I played for Nottingham Forest in Premier League and when I joined Brian Clough dropped his trousers in front of me
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are back in the big time, after winning promotion to the Premier League - 23 years since they last played in the top flight.
Kingsley Black, now 53, knows exactly what it's like to play for The Reds at the highest level - wearing the famous jersey from 1991 to 1996.
He scored in the Zenith Data Systems final against Southampton - securing a 3-2 win in 1992.
But, before he became a hero for the club, Black played for his hometown side Luton Town - winning a League Cup in 1988.
The legendary Brian Clough was impressed by his talents and paid £1.5million for the winger's services.
However, when it came to signing the paperwork for the deal - the ex-Forest manager chose a bizarre approach - first swapping watches with the midfielder, before asking to see his knees and then dropping his own trousers round his ankles.
"It all happened really quickly," Black told SunSport.
"(Luton manager) David Pleat phoned me up and told me I was going to sign for Forest the day before we were supposed to play on a Saturday.
"He picked me up about an hour later, and drove me to Northampton Post House, which was a restaurant and hotel.
'All of a sudden, Cloughie walks in wearing that famous green jumper. And he's got such a presence about him. We sit down and we're in this open plan foyer - there's people paying their bills and checking in around us.
Most read in Sport
"We're chatting away, then he asks to see my knees. So I stand up and roll my trousers up and he starts inspecting my knees. Then he asks, 'Would you like to see my knees?'
"Of course I know the right thing to say is 'Yes', even though I'm not really sure. And I'm aware that his career was cut short by a knee injury, so I have to be polite.
"But instead of doing what I did and rolling up his legs, he stood up and dropped his trousers round his ankles! I couldn't believe it.
"After picking them off the floor, he then he says to me, 'I really like your watch.' And I'm thinking you really don't, it's a cheap £10 timepiece. So he has this idea of swapping watches.
"During the negotiations I was wearing his gold rotary watch and he was wearing mine that cost about a tenner!
"The negotiations went on and the secretary who was there was writing things down, and I was handed a contract - which was a completely blank piece of paper.
"I made a quick decision if I was going to trust anyone, it was going to be him.
"I signed this blank piece of paper, and he told me to come to the ground with my dad and we'll go through the formalities.
"Forest were playing Oldham the following day at the City Ground, I've gone in with my dad and we went into Cloughie's office.
"There on the table was the contract, with everything we had agreed written on it, but there was one thing I saw when I checked through it.
"He had given me a little bit extra for a car allowance. That's when he told me why. 'That's because you trusted me,' he said. It was a test and a trust exercise."
Black, who now divides his time with partner Annétte in Hampshire and Mallorca, was one of many footballers who played in the era when the Premier League was born.
And he was in the Forest side that took on Tottenham Hotspur in Sky's first ever televised game.
"At the time we didn't really know what the Premier League was going to become," Black explained.
"Sky was nowhere near as big as it has become - so I don't suppose any of us really knew what was happening. For me, it was just a rebranding.
"But I remember back to that first game - and there was a delay in starting the match. Apparently, the cameras weren't ready and we had to wait five minutes to walk out the tunnel!"
90s era Forest had its stars decorating its first eleven. England left-back Stuart Pearce was captain, Teddy Sheringham led the line, while a young Roy Keane was beginning to make his name in the game.
"(Keane) was fabulous to play alongside," Black said.
"When he was at Forest, because he had that power and pace, he played more as an attacking midfielder and was able to bomb on.
"At Manchester United his game changed, he became the holder. But he was much quicker than people realised.
"He also had a brilliant football brain, and his speed of thought on the pitch was amazing."
Playing under Clough, though, was a highlight for Black, who revealed how he inspired players with his legendary team talks.
"He was the master of reverse psychology," he said.
"If you were winning a game 3-0 at half-time, he might have a go at you to keep you motivated.
"But if you were losing, he would do the opposite. It was a different approach to what was happening, but he was always encouraging and understood to get the best out of someone you have to know what makes them tick.
"Although we didn't need much motivation because we were playing for one of the greatest managers of all time. You were always trying to impress him."
Black played 98 times for Forest, scoring 14 goals. He still manages to get to the City Ground and is hopeful the club can enjoy a new era in the Premier League.
"I still feel very much part of the Forest family, after spending five years there," he told us.
"I'd been up to Nottingham as a guest at the club, and I was delighted they managed to achieve promotion.
"They are back where they hopefully get to stay for a long time. What I get from the current side is they are very much a team who works hard for one another.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
"I think that's the sort of thing that can really help you in your first season.
"I've got my fingers crossed for next season."