GREEN JUMPER PODCAST: EPISODE 117
"The Barrister"
In this episode of the award-winning Green Jumper podcast, we look back at the legal battle between Brian Clough and disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell.
Our guest is former barrister-turned-author Andrew Prestwich, who has personal memories of the legal wrangling between the two men.
Andrew describes behind-the-scenes stories including Clough’s visit for a legal discussion during his case for defamation against Maxwell who owned the Daily Mirror and Derby County.
“They were two domineering men who just could not get on (with each other),” says Andrew. “They just did not see eye-to-eye. Clough certainly felt Maxwell was a negative influence on public life.”
The stories include the saga behind the signing of striker Lee Chapman, with the Daily Mirror reporting at the time that Derby County had got their man and that Clough had failed in his attempt to secure Chapman’s signature. But Cloughie was triumphant and did get his man.
But there was a lot more going on behind the scenes in Maxwell's life. His body was later found in the sea and it emerged he had looted millions of pounds from his employees’ pension fund to prop-up his failing business empire. The Daily Mirror is now under different ownership.
Andrew Prestwich has now turned to writing and his book ‘PREZ’ tells the story of his son Charlie’s experience of junior and academy football. During that time, Andrew himself took charge of a junior football team (which included Charlie) and jokingly reveals in the podcast that he tried a Clough management tactic – but unfortunately with disappointing results!
You can read more about the book HERE.