Nigel Clough, the new Derby County manager, will take his place in a dugout for the first time as a Coca-Cola Championship manager today, but will be back running the line for the Duffield Dynamos under-11 side in the Derby City League tomorrow morning.

Clough may have moved into the full-time game, having left Burton Albion this week, but his love of grassroots football will continue to dovetail into his family life. Every Sunday morning possible, he supports his son, William, from the touchline.

Derby defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday, when Clough was given a rapturous reception as he was presented at Pride Park, but once his new team have finished their demanding game away to Cardiff City, his thoughts will turn to his duties for William’s team.

The sons of two former Derby players, Gary Rowett and Darren Wassall, play in the same side and the famous fathers are not afraid to muck in. “I think Mr Rowett is in charge [referee] on Sunday,” Clough said. “We’ve been watching them for three years, but they’ve just gone into under-11s. When I’m doing the line I keep quiet, just do the job.”

Bystanders have been impressed by Clough’s ability to watch impassively — adhering neatly with the FA’s code of conduct for touchline parents — despite his managerial knowhow. Brian Clough, Nigel’s father and illustrious predecessor at Derby, used to offer similar support for AC Hunters, where his two sons — Simon also ran the team, Nigel sometimes the line — played. “It’s a bit of a throwback to those days and I really enjoy it,” Nigel said. “Unless Derby have a game on a Sunday, or I’ve got to go and watch one, I’ll keep doing the linesman duties.”

As Clough sets about trimming Derby’s top-heavy squad over the next few weeks, Wednesday’s performance confirmed that there is no lack of ability, from Kris Commons, the match-winner, to Paul Green and Miles Addison in the centre of midfield. In keeping with his father’s adage, his lack of knowledge about Cardiff should not be an insurmountable problem.

“I don’t know too much about the opposition but I will be emphasising to the players it’s about what they do,” he said. “It’s been a strange week, with sneaking a 4-3 victory at Forest Green [in the FA Cup] and then giving a magnificent performance to beat Manchester United. You could see the potential that’s there.”

As Derby’s new coaching staff — Gary Crosby, Martin Taylor and Andy Garner have followed the manager from Burton — set about finding their feet at Moor Farm, the club’s training ground, Clough placed their graduation into perspective. “The training ground here is about as big as the town of Burton,” he said. But do not expect the job to be too big for him.