Burnley

Ian Woan: ‘Clough’s magic was putting a team of misfits together’

31-Oct-2021 08:00:22 | The Guardian

Left-winger became a Nottingham Forest hero after Brian Clough hijacked Harry Redknapp’s deal to sign him from Runcorn

Brian Clough changed Ian Woan’s life. The former left-winger is quite open about that. Before signing for Nottingham Forest in 1990, Woan was working for an industrial company in Widnes. It is fair to say that moving from non-league Runcorn to Forest – then second in the First Division – to work under one of the most famous managers the game has seen, was quite the jolt.

Nine professional games later, Woan was shaking the hand of Lady Diana and playing in an FA Cup final against Spurs.