Cracking documentary on Brian Clough on ITV last night, and at the end of it I couldn't resist the temptation to try out my best Cloughie impression.

It wasn't very good, and She Who Must Be Obeyed begged me to shut up in a scenario presumably played out in sitting rooms across the nation.

Clough was an infectious personality, and inspired his players at Derby County and Nottingham Forest to great things on the pitch.

The only place he couldn't work his magic was at Leeds United in the infamous 44 days he became their manager, just after they had won the league championship back in the early 1970s.

Clough's tenure at mighty Leeds is the focus of David Peace's brilliant work of faction, The Damned United, which has been turned into a film starring Michael Sheen. It's opening at the weekend.

Peace's portrayal of the great manager is not always kind, but his portrayal of Clough's motivation as that of a brilliant player whose career was cut short by injury makes for a riveting read.

Clough's family have disowned the book, and criticised the author's artistic licence with the facts.

In one episode in the novel, Peace shows Clough having Don Revie's old desk burnt.

"I think my brother and I would have remembered a bonfire," was the response of Nigel Clough, who followed in his father's footsteps and has now been a football manager for the past 10 years.

Peace's book is a gripping read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it's understandable that it upset Clough's family and I'm sure the author regrets that.

The controversy has, however, reminded people of what a foreceful personality Clough was.

Duncan Hamilton's award-winning sports journalist memoir Provided You Don't Kiss Me is also well worth a read, and I understand more books on Clough are to follow.

I'm old enough to remember Trevor Francis's goal against Malmo in the 1979 European Cup Final and there was classic footage showing Clough telling Francis to take his hands out of his pockets at some awards ceremony. "Yes, sir," replied Francis respectfully.

I'm looking forward to seeing the film, although I gather it's not as dark as the book.

Something else I'm looking forward to is a new special edition of the Roy of the Rovers comic produced by publishers Egmont, which is coming out next week.

With the theme tune to The Big Match rattling around my brain, it's starting to feel like the 1970s all over again. Let's hope there's a drought this summer.