Huddersfield Town fan and Damned United author David Peace explains Clough enigma

Jun 1 2009 by Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield Town supporter David Peace is back in his native Yorkshire and bemused at the fuss created by his book about Brian Clough. NEIL ATKINSON reports

TOWN fan David Peace said he never thought writing about a football manager would cause controversy.

Novelist Peace admits he was surprised at the reaction to his book, The Damned United, which was turned into a hit film.

He told the audience at the Hay Festival that he had not meant to distress Brian Clough’s family, who said they were “deeply upset” by the depiction of the colourful, late football manager, set in his short period in charge of Leeds United in 1974.

“Firstly, the legal trouble from Johnny Giles, that was a surprise.

“Whilst that was going on there was the reaction from the Clough family. They were worried by the film and they didn’t like the book. The last thing I wanted to do was upset them.

“Perhaps it was even naivety or arrogance, I just thought I was describing these scenes which were out there in books and newspapers.

“When I wrote GB84, about the miners’ strike, we were more worried about causing controversy – I never thought writing about a football manager would cause this controversy”.

Peace, who is now back in the UK after living in Japan, said the inspiration for the book came from his Yorkshire boyhood and his visits to Town’s former Leeds Road ground.