Brian Clough Trophy is up for grabs

Brian Clough is our, not yours! That’s what two sets of fans are shouting to each other whenever they get a chance to actually be in the stands of a football ground. They won’t be tonight due to covid-19 restrictions, but the rivalry and the long-lasting debate won’t stop.

Two towns in central England, they have already been rivals during the Industrial Revolution, but football made their hatred even deeper. Legendary English football manager Brian Clough has managed both of these East Midlands clubs and he left a rich legacy.

Under the leadership of the visionary Clough, the Rams were promoted into the top tier of English football in the late sixties. They famously won the league in 1971/72 in the same season when Nottingham Forest were relegated. It goes without saying that the Rams were dominant in their head-to-head meetings. The next time they met, five and a half years later, the shoe was on the other foot, and Forest were kicking Derby in with it. Forest beat Derby 3-0 and caused fans' protests. By the end of the 1979/80 season, Forest had won their second European Cup and Derby were relegated. Clough transformed both clubs and left them both hating each other.

Brian Clough ended his career in 1993 with Forest (©Reuters)

The iconic manager retired from football in 1993 and died in 2004. In early 2007, officials from Derby County, Nottingham Forest and the Brian Clough Memorial Fund agreed to institute an official tournament between the two clubs. Brian Clough's widow Barbara and his son Nigel, who would later become Derby boss, supported the initiative and found it to be a nice way to raise funds for charity while harnessing the fans’ passion for the fixture and their love for their late manager.

The competition does not regularly demand its own fixture but is competed for whenever the two clubs happened to meet. The first match, however, was a specially-arranged pre-season friendly, with all proceeds going to charity. Since then, the games were mostly regular EFL Championship fixtures, but the Brian Clough Memorial Fund continued to award a cup to the winners.

The first match was won by Derby and since then the cup would change hands ten times. The rules are simple: you win the cup by winning the game. In case of a draw, the trophy remains with its current holders.

Derby County have had a bumpy season, but are finally starting to look up under the leadership of their new manager Wayne Rooney. The former England international succeeded Philip Cocu and guided the team our of the relegation zone. Tonight’s clash with the rivals is sure to be a big test of maturity for the Liverpudlian.

In the opposite dugout, Chris Hughton will have the tough task of picking a team made out of dangerous but most of all - healthy players. McKenna, Saw, Ameobi, Arter, Grabban - all important players, but with a big question mark next to their names due to injuries.

“It is always difficult,” Hughton said of picking his team.“The times when it’s not as difficult are when, sometimes because of injuries or something, some positions pick themselves. “But on most occasions, there are difficult decisions to be made.

“I would always rather have that level of competition, choices and availability than when your team picks itself. “It causes some dilemmas, but that’s part and parcel of what we do; you have to embrace it,” Hughton told NottinghamshireLive.

As far as his thoughts on Rooney's journey from a superstar footballer to a manager, Chris Hughton shared some.

“It’s a good start for him. It’s also a great education. This is an individual who has made a decision to stop playing, to go into management and has taken on a job that has had some difficulties,” he said of Rooney. “They are a team, similar to ourselves, that hadn’t been in the best form as regards picking up results and not being at the end of the table they would want to be. “He’s not walked into what would be regarded as a more comfortable role. “It will be a really good education for him. “Apart from tomorrow, we wish him well.”

EFL Championship - 33rd round

Friday

22.45: Derby County - Nottingham Forest

Saturday

15.30: Bournemouth - Watford

18.00: Barnsley - Millwall

18.00: Birmingham City - Queens Park Rangers

18.00: Blackburn Rovers - Coventry City

18.00: Brentford - Stoke City

18.00: Luton Town - Sheffield Wednesday

18.00: Middlesbrough - Cardiff City

18.00: Preston North End - Huddersfield Town

18.00: Rotherham United - Reading

18.00: Swansea City - Bristol City

Sunday

15.00: Wycombe Wanderers - Norwich City