New Brighton & Hove Albion book to be launched next week

‘Bloody Southerners’ by Spencer Vignes details how the duo stunned the football world by taking charge of Albion in 1973.

Clough had just won the Football League title with Derby and led the Rams to the semi-finals of the European Cup but they chose to join Brighton, who were sixth from bottom of the old Third Division.

As a more recent comparison, Vignes says it would have been like Jose Mourinho leaving Chelsea after their 2015 Premier League title success and taking over at Southend.

Clough’s reign at the Seagulls lasted less than a year but Taylor then took over as manager and stayed for another two seasons.

The book includes several never-before-seen interviews with players who were at the Goldstone at the time.

Talking about the book, Des Lynam OBE said: “This book tells the story you didn’t know about the Clough era at Brighton. An enthralling read.”

Journalist Nick Szczepanik added: “A fascinating piecing together of an overlooked and under-reported phase of Brian Clough’s career, but an important one for Clough, Peter Taylor and Brighton.”

The book launch will take place at the Caxton Arms in North Gardens, Brighton, from 6.30pm.

Some of the players who were at Albion during the Clough and Taylor era will be at the launch, along with the author Vignes, who will sign copies and also take part in a Q&A with the Albion Roar.

For anyone unable to make the launch, ‘Bloody Southerners’ can be pre-ordered on www.bitebackpublishing.com/books

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