Reading matters

Best and Edwards: Football, Fame and Oblivion, by Gordon Burns: Guardian

The Road to Clarity, by Joshua Yaffa: NYT

Life of Brian

Not Monty Python's Life of Brian, but the other Brian, Brian Clough. Cloughy the soccer player, alcoholic, football manager of Hartlepool United, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United (for 44 days in 1974) and, of course, manager of Nottingham Forest for eighteen years.

Now this:

Released without fanfare in the summer, David Peace's novel The Damned Utd became the sleeper hit of the year. Tracing Brian C[l]ough's 44-day reign at Leeds United this tour de force offers a compelling insight into the mind of a footballing genius, proud father and legendary drinker.

That's the opener -- complete with a Gruaniad typo -- for a great review of the book The Damned Utd: Guardian

Thanks, Fat Buddha!