Ian’s pride in Clough-Taylor memorial role

Businessman Ian Hodgkinson - whose company was chosen to play a key role in the construction of the Pride Park memorial to Derby County legends Brian Clough and Peter Taylor - has spoken of his “tremendous pride at being able to help honour two national soccer icons”.

At the unveiling of the memorial this week, life-long Rams fan Ian, managing director of Hodgkinsons, commented: “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”.

Hodgkinson's project-managed the construction of the memorial and have been praised by John Vicars, Vice President of Operations at Derby County. He told Ian: “It is an absolute pleasure doing work with a company who deliver what they say, when they say and in a very professional manner.”

The memorial depicts Clough and Taylor in 1972 when they became League Champions. Ian is pictured below it with widows Mrs Barbara Clough (left) and Mrs Lilian Taylor.

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 on 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.

Hodgkinson's have previously played key parts in honouring two other greats from Derby County's past. They built the brick plinth for the Steve Bloomer pitch-side memorial and the Lionel Pickering entrance to the stadium.