THESE are high times for Nottingham Forest – and John Clarke hopes his beloved Down can follow suit to make it a year to remember.
The former Mourne County forward is a season ticket holder at the City Ground and, after so many years in the doldrums, has enjoyed watching Nuno Espirito Santo’s side rise to third in the Premier League – just six points off leaders Liverpool.
“Four years ago we were sitting bottom of the Championship, things were doom and gloom, but now we’re flying high,” smiles Clarke, who was over for Sunday’s 3-2 win over Southampton.
“I first took an interest in them in the late ‘80s, they won the League Cup in ‘89, then there was Brian Clough, Roy Keane came on the scene a few years later… it’s been tough enough at times since, so you have to enjoy the good times when they’re here.”
Forest were relegated from England’s top flight in 1993, the year before Pete McGrath led Down to Sam Maguire, following on from the All-Ireland success of 1991.
However, a bit like Forest, there hasn’t been much to cheer in the years between – with Clarke involved in the only Down side since to reach an All-Ireland final, in 2010, as the Mournemen have slipped off Gaelic football’s top table.
However, the last few seasons under Conor Laverty have offered green shoots of recovery. Clarke’s brother Marty, who supports Forest’s rivals Derby County, has been part of the Kilcoo man’s backroom team as promotion from Division Three, and Tailteann Cup success, was earned at the second time of asking.
On Sunday they make the long trek to promotion favourites Roscommon for their opening outing in the second tier, and Clarke feels last year’s breakthrough has already taken some of the heat off.
“They will know how important it is to hit the ground running.
“There’s probably less pressure on Down this year, where the last two years, to get out of Division Three, you had to win probably 90 per cent of your games… there was very little margin for error.
“I think Down supporters would be a happy with a mid-table finish, staying up, but if they can get off to a good start promotion definitely isn’t out of the question – Division Two is very open this year, a lot of counties will take points off each other.
“There’s been steady progress since Conor came in, obviously it would be great to get another promotion but most people would be happy with a solid campaign and then build from there, get a bit of confidence going into the Ulster Championship then see what they can do in the All-Ireland series.
“If they can consolidate their position this year, that would be a good achievement.”
Laverty, like the Clarke brothers, was also on James McCartan’s 2010 panel – and so too was Mark Doran, who will be plotting against his native county at Dr Hyde Park.
The Longstone man has hooked up with Davy Burke’s Rossies this year, having been involved when Oisin McConville’s Wicklow lost out to Down in the Division Three opener 12 months ago.
“It’ll be interesting because Mark knows Down football inside out, he goes to a lot of games in Down, knows a lot of the players, he’ll know a lot about how Down have been playing during Conor’s reign as well.
“It’ll give Roscommon a good insight into how Down will set up, and it will be a tough test, but this is the level they want to be competing at.”
The new rules, and which counties have adapted best in the short-term, will have a major bearing on this weekend’s action too.
For Clarke, who has taken charge of Down Division Four club Teconnaught, the real test will be how the rules are implemented at club level.
“In a way it’s exciting that these changes are coming in, but I just fear there’s going to be a lot of trial and error – I fear for referees at club level, especially down the divisions.
“It’s going to take time, managers are going to make mistakes, players are going to make mistakes, refs are going to make mistakes, so there’s a lot of adapting to be done.
“The county season will be a good base for club teams to look at what’s happening and what’s working, but it’ll take time for players to get their head around.”
