Most of us know that the family of Brian Clough have criticised elements of this film but as far as I'm concerned, it’s an honest, warts-and-all portrait at what happened then - and probably even now – in English football.
It looks at Mr Clough’s doomed 44-day tenure as manager at Leeds United, a team that was the Manchester United of its day.
You can tell by the swagger and open confidence of the Leeds United team that anyone crossing swords with them was going to lose – it reminds me of today’s Manchester United football team, minus the 70s hairstyle, dodgy clothing and openly lit cigarettes of the players.
Mr Clough takes over from the previous manager Don Revie, who was also Mr Clough’s bitter rival.
This film shows that football managers have to contend with more than just choosing and running a football team.
It also shows how important it is for all of us to be surrounded with work colleagues who share the same goals in life as Mr Clough realised at Leeds, as he was without his right-hand man and clearly surrogate brother, Peter Taylor - played brilliantly by Timothy Spall.
It’s a heart-warming portrayal of Brian Clough, not an angry drunk that many have mistakenly claimed.
The film is true in showing how Mr Clough could be reckless and sometimes mis-calculating in his decision-making.
It also shows how manipulative the newly-promoted-to-England manager Mr Revie was towards Mr Clough and what a mountain any man had to climb, in dealing with the players at Leeds United once Revie left.
To get a taster of it, see the trailer, by clicking video on this:
www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/thedamnedunited/#/home/
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Southampton Leisure Holdings, the owners of Southampton Football Club, have confirmed it has appointed Mark Fry and David Hudson, partners of Begbies Traynor, an accountancy firm, as administrators of the business.
With this and last year’s downturn in the economy, it was enviable that something like this was going to happen to a football club.
I wouldn’t be surprised if members of tomorrow’s G20 protestors turn out to be Southampton FC fans.
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So the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing team, represented on the racing pitch by Lewis Hamilton, have been disqualified from participating in the Australian leg of the Grand Prix.
Hamilton had finished the race fourth overall but was promoted to the podium after reporting Toyota’s Jarno Trulli for illegal overtaking.
But Trulli has now been reinstated to third place and with Jenson in poll position – no doubt, thanks to having Sir Richard Branson at his side, a man who knows about wining – it’s going to be tough for Lewis to hang onto the Formula One title!
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I’m really pleased that England’s football team, under Fabio Capello, have now won all five of their games to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
2010 is a year to look forward to, as I’m sure that England will be heading for South Africa.
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I’m surprised that QPR football team forward Dexter Blackstock is joining Nottingham Forest, even if it is on loan.
He’s been amazing in creating and getting goals for QPR this season but I’m glad he’s looking forward to keep third-bottom Forest in the First Division Championship.
It's just that if QPR still want to push for promotion to the Premiership league, I would of thought they would be holding onto their best players, come what may.
After all, you don't see Manchester United loaning Wayne Rooney to Newcastle, despite the The Magpies being third-bottom and two points away from Premier League safety!
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Which brings me back, full circle, to Brian Clough, as after Leeds, he went to be a manager of a then struggling Division Two football team called Nottingham Forest, who not only gained promotion to Division One but played in the early years of the Premiership League.
I think that’s a good note to end it on.
Please visit my other internet site: www.andriagreaves.com
Here’s a picture of Wembley Stadium, home of British football, to warm your cockles, as I say ciao!
Light and Peace
Andria
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