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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
21 October, 2004

Clough memorial unites rivals

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 2004 Forest and Derby supporters gather at Pride Park for Brian Clough’s public memorial service.

Manager legacies

Posthumous or anniversary legacy note
Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue outside Pride Park.
Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue outside Pride Park. Image: Lewis Clarke / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brian Clough’s public memorial service brought around 15,000 people to Pride Park, with supporters, former players and football figures from both sides of his remarkable career.

Derby Cathedral had been too small for the number of people who wanted to pay their respects, so the gathering moved to Derby County’s stadium. The setting mattered because Clough’s legacy belonged strongly to both Derby County and Forest.

Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue outside Pride Park.
Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue outside Pride Park. Image: Lewis Clarke / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For Forest, Clough remained the defining manager in the club’s history. His league title and two European Cups at the City Ground made him central to the story of the club, while his earlier success at Derby made the memorial feel shared rather than divided.

Figures connected to Forest, Derby and the wider game attended, including family members and former players. The service was a public moment of respect rather than a football rivalry event. It showed how far Clough’s influence reached, and how even the East Midlands rivalry could pause for a manager who had shaped both clubs.

Pride Park Memorial

Sources

The Guardian; Getty Images

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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On this day in …
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