New ‘Green Jumper Podcast’ looks back on Brian Clough’s Middlesbrough years

FOOTBALL legend Brian Clough’s Teesside connections spanning his record-breaking Boro goalscoring feats as a young man to the Albert Park statue celebrating the iconic footballer and manager are the subject of the latest the Green Jumper Podcast.

Brian Clough on a return to Ayresome Park in 1995 (The Gazette)

Presented by Marcus Alton, author of Young Man, You’ve Made My Day and Brian Clough: Fifty Defining Fixtures, ‘The Pencil’ episode features Boro historian Dr Tosh Warwick and Fly Me To The Moon editor Robert Nichols discussing Clough’s Middlesbrough story.

The podcast looks back at Clough’s formative years growing up at Valley Road, walks through Albert Park en route to Ayresome Park as a young Boro striker, standout performances for Middlesbrough and his call-up to the Football League and England teams. ‘Old Big ‘Ed’s later associations with Teesside, political activity, the story behind the Brian Clough statue and his legacies today also feature in the podcast.

Clough with former Boro teammate and fellow England international Alan Peacock (The Gazette)

Host Marcus Alton, who manages the www.BrianClough.com site, said: “The Green Jumper podcast series looking back on Brian Clough’s story has now been downloaded in more than 50 countries since its launch in February and has thousands of listeners around the world. Cloughie often spoke fondly of Middlesbrough and the club and area played a huge part in his life.”

Brian Clough in Boro action (The Gazette)

Heritage Unlocked’s Dr Tosh Warwick added: “Brian Clough’s legacy in Middlesbrough goes well beyond his time as one of Boro’s all-time greatest goalscorers. Not only was Clough an exceptionally talented footballer and manager but he was a figure whose reach and impact was not only national but at an international level. He was shaped by, and embodied the values of, growing up in Middlesbrough as an industrial, working-class town and despite his global fame remained a connection to our area.”

Brian Clough's statue in Albert Park (The Gazette)

Robert Nichols, who was involved in raising funds for the statue revealed “Recently I was asked to do a guided tour of Middlesbrough for refugees and we visited Albert and Park and the Brian Clough’s statue even though I wasn’t sure it would mean anything to them. They were absolutely fascinated and that just shows his name and what it stands for goes around the world and unites people”.

Visit www.brianclough.com to listen to ‘The Pencil’ episode of the ‘Green Jumper Podcast’ and other episodes As part of Discover Middlesbrough, Tosh and Robert will be leading a ‘From Ayresome Park to the Riverside’ walk (1:00-2:30pm) prior to Middlesbrough FC’s home match with Birmingham City on Saturday 30th October which features Brian Clough’s statue. Those interested in joining the guided walk to the match should meet at the Holgate Wall information board, TS5 6BX at 1pm.