The 35-year-old joiner from Ilkeston says: “Like all Forest fans, I have a huge amount of respect for Mr Clough, and I’d been thinking for a while about how I could raise some money towards the statue. And given how the great man used to insist on his players having a sensible short back-and-sides, getting sponsored to have all my hair chopped off seemed like a fitting way of doing my bit.”
The organisers behind the Brian Clough Statue Fund are delighted by Liam’s exploits. Rich Fisher, a fund committee member, said: “It’s brilliant that Liam is prepared to go to such lengths – or to lose such lengths! –
to support the statue fund. I’m sure Mr Clough would have been pleased too, given his famous disdain for any players who wore their hair any longer than collar-length! “We hope people will be generous in their sponsorship of Liam, and we’d also be interested in hearing from anyone else who wants to help the fund by getting sponsored to do something – whether it’s getting their hair cut, or even running a marathon.”
The Brian Clough Statue fund was launched last year and aims to raise £60,000 for a lasting memorial to the former Nottingham Forest manager, to be located in a prominent location in Nottingham city centre.
The fund is supported and administered by Nottingham City Council. It is also backed by Nottingham Forest FC and the Nottingham Forest Supporters Club, and has the approval of Brian Clough’s family. The total amount raised so far currently stands at over £25,000, with much of the money having been raised through the sale of badges in the shape of Brian Clough’s famous green sweatshirt.
A date is yet been set for Liam’s big chop. However, anyone wanting to support his bid can do so by sending cheques, made payable to ‘Nottingham City Council – Brian Clough Statue Fund’, to The Brian Clough Statue Fund, c/o Paul J. Ellis, PKF Accountants & Business Advisers, Regent House, Clinton Avenue, Nottingham, NG5 1AZ.
Fans can also sponsor Liam online with a credit or debit card using the following form: