The legendary Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough, was renowned for his unconventional behaviour, yet his charisma and leadership made him one of football’s most admired figures – and for commentator Darren Fletcher, he became an unforgettable influence early in his career.

Clough’s career remains one of the most remarkable in English football. After leading Derby County to the First Division title in 1972, he joined neighbouring club Nottingham Forest, guiding them from the Second Division to the league championship just six years later. His achievements didn’t stop there – he famously steered Forest to back-to-back European Cup triumphs, cementing his status as a managerial icon whose personality was as strong as his tactical genius.

Many who encountered Clough have their own stories about his unique character, and TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher is among them. Raised in Nottingham and a lifelong Forest supporter, Fletcher began his media journey in local radio, where fate brought him face-to-face with the man he had idolised from the stands.

“The very first interview I ever did was with Cloughie when I was just 18,” Fletcher told FourFourTwo. “At the time, I was working installing suspended ceilings. Broadcasting wasn’t even on my radar. But my stepfather knew someone who owned a gym, and the sports editor of a local radio station trained there.”

“That editor had a PR company involved in organising the Sun Life Great Race, and I joined as an assistant for a few weeks. Afterwards, I was offered a role at the radio station. Not long into the job, my boss told me, ‘I need you to go to the City Ground for an interview.’ I asked who I’d be speaking to, and he said, ‘That’s up to you – don’t mess it up.’ Just weeks earlier, I’d been in the Trent End queuing for autographs!”

“I arrived at the stadium, nervous beyond belief, and told the receptionist, ‘I’m from Radio Trent and here to do an interview.’ When she asked with whom, I just said, ‘Brian Clough.’ She checked, came back, and told me he’d see me – I was to wait in the corridor. I sat there for three hours until finally being called in.”

Inside, Clough sat with his assistant Archie Gemmill and first-team coach Ron Fenton. “I started asking my first question, shaking like a leaf,” Fletcher recalled. “Clough reached across the table, took my question sheet, crumpled it, and dropped it on the floor! Somehow, the interview went fine – mainly because of him. I was a wreck, but he put me at ease. Looking back, that was my initiation. After that, I did a lot more with him.”

Yet even after they developed a rapport, Clough’s unpredictable nature led to one particularly memorable encounter. “Forest were playing Plymouth Argyle in a League Cup tie,” Fletcher said. “Clough came out early, sitting on the dugout edge signing autographs. My boss told me to get down there for another interview, saying, ‘He likes you.’ As I walked along the touchline, I heard Clough shout, ‘Get away from me!’ I thought he couldn’t possibly be talking to me. Then he said it again, louder. Before I knew it, he got up, pretended to trip, and shoulder-charged me right in the chest – knocking me onto the pitch. Then he said, ‘Now get away from me.’ Everyone in the main stand saw it. I was mortified – just 18 and completely embarrassed. My boss gave me grief for it later!”

“But that was Clough – he had this incredible aura. Even if he stood behind you, you’d sense him. Some people just have that presence. He always tested you.”

Later, Clough extended a special invitation to Fletcher when he was being honoured with the Freedom of the City of Nottingham shortly before retiring in 1993. “The day before the ceremony, his secretary Carol called and asked me to come by at 1pm,” Fletcher remembered. “He came out, dressed to perfection – you rarely saw him in a suit, it was usually that famous green jumper. A big green car pulled up, and he said, ‘Get in.’ He told me, ‘We’re doing a dress rehearsal for tomorrow.’ We went to Nottingham Castle, he posed near the Robin Hood statue, planted a tree, and finished in the council chamber where I played the role of the Lord Mayor. The next day, I covered the real event – knowing exactly what to expect because we’d rehearsed it!”

“He had this incredible ability to knock you down one minute and make you feel like the most important person in the world the next.”

After Clough’s retirement, Fletcher even had the opportunity to work alongside him. “I worked with Garry Birtles on the radio, who got along really well with Brian. I asked Garry to see if the gaffer wanted to do something with us. Nobody had heard from him for a while, so Garry called Nigel Clough. Nigel said we were the first to ask and that his dad would love to join in.”

“We ended up hosting a monthly phone-in with Brian, and he even joined us for a few co-commentaries. Turning up at stadiums with Brian Clough was surreal – like turning up with Sir Alex Ferguson today. Clubs would see an accreditation request for ‘Brian Clough’ and couldn’t believe it when he actually appeared. We covered matches at Pride Park, Leicester, and the City Ground. Afterward, he’d stay back, have a meal, and reminisce about old times.”

“I’ll never forget how it felt being around him. Growing up in Nottingham during Forest’s European Cup wins and then working alongside him later – it was a privilege I’ll treasure forever.”

This weekend, Fletcher will be part of the commentary team for TNT Sports’ coverage of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I’ve only commentated on two finals before – Arsenal vs Aston Villa and Arsenal vs Chelsea – but the FA Cup has always been special to me. The first final I watched was Ipswich beating Arsenal, but the one I really remember was the following year when Alan Sunderland scored the winner in the last minute for Arsenal.”

“That’s when I truly fell in love with the FA Cup. I never missed a final after that. Back in those days, coverage started early in the morning – you’d see Bruce Forsyth or Paul Daniels doing segments outside Wembley, and it all felt magical. To now stand at Wembley and call an FA Cup final is an absolute honour. It’s going to be a huge thrill.”

Fletcher shared these reflections ahead of a packed month of football, with five major finals being broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, beginning with the Emirates FA Cup final this Saturday. Full coverage starts from 9am.