Hodgkinson pride in Clough-Taylor memorial role

As work begins on the Pride Park monument to former Derby County management team legends Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, the company boss chosen to play a key role in its construction has spoken of his “tremendous pride at being able to help honour two national soccer icons”.

Life-long Rams fan Ian Hodgkinson, managing director of Hodgkinson, said this week: “I remember visiting the baseball ground as a youngster with my father and used to stand on the terrace watching Clough and Taylor in the dugouts. To be involved in this project is a real honour”.

Pride Park-based Hodgkinson's is co-ordinating construction and has responsibility for the groundworks and infrastructure for the monument which stands on the west side of the stadium near the present ticket office with the figures facing towards the city. At night, it will illuminated by ground-level up-lighting.

Principal feature is a 1.5times life-size bronze statue almost three metres high by renowned sculptor Andy Edwards who has previously produced bronzes of Derby County legend Steve Bloomer at Pride Park and the Sir Stanley Matthews memorial at Britannia Stadium in Stoke on Trent.

The Clough-Taylor figures stand atop a circular stone podium in an octagonal terrace with low-level planters and bench seating as a place for meeting and reflection. Special accesses have been included to benefit less mobile visitors.

It will be the third time that Hodgkinson’s has played a part in honouring legends from Derby County’s past. The company built the brick plinth for the Steve Bloomer pitch-side memorial and also the Lionel Pickering entrance to the stadium.