Damned United Made Scout Maurice Put the Record Straight
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FOOTBALL scouts, like football Midlands outfit. reporters, inhabit the shadowy fringes The arrival of Taylor was to change HOW IT ALL STARTED: of the game. Maurice’s life, for the two became firm Brian Clough turns up THE REAL CLOUGHfriends and Maurice was to go on to be AND TAYLOR Often influential, sometimes pivotal Damned United made scout for the beginning of in a club’s progress, scouts tend to see chief scout for all the clubs Taylor and his managerial career. and hear all but speak publicly, very Clough jointly managed. little. Much of the book’s value lies in the fact Maurice Edwards was a scout for Maurice put the record straight that Maurice knew Taylor better than he almost half-a-century and now, aged knew Clough. 83, has printed his memoirs on the BOOKED: Author Maurice Books on the Clough era inevitably focus Clough-Taylor era when he was the Edwards unveils his new almost overwhelmingly on “Old Big ’Ead” – this book helps redress that balance, chief scout at every club the famous book on Clough and Taylor. duo jointly managed before he ended giving a much greater insight into Taylor up scouting for Sunderland and Peter Picture by Angela Burn. from a man who knew him well. Reid. On a visit to the North East, he Maurice, now 83, and still involved spoke to the Football Echo’s GRAEME in scouting in the game is one of those ANDERSON. throwbacks to a bygone era of Brylcreem and boot polish, of self-discipline and impeccable manners. AURICE Edwards has One of the gentleman of the game three simple words when – much like the recently passed asked why at the age Jack Hixon, the famous M North East scout, whose of 83 he has finally chosen path never crossed that to publish a book on Brian of the author despite decades spent in the game Clough and Peter Taylor: “The – Maurice lacks the politics Damned United.” to spin stuff. “There were so many inaccuracies in He just tells it as it was. that book and in the film, so many things And the book is full of honest that were hurtful and just not true, that I insights and never before told wanted to set the record straight,” he says. tales of the era. “I wanted to show what Brian and Peter It is also a book, unlike were really like – in more than two decades The Damned United, which is with them, I never had a cross word or a endorsed by both the Taylor and fall-out. Clough families. “They were chalk and cheese as Nigel Clough, along with several characters, but, like the best marriages can former Clough players, turned up be, each one’s strengths made up for the to support the book’s launch, even other’s weaknesses. though it does not always reflect the “No-one had more confidence than two characters at its heart in a positive Brian, but Peter was a quiet, almost shy light. guy. Maurice said: “That was important “But Peter could spot talent and nurture to me. I’ve told the truth about my it as well as anyone in the game and passion for the game and I liked them both digested without the need for expensive time with Brian and Peter but only to put Cloughie benefited hugely from that. immensely. covers, or full-colour photos. the record straight. “It was no coincidence how successful “It was my privilege and pleasure to And what we get here is a refreshing “They were great men. they were together, or how they struggled have worked so closely with them for so insight into the inner workings of the “I know because I worked closely with to be successful apart. many years.” partnership. them and was able to see more than just “They had their problems and they had Maurice’s book is glossy neither in style Maurice, who lives in Burton-on- about anyone how well they worked their bad times. I think those have been nor presentation, but it is all the better for Trent and played for the local club, first together. well-documented, but they were both that. met Taylor in 1962 when the former “They were far from perfect, but they fantastic footballing men with such a The unvarnished truth is often best Middlesbrough goalkeeper joined the deserve to be remembered fondly.” ‘MyMAURICE Edwards workedrole “Towards inthe end of April SuperKev’s asked him how he was signing’ for a playing almost all of his football as scout for Sunderland for that season, Alan sent me to to goalkeeper. since in the top flight. eight years after Peter Reid’s Chesterfield to have a look at “We could do with a good one, But the move to Sunderland appointment and looks back on Kevin Phillips, who had returned Andy replied, we’ve only kept never worked out for him, he the time with warm memories. to Watford’s team after almost 12 three clean sheets in 16 games.” lacked confidence and the crowd “In all my time in football, I months out with a leg injury. “You want to go to Odense,” never fully took to him. had probably had the happiest “He was a small lad, slightly said Schmeichel. “There’s a lad Had Sunderland had the time at Sunderland,” he smiled. built, who showed some nice there that’s been at Old Trafford money, they could also have “Reidy was great fun to work touches on the ball and received for a trial period, but the club signed England international with, Bob Murray always made it well. couldn’t make their mind up Jermaine Jenas when he was still sure I was looked after and we “I thought he lacked the whether to offer him a contract. only a teenager. brought plenty of good talent into sharpness to break clear and, to He’s only 22 and I’m sure he’s Maurice remembers: “In 2001, the club.” me, he was not fully fit. good enough.” I saw Jermaine Jenas, at 17, The contact with Sunderland “I sent my report to Alan and On Schmeichel’s make his first-team debut for came through the Blacks Cats’ he said the same to me – Kevin recommendation, King headed to Nottingham Forest. former manager, Alan Durban, was obviously rusty. Odense and, shortly afterwards, “He did OK, but did not get BRIAN AND PETER: they duly collected on. H who had played under Clough and “Two or three weeks before the Thomas Sorensen was signed another game until the following A RIGHT PAIR The truth about Villa Caution held back Reid 21 Years With Clough and chairman Doug Ellis’s job – the prelude to some excellent season. I watched him in two of Taylor at Derby County and took new season was due to kick-off, MAURICE Edwards were top class and I Taylor by Maurice Edwards, offer to Clough up a post as chief scout under Alan went to a dinner and was sat years of service. his first three games in the new enjoyed his time believe that if there had priced £16.99 H How Taylor was offered Reid in 1995. next to one of the Watford staff. Maurice was heavily involved season and was very impressed. scouting at Sunderland been good funds made Edwards reveals: the Derby job in the back of Edwards recalls: “Alan wanted “He asked how Kevin was in the signing of Irish striker “I filed a report saying how under Peter Reid and available most of the H How a shared love of a car, days before Clough me to work the Midlands area doing in pre-season and was told Michael Reddy, a nice lad but a good he was and recommended is one of so many of time, then Sunderland gambling started his and Taylor resigned and I went up, along with the he was going like a bomb, having youngster who never managed Sunderland pursue him. Tony staff and players at the would have been a friendship with Peter Taylor H How Don Revie offered other scouts to meet Peter Reid, done plenty of fitness work in the to hit the heights at Sunderland, Book – then chief scout – went to time who have always major force in their new and ultimately ended it. him a job at Leeds to split Paul Bracewell, Bobby Saxton summer. though he did have a successful see him and was also impressed. insisted that had money stadium. H How he used to get daily up the camp at Derby. and Adrian Heath – who I had “If Sunderland wanted him, career at Grimsby Town in the “In early September, Peter Reid been available, the “The directors all racing tips from Lester H How a £5,000 payment once tried to sign when he was a now would be the time to do the lower leagues. put a bid of £1.5m in for him, but Scouser could have treated us with great Piggott and pass them on to Taylor from the Brighton schoolboy. deal before everyone saw him. In 2000, the veteran scout Paul Hart, the Forest manager, taken the club so much respect. to Taylor. chairman stopped him “Sunderland went straight up On Alan’s recommendation, was also happy to recommend turned the offer down and said he further than he did. “But it is my humble H How the signing of joining Clough at Leeds. in Peter’s first season but went Sunderland paid £325,000 for West Bromwich Albion winger was looking for much more.