Be Good, Love Brian cover art

Be Good, Love Brian

Growing up with Brian Clough

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Be Good, Love Brian

By: Craig Bromfield
Narrated by: Leon Scott
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About this listen

Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022

Craig Bromfield was just 13 years old when Brian Clough, on a whim, took him and his older brother Aaron in.

They came from Southwick, a depressed area of Sunderland, where they lived with their abusive stepfather, and from where they longed to escape. After initially meeting Clough while out begging for money, Clough later invited the brothers to stay at his house. From there a relationship formed which would see Craig living with the Cloughs for nine years, where he was a first-hand witness to the many aspects of Clough’s character – his gruffness, his humour, his big-heartedness.

This is a beautiful, inspirational story, which has never before been told, about Clough’s gentleness and capacity for generosity. Discover a very different side to this iconic man, one away from the cameras and the football, which shows him for the person he really was.

©2021 Craig Bromfield (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Football (Soccer) Sports Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

“One of the most incredible, emotional, feel-good stories you will ever read” – Daniel Taylor

“Craig Bromfield’s love letter, and apology, to the great football manager is an unexpected and moving delight.” – Matt Dickinson, The Times Chief Sports Writer

"It's rare to hear anything new about someone like Brian Clough, one of football's true giants. Rarer still that it can make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Quite simply, it's an amazing story." – Jeff Brown, BBC Look North

“Be Good, Love Brian has got everything – love, friendship, laugh-out-loud comedy, football, and a heart-breaking betrayal. Craig Bromfield's feel-good story about Brian Clough's life changing generosity ends up something akin to a modern-day Shakespearian tragedy” – Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian

“Gorgeously moving, hilariously funny and incredibly insightful. Craig Bromfield’s beautifully written book about his life with Brian Clough is one you’ll never forget as there are laughs, tears and life lessons. It also solved lots of Christmas present dilemmas as I bought ten copies.” – Julie McAffrey, Daily Mirror

“The story is astonishing, the writing is wonderful. It is a story about Brian Clough, packed with detail never before shared and from a perspective never before explored. But more importantly, it is a story about Craig Bromfield. You are swept along on his journey, revelling in his joy, grieving in his pain. The emotional honesty of the account is disarming. It means you are there with him. You are inside the dressing room. You are willing him to do the right thing. And in those moments when he falters, life’s context brings empathy. Football fans should read it. But this is more than a football book.” – Adam Bate, Sky Sports

What listeners say about Be Good, Love Brian

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Captivating

Like most people - I enjoy BC stories, when I first started listening I wasn’t sure, however the story grows and grows- I loved the honesty- well done.

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A very heartwarming tale of kindness.

I've been a Nottingham Forest Fan for many years now and wasn't aware of this story.
I listened to it on holiday on was so touched by the kindness and generosity shown to Craig and how a chance meeting in Sunderland changed his life for the better. living in Derby too, meant I could relate to many places mentioned in the book. thanks Craig for sharing such an emotional story.

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Antidote to “The Damned United”

Without spoilers, I would have liked more Clough and fewer football results in the second half of the book, but it is nevertheless a brilliant read.

Leon Scott’s narration is also quality. Characters (especially Clough) have a distinctive voice without trying to feign an impersonation.

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Brilliant Story, riveting

And just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about the enigmartic Brian Clough along comes this story. It somehow fills the parts other story's cannot reach. Let us be honest here people buy this book to hear more about Brian Clough. Brian Clough spoke and acted the truth in ways no person in my lifetime has managed to a point where his influence makes you a better person. And then we have this book. It is a bit of a mxture of fairy tale (rags toi riches), a witness to history being made, a deeply moving human story, a morality tale, and all of this with a 'football theme. I think it is Unique, and if you add the way the story flows and develops, it is a read you simply cannot put down or stop once you hit the 'play' button, An outstanding book. After you read it, it feels like it completes the Brian Clough Story, a bit like he is speaking to you from beyond the grave through Craig Broomfield.... Well done !

My only gripe - skip the first 3 chapters (Sorry Craig, but it is clough we wanty to read about)

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Incredible true life story of a legend


For anyone growing up in the North East in the 80s it’s an incredible reminder of the time and landscape through a story of love, kindness, poverty and a chance life changing encounter on a Seaburn beach that you struggle to believe at times.

Beautiful.

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Wunderbar

Simply stunning book.
Brought back so many amazing memories
Well worth reading if you are a football fan
From a Stags fan
In Nigel Clough We Trust

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Wayyyyy…Great book Rigga!

Whether you like football or not, it doesn’t matter. This is a story about human kind, kind being the operative word. The whole Clough family are incredible. This would be an absolute blockbuster at the cinema

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Loved it Brilliant

Being a Nottingham forest supporter and attending games since 1980 you got to sort of know what Mr Clough was like, obviously not many knew about what was going on in the back ground, in his personal life, apart from what you read in the media.

What a great story, what a trip down memory lane.

What a wonderfully great man Mr Clough was.
And what a wonderful family he has.



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Wonderful

An incredible story - of a great man - and the importance of kindness to strangers, which is probably more important now than ever before

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So much more than world class football manager.

A beautiful story showing the power of being kind, showing love, all motivated to make a difference to a boy. He turned into a man that proves no matter how things start you can always "Be whatever you want to be" never give in.

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