brian Clough took his players away for a break in the Spanish sunshine in preparation for Nottingham Forest's second successive European Cup Final, in May 1980. "It was absolute genius," said Gary Mills, who became the youngest player to appear in a European Cup Final.
This episode looks back at that magical time with exclusive contributions from several former Clough players, including John Robertson, Ian Bowyer, Martin O'Neill and the man nicknamed 'Young Millsy.'
Robertson talks to pod host Marcus Alton about his winning goal against German side Hamburg in Madrid, while O'Neill describes a special moment involving Cloughie at half-time.
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