1962
Clough made his mark on the local rivalry
IT didn’t cause anything like shockwaves that followed Maurice Johnston snubbing Celtic and signing for Rangers in 1989.
But when Brian Clough left Middlesbrough for Sunderland in the summer of 1961, one set of fans were definitely less than chuffed.
After all, Clough had hit a remarkable 204 goals in 222 games for the Boro.
Clough continued in the same vein at Roker Park, and repaid the transfer fee with 63 goals in 74 games before injury finished his playing career just over a year after he’s switched clubs.
Ironically one of his final games was against his former club, and he scored in a 3-3 draw.
The pair meet today at the Stadium of Light, and fans will have their own opinion of where Clough stands in their list of all-time strikers.
Clough’s view? Probably: “Hard to say, but for each club, I was in the top one!”