Back in the days of miners’ strikes and Rolls-Royce going bankrupt, the city of Derby (or town as it was then) had some cause for joy because Brian Clough was bringing success to the football club ably abetted by Peter Taylor.

Despite the doom and the gloom, Derby rocked – and Brian Clough, a lifelong socialist, donated match tickets to striking miners. This was considered rather radical at the time but the great man was undeterred and stuck to his principles in supporting the miners.

Since then, real ‘political politics’ hasn’t reared its head in Derby County Football Club apart from posturings over ownership over the years where entrenched positions were taken but not on party political lines. Until today.

Today Nigel Clough gained his political credentials to be considered worthy of being his father’s son. He wrote an open letter to the coalition government begging them to reconsider the decision to award the Thameslink contract to the German firm Siemens and save the jobs of at least 1,400 employees at the Bombardier works in Derby.

Credit too, to the football club as a whole for backing the beleaguered Bombardier workforce. They have decided to dedicate the first game of the season this Saturday to those workers at Bombardier who are facing redundancy after the catastrophic decision.

The Derby players will wear T-shirts before the match with a "SAVE OUR RAIL INDUSTRY" message and  some lucky children of Bombardier staff will be matchday mascots.

It is good to see the football club aligning itself with the people of Derby – and it is fair to say that ALL political parties in Derby are demanding a change of heart. From Conservative City Council Leader Philip Hickson to hard working, dedicated Derby North’s Labour MP Chris Williamson who has personally stood in all weathers and collected many thousands of names on the 50,000+ petition – they are all pulling the same way.

The club must be very mindful that with so many thousands of jobs likely to go at Bombardier, a few more hundreds at the Egg/Citibank premises on Pride Park and the loss of postal jobs as the main sorting office moves to N*ttingham that gates are likely to drop substantially as families tighten belts and regard football matches as a ‘luxury’.

The Bombardier situation will impact on all life in Derby: shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels & services will all feel the pinch as people have so much less money to spend.

It would have been enough that the club had publicly backed the Save Bombardier campaign but for Nigel Clough to do it in his own name shows how he deeply understands the gravity of this situation.

If Brian Clough is looking down on Derby then he will be very proud that his son has come out and written personally to the government in his own name demanding a rethink and a saving of Derby jobs.  Old Big ‘Ead would be very proud as a Freeman of the City that Nigel had defended the city’s workers.

Well done Nigel, take a bow son!

The full text of Nigel’s letter:

Wednesday, August 03, 2011 in the Derby Telegraph

THE Government's decision to award the Thameslink project to Siemens instead of Bombardier is a potentially devastating blow for the community in Derbyshire and the UK rail industry as a whole.

Bombardier, based in the heart of Derby, is the UK's last train manufacturer and one of our city's biggest employers. Aside from the jobs directly affected at Bombardier, there is a far bigger ripple effect on our area.

Derby also has the highest concentration of companies manufacturing train components in Europe, employing around 10,000 people.

But this issue goes far beyond facts, statistics and even a political debate regarding the entire bidding process. It's about people's jobs, people's lives and a community that would be left devastated if something isn't done to reverse or correct this decision.

Thousands of families in Derby will be affected and it will touch all generations. Not just the father or mother who works in the rail industry to support their family, but also the teenagers and young adults studying manufacturing, with the aim of one day joining the talented and specialised workforce we have in this city.

There is no underestimating the impact this will have on our community; it is quite simply one of the biggest issues ever to affect this area and I speak as someone who has lived here for over 40 years.

Derby County Football Club is not allied to any political party or ideological belief. Our supporters back all and no political parties.

However we, as a club, are wholeheartedly supporting the campaign to make the Government think again about the Thameslink project.

The contract with Siemens won't be signed until the end of the year so there is still time for ministers to look again.

They should think again about the effect on UK rail and manufacturing jobs, as well as training and apprenticeships in this country.

The political arguments are for others to have; we are focused on what this means for our city and county and for the countless families affected by it.

Hopefully, common sense can prevail and the right decision is ultimately made.

Nigel Clough, Derby County Football Club

Photo: Action Images

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