497
« on: December 11, 2019, 11:44:52 AM »
Naming something after Jim Smith would be an appropriate memorial. He was the only person to have been manager of both 'my' clubs (Derby County have always been my other one), so he has a particular place in my heart. I once went to Pride Park to one of those fans' forums (I can't remember exactly what they were called) that Radio 5 Live used to have years ago. I remember that Trevor Brooking chaired it, and that Nigel Clough was one of the others on the panel. I asked Jim whether there had been any difference in trying to keep a big non-league team (BUFC) at the top of the tree in his early days as a manager and trying to keep (as he then was) DCFC in the Premier League as a more experienced manager. I can't now recall his answer, but I do remember being somewhat disappointed by the brevity of it! Anyway, he signed my copy of his autobiography, so that was good.