by Greig Watson BBC News Online, East Midlands

Brian Clough led both Derby County and Nottingham Forest to success

Around 14,000 braved rain and wind to attend the memorial service at Derby County's Pride Park stadium.

The event had been scheduled to take place at Derby Cathedral but was moved due to the high demand from fans.

Clough, who died of stomach cancer last month at the age of 69, took Derby and Nottingham Forest from humble positions to league and European glory.

As well as prayers, hymns and Bible readings, Clough was remembered with poems and pop tunes.

Clips of Clough in characteristically abrasive or flamboyant mood were played on a giant screen, and friends and family paid tribute.

The advertising boards at the side of the pitch were covered in shirts and scarves, not just from Derby and Nottingham Forest but clubs from around the country.

Feared and Admired I think he would have been insulted to be summed up in three volumes Martin O'Neill, Former Nottingham Forest Player In pictures: Clough memorial

Sporting celebrities like Celtic manager and former Forest player Martin O'Neill, family friend Geoffrey Boycott and World Cup referee Clive Thomas, related their memories to the crowd.

Others, like Ex-England manger Bobby Robson and Manchester United captain Roy Keane, were among the audience.

Mr O'Neill said: "Of course, his family knew him best but I am often asked what was the magic, the secret, the quintessence of the man.

"Many who knew him little said that it was fear, but [his players] said they could hardly have achieved so much with fear being the motivating factor.

"Personally, he scared the life out of me."

He added: "I was asked in an interview to sum up Brian in three words.

"I think he would have been insulted to be summed up in three volumes."

Geoffrey Boycott, a family friend, said: "There were two sides to Brian. People who thought he was all talk, brash and outspoken did not really know him. He was also a warm, generous person with a heart of gold.

"He was a rare and special friend, funny and amusing. As a football manager he was a charismatic, eccentric maverick.

But he had that rare gift for understanding people and getting the best out of them."

Wet Pitch We hope he's sat up there with friends in the sunshine, looking down and saying 'Look at those daft buggers sitting in the rain' Nigel Clough

The choir of Derby Cathedral sang the hymn "The Lord's My Shepherd", while Clough's favourite songs - "Days" by Kirsty McColl and "Cycles" by Frank Sinatra were also played.

Son Nigel thanked the service's organisers and crowd for turning out and added: "I'm sure he's going to have a bit of input upstairs about who's running the show up there.

"We hope he's sat up there with friends in the sunshine, looking down and saying 'Look at those daft buggers sitting in the rain'."

And the thousands who came were equally warm in their praise.

Barry and Christine Baynes from Spondon, Derbyshire, said: "He took two small clubs and made them successful and proud.

"He had his own style certainly but even those people who didn't like that had to admit he was a man of talent and a manager of genius."

John Lane from Derby said: "Here was a man worthy of respect.

"He believed in himself but he also believed in other people and, perhaps most important, they believed in him."

Fans were invited to make donations to the Brian Clough Memorial Fund, recently set up in his memory.