Nottingham: He was a fast bowler, who instilled mortal fear in batsmen after his ‘Bodyline’ attack on ‘The Don’. The other was a cocky football manager, who in a seven-year span turned a team of laggards into continental club champions.
England fast bowler Harold Larwood and Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough, separated by more than four decades, practitioners of different trade, are two iconic figures. They define the legacy of sport in Robin Hood’s land — aggressive, in your face and true to their art.
A three-minute walk separates two stadiums Trent Bridge, where Larwood and his Bodyline partner Bill Voce would terrorise batsmen, and the Forest Stadium on the South Bank of the river Trent where Clough sat on the dug-out creating the best underdog story of English football in the 1970’s.
Just like 78 wickets in 21 Tests can’t define what Larwood did for cricket and fast bowlers in general, the two European Cup titles aren’t a fair assessment of Clough, whom many believe was the best manager England football team never had.
They were charismatic personalities, developed a cult following with their aggression, the fear they could instill — Larwood in opposition batsmen and Clough even among his own players who had to perform.
Inside the Trent Bridge stadium, the pub is named ‘Larwood & Voce’, a tribute to the most renowned England new ball pair before World War II.
