Clough Stories - Brian Rice
Episode description
When Brian Rice made his debut for Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest on a Tuesday night in September 1985, it came as a big surprise to the Scottish midfielder.
He thought he was going with the squad to Anfield just for a bit of experience.
"It was completely out of the blue," says Rice. "To make your debut against Liverpool at Anfield was something really, really special."
After the match, which Forest lost, Clough gave the team four days off. He told them not to report for duty until the following Sunday, when they faced Leicester City away.
For Rice, it seemed strange to have all that time off without training. "The lads said, 'Don't say anything, just turn-up on Sunday.'"
Forest beat Leicester 3-0, with Rice on the scoresheet.
"He had his own unique way - the Brian Clough way - and it worked," Rice tells pod host Marcus Alton.
It's one of many great Cloughie stories the former Scottish international recalls in this entertaining episode.