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Just when you thought it had all been said...


...along comes another collection of memories inspired by the Brian Clough story, this time from the man who was to accompany Clough and Peter Taylor throughout their managerial partnership.

Maurice Edwards, now a sprightly 83, joined the duo when they teamed up for the first time at Hartlepool in 1965 and went on to serve as their chief scout at both Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

As a trusted ally, not only was he privy to much of what took place behind the scenes both in good times and bad, he was often the central figure, during an era without agents, in the facilitating of major transfer deals.

Until now he has kept his immense fund of stories largely to himself, but after the interest generated by the David Peace novelisation, The Damned Utd, and Duncan Hamilton's Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough, he decided it was time to tell his tale, if only to set the record straight on parts of the Clough-Taylor legend he felt had not been properly represented.

He has brought his memories together in Brian and Peter a Right Pair: 21 Years with Clough and Taylor (DB Publishing), which -- unlike The Damned United -- has been well received by the Clough family, particularly his widow, Barbara.

Some of the stories are fascinating for the insights they reveal into the character of the two men, others for the fact that they have hitherto remained secret, such as the revelation that the Forest years might never have happened had Taylor taken up an offer to become assistant manager at Manchester United while the pair were still at Derby.

Edwards met Taylor when the latter was appointed manager at Burton Albion in 1962 and he will be at the Staffordshire club's Pirelli Stadium on Monday evening (March 22) from 5.30pm onwards, signing copies of the book.  A number of former Forest and Derby players have promised to go along.

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