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Sporting memories: Mike Bamber's Brian Clough coup

A look back to the 1973/74 season and the arrival of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor at the Goldstone.

By Luke Nicoli • 15 May 2020

At care homes and social clubs throughout the county and beyond, sporting memories mornings help to improve the wellbeing of people over 50 through the power of sport, by sharing photographs, articles, memorabilia or talks. Some participants live with dementia or have memory problems, while others have experienced depression, live alone or are dealing with ongoing health issues. Given the current coronavirus pandemic, such events remain on hold, so each Friday at brightonandhovealbion.com we’ll be bringing some Albion sporting memories of our own, continuing with Brian Clough’s shock arrival on the south coast…

Having finished rock bottom of the Second Division the previous season, there was very little money around for boss Pat Saward ahead of the new campaign and he signed just two players during the summer: Mick Brown from Crystal Palace and Ronnie Howell (Swindon Town).

There was little cheer for Goldstone regulars as the season got underway, either, with the first five home fixtures, plus a League Cup fixture encounter with Charlton Athletic, all ending in defeat.

Conversely, Albion were unbeaten away from home for five games but with the side languishing in the bottom four, former skippers Bert Murray and Brian Bromley left the club and John Boyle arrived on loan from Chelsea as Saward tried to find a winning formula.

Crowds continued to dip and just 5,308 fans were present for the 2-0 win against Shrewsbury Town on 20th October. It wasn’t enough to save Saward who was sacked two days later, with trainer and former player, Glen Wilson, taking over on a temporary basis.

Another former Albion player, Steve Burtenshaw, was an early favourite to fill the post, having recently resigned as a coach at Arsenal, but nobody could have predicted what was to follow.

On 1st November news broke that chairman Mike Bamber had somehow managed to lure Brian Clough and Peter Taylor – who had led Derby County to the League Championship in 1972 – to the south coast, signing them both up on five-year deals!

Shockwaves reverberated throughout the football world while Albion fans were instantly reinvigorated; Clough’s first game against York City – a 0-0 draw – attracted over 16,000 fans, which was up almost ten thousand on the previous gate.

“Forget promotion, just be happy to avoid relegation,” was Clough’s message following his arrival, the concerns for his squad no doubt heightened by a 4-0 FA Cup first round replay defeat to Walton & Hersham at the Goldstone – undoubtedly the worst cup defeat in the club’s history.

The media spotlight was firmly on Clough and it intensified three days later when another home humiliation was handed out, this time by Bristol Rovers whose 8-2 victory was also witnessed by ITV’s The Big Match cameras.

Ken Beamish rides a challenge at the Goldstone.

A 4-1 defeat at Tranmere Rovers completed a miserable fortnight and Clough responded by bringing in goalkeeper Peter Grummitt on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, Ken Goodeve from Luton Town, and young Burnley players Harry Wilson and Ronnie Welch for a joint fee of £70,000.

It had the desired effect as Albion moved up to ninth in the table and there were even rumblings of a possible promotion push on the Goldstone terraces. Paul Fuschillo and Billy McEwan had also arrived from Blackpool but the optimism soon waned as three successive defeats in late March saw the side drop back down to 17th. 

What happened on the field was, however, playing second fiddle to the media circus surrounding Clough. ‘I’m bigger than Brighton’ ran one headline as he was linked with posts at Aston Villa, back at Derby and even the Iran national team, all of which Bamber was forced to deny.

A poor end to April, with three defeats and a draw, saw Albion end the campaign in 19th place but with Steve Govier, Andy Rollings and Ian Mellor – the latter for a club record £40,000 – all signed from Norwich City and goalscorer Fred Binney arriving from Exeter City, Albion fans were looking forward to the following season with plenty of optimism.

Fred Binney (centre) signs for Albion

Did you know?

On 20th October 1973, Dave Busby became the first black player to represent the Albion in a senior match when he came on as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town.

Star man: Ken Beamish

Ken Beamish on the attack at the Goldstone.

Netting 12 league goals, Ken was Albion’s top scorer in the 1973/74 campaign.

Arriving at the Goldstone from Tranmere Rovers in March 1972 for £25,000 plus Alan Duffy, he scored six times in 14 games as Albion went on to win the Third Division championship, and was then top scorer in 1972/73 as the side was immediately relegated.

He left the club for Blackburn Rovers in May 1974 following the arrival of Fred Binney and netted 28 goals in 99 appearances. He went on to have spells with Port Vale, Bury, Tranmere and Swindon, where he later became manager.

He then worked for Blackburn as commercial manager before retiring in 2012.

* With thanks to club historian Tim Carder and Ian Hine [www.seagullsprogrammes.co.uk] for images