Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough FC is a professional football club from the town of the same name in the North Riding of Yorkshire, that was formed in 1876 to keep the players of Middlesbrough Cricket Club, on the estuary of the River Tees fit in the winter.

Middlesbrough began life playing in Albert Park before moving two years later to Breckon Hill. In 1882 the club moved into the Linthorpe Road Ground where Middlesbrough CC played before they headed off to Breckon Hill.

The club became founder members of the Northern League in 1889, going on to be crowned as champions in 1893-94 and 1894-95 after a couple of runners-up finishes. The second success coincided with victory in the final of the FA Amateur Cup as Old Carthusians were defeated 2-1 at Headingley.

This was after the club actually played second fiddle in the town. Between 1889 and 1894 some members of Middlesbrough FC wanted a professional club and thus formed Middlesbrough Ironopolis FC.

'The Nops' or 'Washers' as they were nicknamed, played at the Paradise Ground which was adjacent to the future Ayresome Park. However, gate receipts were not sufficient to cover the players wages as the club were disbanded, resigning their Football League place that was held for the 1893-94 season.

Meanwhile, a third Northern League title was collected by Middlesbrough in 1896-97 which was followed up by a runner-up place twelve months later. This was compensated by the regaining of the Amateur Cup with a 2-1 win against Uxbridge at Crystal Palace.

In 1899-00 Middlesbrough were admitted into Division Two of the Football League under manager Jack Robson. In 1903 the club moved into the new larger Ayresome Park ground taking a grandstand with them from their previous home.

‘The Boro’ won promotion to Division One in 1901-02 prior to forward Alf Common being signed from Sunderland for a record fee of £1,000 in 1905. Thomas H. McIntosh managed the team to third place in the 1913-14 season.

After a spell under the leadership of James Howie, Herbert Bamlett was in charge when the side was relegated in 1923-24. Peter McWilliam was appointed as manager, leading Boro to the Division Two title in 1926-27.

Their spell in the top flight lasted just one season. However, Middlesbrough recovered to win the second division championship to return at the first attempt in 1928-29. England international George Camsell finished top scorer for ten consecutive years around this period.

Towards the end of the 1930’s Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick broke into the team at the start of stellar careers under manager Wilf Gillow. David Jack, the scorer of the first ever goal at Wembley Stadium took over as manager between 1944 and 1952.

Walter Rowley couldn’t prevent his side from being relegated in 1953-54 as he was replaced in the manager’s seat by Bob Dennison. Another local youngster, Brian Clough broke into the team and made his mark with his scoring prowess.

Boro finished fourth in the second division season of 1962-63 before they were relegated to Division Three in 1965-66. Stalwart coach Harold Shepherdson steadied the ship before handing over to Stan Anderson who took the team to promotion as runners-up in 1966-67.

Middlesbrough pushed for promotion, with several fourth place finishes with Willie Maddren, David Mills and John Hickton among the star players prior to Jack Charlton taking over as manager in May 1973.

The former World Cup winner led Boro to the Division Two title in 1973-74 with Graeme Souness controlling the midfield, action of which can be seen here. In 1975-76 the team reached the semi-final of the League Cup, going out to Manchester City, as well as winning the Anglo-Scottish Cup against Fulham.

Craig Johnston was introduced into the side in 1977 by new manager John Neal whose side reached the sixth round of the FA Cup in 1977-78 and had a series of mid-table league finishes before being relegated in 1981-82 after Bobby Murdock took over as manager before serious financial troubles hit the club.

Attendances plummeted as the local region suffered during a period of high unemployment as industries shut down with Ayresome Park becoming a dangerous place to visit as an away team supporter.

Malcolm Allison had a couple of years in charge of the team but couldn’t stem the tide. Charlton returned but only lasted a few months. Former player Maddren faired little better and departed before the Boro were relegated to Division Three in 1985-86 shortly after Bruce Rioch had been appointed as manager.

In April 1986 the club had to borrow £30,000 from the PFA to pay wages. That summer, the club called in the Provisional Liquidator and shortly afterwards, the club was wound up with the gates to Ayresome Park being padlocked.

Without the £350,000 capital required for FL registration, a new rule, it seemed inevitable that the club would fold permanently. However, Steve Gibson, a member of the board at the time, brought together a consortium and with ten minutes to spare before the deadline, they completed their registration with the Football League for the 1986-87 season.

The club crest and official company name to Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Club (1986) Ltd were put in place. The Boro had to start the following season at The Victoria Ground, Hartlepool until the paperwork was concluded.

Rioch did a fine job as the team were promoted at the end of the 1986-87 campaign with Bernie Slaven hammering in the goals. In 1987-88 Boro with defenders Gary Pallister and Tony Mowbray forming a formidable partnership reached the play-offs alongside fellow local lads Colin Cooper, Stuart Ripley and Gary Parkinson.

Bradford City and then Chelsea were defeated as the side returned to the top flight. Mark Proctor was added to the side that went back down twelve months later. Colin Todd took charge for the 1990-91 season taking the team to the play-offs where Boro lost to Notts County in the semi-finals.

Lennie Lawrence replaced Todd, taking the team up as well reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup in 1991-92 where Manchester United proved too strong. Promotion meant that Middlesbrough became founder members of the Premier League for the 1992-93 season.

The end of Ayresome Park

However, their membership lasted just one season. The 1993-94 campaign would be one full of history, as former England captain Bryan Robson was appointed as player-manager in their final season at Ayresome Park.

Boro were crowned as champions in a side containing Nigel Pearson, Steve Vickers, Viv Anderson, Robbie Mustoe, Craig Hignett, John Hendrie, Uwe Fuchs and Jan Åge Fjørtoft. At the end of the season the club moved into the newly built Riverside Stadium on unused former industrial land on the banks of the Tees.

The squad was bolstered for their return to the Premier League with the signings of Juninho and Nick Barmby which was rewarded with a twelfth place finish. The arrivals of Mark Schwarzer, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Gianluca Festa and Emerson put down a statement of intent for the 1996-97 campaign.

Boro reached the final of the League Cup, losing 1-0 after extra time to Leicester City in a replay at Hillsborough. The team also reached the FA Cup final after an amazing semi-final against Chesterfield to go down 2-0 to Chelsea at Wembley. Despite their cup exploits, Boro were relegated before returning at the first attempt in 1997-98 after star players flew the nest.

The additions of Paul Gascoigne and Paul Merson gave the squad a boost which was built on with ninth place in the 1998-99 Premier League campaign. Alen Bokšić and Paul Ince were the latest big signings as Terry Venables joined Robson in the second half of the 2000-01 campaign.

Steve McClaren was appointed as Middlesbrough manager in June 2001 with the side consolidating in mid-table for a couple of seasons with Massimo Maccarone, Jonathan Greening, Joseph-Désiré Job and Gareth Southgate starring.

The club lifted their first major honour in 2003-04 as Gaizka Mendieta, George Boateng, Franck Queudrue and returning hero Juninho helped the team to the League Cup with Job and Boudewijn Zenden scoring to defeat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium.

A seventh place the following season led to an amazing UEFA Cup adventure in 2005-06 after the acquisition of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Yakubu, Fábio Rochemback, Ugo Ehiogu and Doriva were added to local lads such as Stewart Downing and Stuart Parnaby.

VfB Stuttgart, AS Roma, FC Basel and then Steaua Bucharest in a remarkable last four clash which is described here by legendary local commentator Ali Brownlee. Sevilla FC were a step too far in the final at Eindhoven’s Philips Stadion as Boro went down 4-0.

The season also saw the team reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup where they lost to West Ham United. McClaren departed to take the England manager’s job to be replaced by Southgate who was aided by the goals of Mark Viduka.

The 2008-09 season saw Boro relegated as Tuncay topped the scoring chart. Gordon Strachan was appointed as manager in October 2010, lasting a year until he was replaced by former player Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray did a fine job for the first two seasons of his three years in charge with a tight budget and low crowds but he paid the price in October 2013 after the season had begun with just two wins. The club appointed their first foreign manager as his replacement; Jose Mourinho's former assistant at Real Madrid, Aitkor Karanka.

In his first few months Karanka sorted the defence out in readiness for a more open approach in 2014-15. Indeed, the team played some fine football as the crowds flocked back to the Riverside.

Goals from Kike and performances from Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford fired Boro to the play-offs. Brentford were disposed of in the semi-finals before they went down 2-0 to Norwich City at Wembley to fall just short.

Players such as Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Ben Gibson, Emilio Nsue, David Nugent, Cristhian Stuani, Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton alongside the returning Downing helped Boro to promotion as runners-up in 2015-16.

Middlesbrough lasted just one Premier League campaign, with Steve Agnew sitting in for the sacked Karanka before the season’s end prior to the appointment of Gary Monk who lasted six months before Tony Pulis came in as his replacement.

The 2017-18 season ended in semi-final play-off defeat to Aston Villa. Britt Assombalonga continued to score the goals before Jonathan Woodgate, another example of the loyalty to local lads from chairman Gibson, took over as manager in June 2019.

After a disappointing league finish Neil Warnock was appointed as manager in June 2020 securing survival in the late running campaign owing to Covid-19, before leading them to tenth spot in his first season. He remained at the helm until the appointment of Chris Wilder in November 2021.

Seventh place ensued in 2021-22, before the arrival of new boss Leo Percovich who lasted just twenty-one days in October 2022. Michael Carrick came in as his successor to rebuild a side that began to produce some quality football. He took the side to the playoffs where they lost in the semifinal to Coventry City.

The 2023-24 season saw Boro reach the semifinals of the League Cup, where Chelsea proved to be too strong.

Middlesbrough FC will play in the EFL Championship in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Middlesbrough Reserves 2 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 16th March 1968) North Riding Senior Cup semi-final (att: 1,200)

Dad told me he took me in a car as a nipper for my first ever visit to Ayresome Park to watch Scarborough play in the county cup competition. Naturally enough, as an under three year old I don't have too many recollections of the outing!

Middlesbrough 1 Hull City 2 (League Division Two) Saturday 22nd March 1986 (att: 6,227)

This was a game I wasn't massively looking forward to going to as the season progressed despite the still Tigers having an outside chance of promotion while Boro looked like dropping down a division in front of desperately low crowds. 

I had seen the floodlights lots of times from the A19 but not been into Middlesbrough apart from a rare day out with the family. Middlesbrough had a terrible hooligan reputation at the time, especially for the carrying of knives. 

They were not best friends with a section of the Hull City support and there had been bother between them for a few seasons. I travelled on the supporters coach from Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough and for a change I was glad that the bus dropped us near to our gates. 

Going for a beer was well out of the equation. We were in an open corner terracing which had the rear fenced off. Ayresome Park was in a terrible state to say it had been selected to play host to some games in the 1966 World Cup. 

To the right was the large seated East Stand with a small disused paddock at the front. Another corner section followed it similar to the one we were in. This led round to the North or Main Stand which had two tiers of seats. 

Two more similar corner sections were at the far end with the covered terrace Holgate End in the centre. Finally the South Stand was down our touchline. This had seats at the rear with terracing at the front.

The Boro "casuals" were in the end section of the South Stand seats and the atmosphere was pretty dire and menacing as City ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Andy Flounders and Frankie Bunn, which flattered the home side greatly. 

I was not upset to get back on the coach and get onto the dual carriageway with everything intact. Having no physical scars was just as welcome as the three points.

England Under 21s 4 Belgium Under 21s 0 (Wednesday 29th February 2012) European Championship Qualifier (att: 22,647)

Having passed The Riverside Stadium on several occasions before I moved to London from Scarborough, in vehicles on the A66, I was eager to attend a game as my interest in doing the 92 league grounds had been relighted. 

My shift pattern working for London Underground meant that after working seven nights, I got the following two days off. After studying the fixtures and my days off I decided I could visit my Dad and go to a new ground as well.

A sale of rooms at Travelodge around the time the England Under 21s fixture was announced along with value for money tickets added to the attraction. Dad was keen for an evening out, and when he confirmed I booked our tickets online. I thought they represented great value at £10 for me and £5 for a pensioner.

The weather was simply stunning for the time of year. The previous day we had enjoyed a lovely walk around Pickering and Thornton Dale and we were ready to implement the plans I'd put together on matchday. 

The game was to kick off at 6pm so it didn't clash with the full international clash between England and Holland, which was ironically taking place at a stadium within view of my front door. The early kick off offered us plenty of scope to take full advantage of our time.

We took a packed bus to Whitby, where we had an hour to kill. This was no problem as the stunning town always brightened our mood. We took a walk along the pier and then returned with fine Botham's pies to catch the 12.40 train to Middlesbrough on The Esk Valley Line. 

I had wanted to ride the full line having only ever been as far as Egton Bridge at the time. It had been one of those days we often talked about planning with Mum, but sadly never got round to doing it.

The sun started shining as we reached the peak of the track at Battersby, with the ride into Middlesbrough quite exciting me for what lied ahead. We found our hotel, but the system installed didn't allow us to check in until 3pm, so we went for a walk up Linthorpe Road to the new Wetherspoon's pub; Swatters Carr. 

This wasn't far away from the old Ayresome Park ground and it had one of the old turnstiles inside as well as some glorious old black and white photos of former club heroes and the area. It had only been opened a few weeks previously by old Boro legend Colin Cooper and was most impressive. Dad was a big fan of the establishment.

We didn't have long to hang around, as we had plans before the match. We went back and dropped off our bags and then walked quickly back to the station for the ten minute train ride along the Tees to Redcar. 

Our idea was to have a sea front walk and a meal at The Plimsoll Line before returning for kick off. However, things didn't go exactly to plan. The waterfront at Redcar was in the middle of huge developments, which made viewing and walking on the front difficult. 

We also missed the pub with a wrong turning. Instead my IPhone app came to the rescue as I discovered there was a train back within ten minutes. We left vowing to return a year or so later to see the new look.

Once back in Boro we went straight to The Isaac Wilson for a great value meal. Many don't rate Wetherspoon houses or turn their noses up at them, but we couldn't see the point of paying more for the same food and beer, which was often not of the same guaranteed 'Spoons standards.

We set off to The Riverside, taking the directions we'd been advised of. We honestly envisaged walking down a soulless industrial road along wasteland. What a pleasant surprise was in store for us. 

Admittedly the setting sun always makes anywhere look at its best, but the walkways by the College and by the dock were excellently designed. The old Tuxedo Princess floating nightclub was on the banks of the Tees awaiting to be scrapped with the famous old Transporter Bridge offering a dramatic backdrop.

We continued round to the front of the stadium and saw the statues of Boro heroes George Hardwick and Wilf Mannion as well as the old gates from Ayresome Park. We walked round to find our turnstiles and entered the stadium so we could enjoy the build up. 

Everything about the place had impressed us, and our seats certainly didn't let us down. I had chosen wisely. We were on the end of a row and half way up the upper tier near to the half way line offering a perfect view.

The stadium was all seated with three sides pretty much the same. The two continuous tiers were separated by entrances and exits which were inobtrusive and didn't take away many spaces. The stands all joined up in one sweep and the fourth side had a large lower deck and then a row of corporate boxes. 

Another large tier sat atop it including the executive facilities. The attendance figure was very impressive and because of the sensible kick off time it allowed many youngsters to attend. It helped add to the atmosphere as the teams walked out.

The sides were equally matched in the early stages until Henri Lansbury saw the Belgian keeper off his line. He fired in the shot from around thirty five yards from out on the touch line in a moment of sheer genius. 

After that the teams played excellent football on the floor. If the visitors could have taken their opportunities they could well have been ahead, but England's lead was doubled when Stephen Caulker headed home from a well rehearsed corner move.

Man of the match Lansbury scored his second before going off, as Belgium's forwards continued to be wasteful after much good build up play. Their defence was continually under pressure from the excellent Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain who seemed to be everywhere. 

The general play was first class as they linked up like a club side as they interchanged positions seamlessly. Keeper Jack Butland made sure the clean sheet was kept intact with a brilliant piece of goalkeeping as he thwarted the forward who tried to go around him.  

The home side kept going and in the 94th minute they added a fourth after Oxlaide-Chamberlain tormented a defender into bringing him down. He got up and dispatched the penalty with the final kick of the game. It was a first class performance.

We walked back to our hotel and had the TV on before the half hour was up in the senior international. Reasonably encouraged by the comeback from Stuart Pearce's temporary charges we headed back to the pre match pub. 

Although the ale was fine, there was hardly anyone in so the atmosphere was resembling of a morgue. Instead we headed for the Lloyds Bar; The Resolution. It was probably a bit loud for my Dad but the ale was very good. 

We certainly didn't expect to be trying beer from the Yeovil Brewery in Middlesbrough! We grabbed some chicken for supper to round off what had been a fun filled day. After a fine breakfast wrap in the Wilson the following morning it was time for me to say goodbye and head back to London for my afternoon shift. Dad went his own way on the bus down the coast.

I had been very impressed by Middlesbrough. It had always been an easy target for mickey taking because of its heavy industry and chemical filled skies. However, we found a regenerated town with imaginative design, a good town centre and most importantly of all, some nice warm people.

  
The photos of Ayresome Park have been taken from various sources on the internet.