Derby's greatest management team will be together again in spirit and in bronze, as a statue erected in their honour is unveiled today.

Brian Clough and Peter Taylor’s achievements made Derby County fans feel 10 feet tall during the dynamic duo’s Baseball Ground glory days - now their own splendid new monument is almost ready!

The two men themselves will be reunited this week in sculpture above a 10 ft high plinth. The monument will be a magnificent commemoration of their incredible achievements at Derby County.

Last night saw the formal unveiling of the statue in tribute to the Rams’ greatest managerial team.

Both the Clough and Taylor families were in attendance and Barbara Clough spoke to the DCFC official site about the honour:

"Brian and Peter would have loved today, seeing a statute standing proudly of them at Derby County. It has been a wonderful occasion and the monument is wonderful."

As did Lilian Taylor:

"Both Peter and Brian would have been so proud. It is a fantastic tribute to both men, who were at their happiest in Derby. I would like to thank the fans and the club for their magnificent support and contributions."

The tall white and black plinth (photographed earlier this week by Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa), now has the 9ft figures of Clough and Taylor positioned atop the impressive base, triumphantly brandishing the League Championship trophy.

Fittingly, the secrecy is maintained until Friday’s ceremony by the fans’ giant Super Rams flag, which is draped over the top of the statue.

The sponsored bronze statue was created by sculptor Andy Edwards and will become a new Derby landmark. Fans visiting Pride Park Stadium will have another heritage focal point to enjoy with the statue set in a special meeting area named Unity Plaza at the north-west stadium approach.

It’s sure to become the heritage focal point and a popular rendezvous point with fans.

The dedication ceremony for Derby County fans is at 1.00 pm today before the home game with QPR, when the addition of the statue to the stadium landscape will be. We’ll be reporting and adding more photos as the ceremonies take place!

In a whirlwind 6 years at the club between 1967 and 1973, Derby’s brilliant management pairing delivered promotion, the League title itself and European football to the town - and Derby fans themselves inspired and initiated the action to finally honour Ole Big ‘Ead and his wily partner at the home of Derby football.

Ashley Wilkinson and Kalwinder Dhindra Singh launched an online petition early in 2008, which RamsTrust promoted to other supporters through their regular matchday Rendezvous events. By the spring of 2009, the signature list had reached the target of over 2,000 supporters and Ashley and Kal presented it to the club. 

The following summer, the Rams’ board announced that the statue would become a reality during 2010 and the design and building was soon under way.

After Friday 27th August 2010, just as Steve Bloomer casts an imperious eye over the team from his pitchside vantage point inside the stadium, the figures of Brian Clough & Peter Taylor will cast an imposing presence against the stadium backdrop, gleefully clutching the League Championship trophy and thereby eternally challenging everyone at the club to emulate their achievements!

We look forward to seeing the great new heritage tribute at the stadium and congratulate all involved in making it a reality.

Taylor’s daughter Wendy Dickinson, whose new book “For Pete’s Sake - The Peter Taylor Story (Vol. 1)” chronicles her father’s career at Derby County, is guesting at a forum to follow the RamsTrust AGM in the Press Lounge at Pride Park Stadium on Thursday, 16th September.

Please check out further details of the event at:

www.ramstrust.org.uk 

Photo: Action Images

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