Source: Total Youth Football magazine

by Tim Beynon

Next month’s TYF will see the start of an exciting new three-part coaching series from the increasingly popular Brazilian Soccer Schools. The brainchild of founder and all-round extrovert, Simon Clifford, BSS and futebol de salao is now booming across the globe.

This month, and as a preview to the new series, he told us a little bit about of story behind the Brazilian dream. Sitting in the bar at Garforth Town FC – the club he owns – Simon Clifford is surrounded by books on Brian Clough and a much scribbled-upon film script. Sharing a table with a couple of his colleagues the Brazilian Soccer Schools founder is making a list of all his staff members and looking slightly harassed in the process.

Clifford is the football consultant on a forthcoming cinematic version of David Pearce’s excellent book, The Damned United, and, in a matter of weeks, he is having to find and train the film’s football playing cast. Based on the story of Clough’s 44-day reign at Leeds United in 1974, Clifford is giving his entire staff a part in the flick and is holding casting sessions for the remainder of the players. He even offers your humble Editor an opportunity to play for Man City which, not wanting to show up the rest of the cast, is reluctantly declined.

By Craig Chisnall

Garforth owner Simon Clifford grew up idolising Brian Clough – now he’s been charged with the task of helping a host of household names portray ‘Ol Big Ead’ on the silver screen.

Clifford is currently in charge of the choreography on the set of the film adaptation of David Peace’s book The Damned United – a fictional novel about Clough’s controversial 44-day reign at Elland Road in the 1970’s.

Leading British actors Michael Sheen, who played Tony Blair in Oscar-winning film The Queen plays Clough and Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent and Colm Meaney all have leading roles in the production, due for release next year.

Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) graduate Lauren Cheshire has been enjoying the attention of the national press after earning a scholarship to the Judson University in Chicago.

Lauren joined BSS Portsmouth four years ago and, while she could not afford to pay for her training fees, the 16-year old helped Head Coach Leon Edwards with freestyle coaching sessions.

The story is reminiscent of that of Bend It Like Beckham, and it was the 2002 film starring Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra that inspired the youngster to follow her dream of playing professional women's football.

Incidentally, the film was choreographed by Simon Clifford, founder of the BSS, and it was this link that first brought the organisation to Lauren's attention.