Nottingham Forest vs Derby County: Rival fans to unite in applause to mark 10th anniversary of Brian Clough's death

Forest and Rams supporters will remember the man synonymous with both clubs in the tenth minute ahead of next Saturday's anniversary

Brian Clough (Getty Images)

Supporters of Nottingham Forest and Derby rarely find anything to agree on, but on Sunday at the City Ground they will share common ground - for 60 seconds at least - in the memory of Brian Clough.

On September 20 it will be a decade since Clough passed away. With the 10th anniversary of his death so close to the league fixture between the two clubs synonymous with his name, fans of Forest and Derby have agreed to briefly put aside their rivalry and take part in a one-minute applause in the 10th minute to mark the occasion.

Clough took Derby from the old Second Division to become champions of England and European Cup semi-finalists during his spell in charge between 1967 and 1973.

He repeated his league title success at Forest and won successive European Cups with the Reds in 1979 and 1980. Clough also won the League Cup four times during his 18-year stint on the banks of the River Trent.

In spite of his departure from the club after a row with the board - and subsequent success with Forest - Clough remained a hero to Derby fans. When he died in 2004, aged 69, the memorial service had to be held at Pride Park to accommodate 14,000 mourners.

Ahead of Sunday's clash, the current managers of both clubs believe it is fitting the two sets of fans can pay tribute to the man affectionately known as 'Old Big Head'.

"To say he is a legend...he is probably the legend of football," said Forest boss Stuart Pearce, who captained the Reds under Clough.

"I cannot think of anyone else, for what he has achieved in the game.

"Alex Ferguson probably won more, in regard to trophies. But in regard to the personality Brian had, as well as the achievements he had in football, when you consider the whole package...we are very fortunate, at Forest and Derby, to have somebody of his magnitude touch these football clubs.

"There is mutual respect there, between the two sets of fans."

Derby head coach Steve McClaren said: "He was such a great person and a great manager. What he's done for both clubs is unbelievable, it will never be repeated.

"It's quite right that everybody celebrates it, remembers it, and we all join together for that one minute."

A sub-plot sees McClaren return to the club where he endured a troubled few months as manager in 2011.

However, the 53-year-old insists he still has plenty of respect for Forest.

"I think it will be strange to go back and be in the opposite dugout," said McClaren.

"It's a club I have great admiration for. It's been well documented that I feel I made mistakes there and that I regret I couldn't bring any success there, which the club deserves.

"But it's a different club altogether now, a lot has changed since I was there and there's been a lot of water under the bridge."

Forest's injury worries are beginning to ease. Henri Lansbury and Jamaal Lascelles made their return from knee problems at Huddersfield in the Capital One Cup prior to the international break, while the two-week lay-off has seen David Vaughan (hamstring) and Kelvin Wilson (calf) step up their recoveries and they will hope to be involved in the squad.

Derby are waiting to see if forward Jamie Ward will be fit, having suffered a hamstring injury on international duty with Northern Ireland.

PA