In contrast, Clough's managerial style was good football ("If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there" is a famous Clough-ism) and gentlemanly behaviour on and off the pitch. Clough built his reputation with this management style whilst he was in charge at Derby County. The film moves back and forth between his time at Leeds and this highly successfully spell at the Midlands' club. We see here his Derby side taking on Revie's brutal Leeds in their first year in the first division. Amazingly, despite having just been promoted, Derby would go onto win the league, just pipping Leeds themselves to the title.