YOU'RE TOO LATE CLOUGH; SPEAKING UP FOR MERSEYSIDE.Byline: John Aldridge For the Royal Academician, see John Aldridge (Royal Academician). For the English cricketer see John Aldridge (cricketer).John William Aldridge (born Liverpool, 18 September 1958). Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international striker. BRIAN CLOUGH Brian Howard Clough, OBE (21 March, 1935 – 20 September, 2004) was a successful footballer and subsequently football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. waited far too long before apologising for his outrageous comments about the Hillsborough tragedy. Clough n. 1. A cleft in a hill; a ravine; a narrow valley. 2. A sluice used in returning water to a channel after depositing its sediment on the flooded land. 1. (Com.) An allowance in weighing. See Cloff. was manager of the Nottingham Forest side that faced the Reds on that fateful fate·ful adj. 1. Vitally affecting subsequent events; being of great consequence; momentous: a fateful decision to counterattack. 2. Controlled by or as if by fate; predetermined. 3. day. But his proximity to the tragedy clearly didn't help him understand the events. In his autobiography, published in 1994, five years after Hillsborough, he suggested the disaster was a result of the actions of drunk Liverpool supporters. Not only was it a scandalous MATTER, SCANDALOUS, equity pleading. A false and malicious statement of facts, not relevant to the cause. But nothing which is positively relevant, however harsh or gross the charge may be, can be considered scandalous. 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 4163. 2. , sickening suggestion, he also managed to cause further unnecessary pain and hurt for the families and friends of those people that lost their lives. This week he apologised for the comments. An admission that he was wrong was long overdue, but shouldn't have been needed in the first place. He should never have said what he said. As a prominent footballing figure, people looked up to him. Football fans put great stock by the words of their heroes, and Clough was a hero to a lot of people. As a result, the pain his comments caused was magnified because of his stature in the game. He should have kept his mouth shut. Instead, he demonstrated a shocking lack of compassion and a complete failure to understand what really happened that day. He plummeted in my estimation after those comments. He may have apologised now, but it is far too late to change my opinion. I am sure that is a view shared my many people throughout the city. CAPTION(S): HOLLOW WORDS: Clough's belated be·lat·ed adj. Having been delayed; done or sent too late: a belated birthday card. [be- + lated. apology won't wash with many on Merseyside |
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