Middlesbrough F.C.

Middlesbrough F.C.
Full name Middlesbrough Football Club
Nickname(s) The Boro, Smoggies
Founded 1876
Ground Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough
England
(Capacity: 35,100[1])
Chairman Flag of England Steve Gibson
Manager Flag of England Gareth Southgate
League Premier League
2007–08 Premier League, 13th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away colours
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Middlesbrough Football Club, also known as 'The Boro', are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Premier League. Formed in 1876, they have played at the 35,100 capacity Riverside Stadium since August 1995,[1] their third ground since turning professional in 1889. They were founding members of the Premier League in 1992.[2] The club's main rivals are Newcastle United and Sunderland.[3]

The club's highest league finish to date was third in the 1913–14 season and they have only spent two seasons outside of the Football League's top two divisions.[4] The club came close to folding in 1986 after experiencing severe financial difficulties before the club was saved by a consortium led by then board member and current chairman Steve Gibson.[2] Middlesbrough were controversially deducted three points for failing to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn Rovers during the 1996–97 Premier League season and were subsequently relegated.[5] They were promoted the following season and are now in their eleventh consecutive season in the top division.[2] Middlesbrough won the League Cup in 2004, the club's first and only major trophy.[6] The manager is former captain Gareth Southgate who was appointed on 7 June 2006.[7]

The club's traditional kit is red with white detailing. A white band across the chest, initially introduced in the 1970s,[8] has returned following a vote by the fans.[9] The various crests throughout the club history, the most recent of which was adopted in May 2007,[10] incorporate a lion rampant.

Contents

History

Main article: History of Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough's finishing positions since entry to the Football League

The football club was originally formed by Middlesbrough Cricket team players so they could stay fit during the winter. They won the FA Amateur Cup in 1895 and again in 1898. The club turned professional in 1889, but reverted to amateur status in 1892.[4] They turned professional permanently in 1899.[11] After three seasons, they won promotion to the First Division, where they would remain for the next 22 years.[4]

In 1903, the club moved to Ayresome Park, their home for the next 92 years. In 1905, the club sanctioned the transfer of Alf Common for £1,000, a record fee.[12] Over the next few years, their form fluctuated greatly, rising to sixth in 1907–08 before dropping to seventeenth two seasons later. The club rose to their highest league finish to date, third, in 1913–14.[13] The First World War soon intervened and football was suspended.

Before competitive football resumed, Middlesbrough won the Northern Victory League, but the team were unable to maintain their previous form and finished the 1919–20 season in mid-table. They remained in the First Division for the next few seasons, but were relegated in 1923–24 after finishing bottom, ten points adrift of their nearest rivals.[14] Three seasons later, they won the Division Two title. During that season, debutant George Camsell, who had signed from Third Division North side Durham City the previous season, finished with a record 59 league goals, which included nine hat tricks. He would continue as top scorer for each of the next ten seasons.[15] Their tenure back in the top flight lasted only one season, and the club were relegated. They were promoted at the first attempt in 1928–29, winning another Second Division title. The club remained in the First Division until 1954.

The decade before the war saw the emergence of Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick, both of whom would go on to become England internationals in the years ahead. Middlesbrough climbed to fourth in the last full season before the Second World War and were expected to challenge for the title next season, but the war intervened.[4] After the war, the club was unable to recover the form of the previous seasons and hovered around mid-table and exited in the early rounds of the FA Cup. Soon afterwards the team began to falter, eventually suffering relegation in 1953–54. This was the start of a 20-year spell outside the top division, but saw the emergence of one of the club's top goalscorers, Brian Clough, who scored 204 goals in 222 games, before he left for Sunderland.[16] Over that period, Middlesbrough maintained reasonable progress in the Second Division but were never serious contenders for promotion. After a fourth place finish in 1962–63, the club endured a steady decline and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1966.

New manager Stan Anderson returned the club to the second flight at the first attempt. Middlesbrough would not finish below ninth during the next eight seasons.[14] By 1974, Jack Charlton had taken over as manager and guided the team back to the top flight. They ensured promotion as early as 23 March, and with eight games of the season left, they became runaway champions, finishing with a record 65 points.[17] Middlesbrough won their first silverware as a professional side in the 1975–76 season, lifting the Anglo-Scottish Cup in its inaugural season after a two-legged final win over Fulham.[18]

The club experienced severe financial difficulties during the mid-1980s. Middlesbrough were dropping down the table, and finished nineteenth in the 1984–85 season. In April 1986 the club had to borrow £30,000 from the PFA to pay wages. The final game of the season saw Middlesbrough relegated to the Third Division once more.[4] That summer, the club called in the Provisional Liquidator and shortly afterwards, the club was wound up and the gates to Ayresome Park were padlocked. Without the £350,000 capital required for Football League registration, a new rule, it seemed inevitable that the club would fold permanently.[19] 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.[20] Following the registration came both a change of club crest and a change of the official company name to Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Club (1986) Ltd.[21]

Over the next two seasons, Middlesbrough gained successive promotions into Division Two and then into Division One. The next season though, they came straight back down to Division Two, and with it came the then British transfer record move of Gary Pallister to Manchester United for £2.3 million.[22] Despite constant promotion and relegation, Middlesbrough were founder members of the FA Premier League for the 1992–93 season.[23]

Player-manager Bryan Robson, from Manchester United, took charge in 1994 and Middlesbrough were brought back into national attention.[24] Following promotion to the Premier League and high-profile purchases like diminutive Brazilian Juninho, many considered Middlesbrough were on the way up.[25] However, a difficult 1996–97 season was compounded by a deduction of three points imposed just after Christmas, as punishment for the club's failure to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn, which ultimately resulted in relegation.[5] Without the points deduction, the club would have had enough points to avoid relegation. At the same time, the club managed to reach both the League and FA cup finals for the first time, but lost out in both. They were again runners up in the League Cup final the next year too, despite being in the second tier.[21]

Despite losing high profile players Fabrizio Ravanelli, Juninho and Nick Barmby due to relegation, Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premiership at the first attempt in 1998. The following season saw them settle well and they enjoyed a 12-game unbeaten run midway through 1998–99, including a 3–2 win at Old Trafford in January during which they took a 3–0 lead. It was United's only home defeat during their treble winning season. They continued to stay secure in midtable the following season, thanks mainly to the goals of Hamilton Ricard and the signings of big name players such as Paul Ince and Christian Ziege. In 2000–01 they had a brief relegation scare that was solved with the arrival of Terry Venables as co-manager, and a 3–0 win away at Arsenal in March was the team's best result. The trend of buying European stars continued with the acquisitions of Christian Karembeu and Alen Boksic.

Bryan Robson left the club before the start of 2001–02 season, having served as manager for 7 years, and was replaced by Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren. The following seasons saw Premiership security maintained as Middlesbrough slowly improved and were seen as a tough side to beat when playing at the Riverside Stadium.

The 2004 League Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium.

The 2003–04 season was the most successful in the club's history as they finally won a major trophy after beating Bolton 2–1 in the League Cup final under manager Steve McClaren.[6] This success also ensured that Middlesbrough would qualify for Europe — the UEFA Cup — for the first time, in which they reached the last 16. UEFA cup qualification was achieved for the second consecutive year after a dramatic 1–1 away draw with Manchester City thanks to a late penalty save from Mark Schwarzer in the last game of the season.[26]

On 27 April 2006, Middlesbrough reached the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven, following two comebacks from 3–0 down.[27][28] However, the team lost 4–0 to Sevilla.[29] Following the cup final, McClaren left to head up the England team, and captain Gareth Southgate took over, despite not having the coaching qualifications, but he was allowed to continue after receiving special dispensation.[30] During the 2007–08 season, Southgate broke Middlesbrough's record transfer fee, paying £12 million for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.[31] Southgate's managerial career so far has seen the club finish in twelfth and thirteenth places, while twice reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Colours and crest

Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Early Middlesbrough F.C. kit[32]

Middlesbrough's original home kit upon election to the Football League in 1899 was a white home shirt with blue shorts and they did not adopt their colours of red and white until later that season.[33] Previous kits included a white shirt with a blue and white polka dotted collar from around 1889. The Middlesbrough kit has remained broadly the same over the years with a red shirt and socks and either red or white shorts. The distinctive broad white stripe across the chest was introduced by Jack Charlton in 1973 (following an attempt to change the home shirt to a Leeds United-style white shirt) and brought back for a one-off in 1997–98 and then again for the 2000–01 and 2004–05 seasons due to popular demand.[8] The club subsequently announced in December 2007 that the club would allow the fans to decide via an online and text vote whether the white band should return for the following season.[34] On 8 January 2008 the club announced that the white band was to return, with 77.4% of voters voting in its favour, with the fans to choose the final shirt design from a selection of three designs,[9] of which the winner was announced on 7 May 2008.[35]

The Middlesbrough crest has gone through four changes since the formation of the club. Initially, the badge was simply the town of Middlesbrough's crest with a red lion instead of a blue lion in order to fit in with the club's colours. Following the adoption of the white band on the shirts in 1973, only the red lion remained with the letters "M.F.C" underneath in red. This was further adapted following the reformation of the club in 1986 to a circular crest with the lion in the middle and the words "Middlesbrough Football Club 1986" around the circle in order to reflect this new era. In 2007, Middlesbrough changed their crest once again, this time with the lion inside a shield and the words "Middlesbrough Football Club 1876" underneath.[10] The club stated that this was to reflect the club's long history and not just their post-liquidation status.[10]

The kit is produced by Errea and is only available in the UK from the official club shops and Middlesbrough's online store.[36] The club's shirt sponsor was announced on 20 July 2007 as satellite navigation device manufacturers Garmin.[37][38] This contract has since been extended until the end of the 2008–09 season in a deal described as "the biggest in the club's history".[39]

Stadia

The Riverside Stadium in 2006, with the old gates to Ayresome Park in the foreground.
Main articles: Ayresome Park and Riverside Stadium

After formation in 1876, and with the club still amateurs, Middlesbrough's first two years of football were played at Albert Park in Middlesbrough. After seeing the damage being caused by players and supporters, the Park Committee ordered the club to find an alternate venue. The club moved to Breckon Hill, behind the present-day Middlesbrough College, after agreeing to rent the land from its owner. However, two years later in 1880, the owner increased the rent and the club decided to move. They moved into the Linthorpe Road Ground in 1882, home at the time of Middlesbrough Cricket Club. The cricket club departed in 1893–94 to move to the Breckon Hill field, and Middlesbrough Football Club became sole users of the ground.[40]

With the club's growing size, and entry to the Football League, they had to move to a new ground in 1903, Ayresome Park.[2] It was designed by Archibald Leitch and would be the club's home for the next 92 years. Following the Taylor Report in 1990, the ground either needed modernising or the club needed a new stadium. The club decided on the latter, and moved out at the end of the 1994–95 season. It was used as a training ground during 1995–96, before it was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place.[40] The club now trains at a £7 million complex at Rockliffe Park, in Hurworth, on the outskirts of Darlington.[41]

The Riverside Stadium, named by the supporters of the club after a vote, became the club's home in 1995. It was the first stadium to be built in line with the Taylor Report's recommendations on all-seater stadia for clubs in the top two divisions of the English football league system.[42] It was originally a 30,000 seater stadium, constructed for a modest fee of £16 million,[43] before it was expanded in 1998 to its 35,100 capacity for an extra £5 million.[1] Attendances at Middlesbrough matches have steadily declined over the past several years, and a survey by Deloitte showed Middlesbrough to have the second lowest stadium utilization in the Premier League at 76.3%,[44] with average attendances approximately 8,000 below full capacity.[45] A low-price kids season card for 2008–09 saw a rise in season card sales for the first time in four years.[46]

Supporters

Traditionally supporters come from Middlesbrough itself and towns in the immediate area. Middlesbrough have one of the highest proportions in Britain of locally-born season ticket holders at 80%, and one of the highest proportions of female fans at 20%.[47] A survey at the start of the 2007–08 season found Middlesbrough supporters were the seventh loudest set of fans in the Premier League.[48]

Middlesbrough supporters at the 2006 UEFA Cup Final

Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club, which features their own team in the local football league,[49] has links with supporters' clubs across the globe. The largest supporters' clubs include the Official Supporters' Club, the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters' Association, Yarm Reds, and Middlesbrough Supporters South.[50]

Middlesbrough supporters' main rivals are Newcastle United (with whom they contest the Tyne-Tees derby), Sunderland, and Leeds United, a fact confirmed by planetfootball.com's 2004 survey,[3] where Newcastle and Sunderland fans also considered Middlesbrough to be amongst their top three rivalries (in third and second places respectively).

The nickname Smoggies was first used as a derogatory term by opposing supporters,[51] but was later used by Middlesbrough fans in a somewhat self-deprecating manner before finally being adopted as a badge of pride by supporters of the club. An example of this can be seen on the banners carried to away games stating "Smoggies on Tour".[52] Middlesbrough fans were notably praised by UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson after their behaviour during the 2005–06 UEFA Cup campaign.[53] He commended that:

You have the satisfaction of knowing that, although your team did not win the game, your supporters present in Eindhoven proved to the world that football fans can turn a match into a friendly, violence-free celebration.

Middlesbrough fans had also been praised by Cleveland Police force for their behaviour in previous rounds, particularly in the light of aggravation prior to and during the match at Roma.[54]

Media relations

Middlesbrough were the first English football club to broadcast time-delayed full-match footage of their league games on their own channel, "Boro TV", in August 2001.[55] Boro TV ran through NTL cable television until July 2005.[56] The club now show match highlights through a subscription-based scheme on their official website.[57]

Middlesbrough's official matchday programme, Redsquare, was the 2006–07 Programme Monthly Programme of the Year.[58] There are numerous other fanzines available, most notably Fly Me To The Moon, formed in September 1988 following Bruce Rioch's quote to Tony Mowbray, stating "If I had to go to the moon I'd want you by my side".[59]

Community

Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community (MFCIC) was founded in 1995 by club chairman Steve Gibson[60] and is the largest community-based football scheme in the United Kingdom.[61] It is run separately from the football club but receives support from both the club in terms of providing players, staff, stadium facilities and PR in the matchday programme and other publications, as well as support from other local organisations.[62]

Since 2002, the club and MFCIC have also run the Middlesbrough Enterprise Academy, a scheme which helps local children improve their entrepreneurial skills and increase their awareness of business planning and finance. In March 2008, plans were announced by the Premier League to roll out the scheme nationally amongst all Premier League clubs.[63]

It was announced in December 2007 that Middlesbrough football club had carried out more community work during 2006–07 than any other Premier League club, rising from second place the previous year, with the club making 318 appearances – almost twice the Premier League average of 162.[64]

Middlesbrough's mascot is Roary the Lion. The club runs Roary's Children's Charity Fund which purchases items for local children's charities.[65]

Honours

Domestic

League

Champions 1926–27, 1928–29, 1973–74, 1994–95; runners up 1901–02, 1991–92, 1997–98
Runners up 1966–67, 1986–87
Champions 1893–94, 1894–95, 1896–97; runners up 1890–91, 1891–92, 1897–98

Cup

Winners 2004; runners up 1997, 1998
Runners up 1997
Winners 1894–95, 1897–98
Runners up 1990

International

Runners up 2005–06
Winners 1976
Winners 1980

Club staff

As of 23 July 2008.[71]

Executive members
Role Person
Chairman Flag of England Steve Gibson
Chief Executive Flag of England Keith Lamb
Chief Operating Officer Flag of England Neil Bausor
Chief Financial Officer Flag of England Alan Bage
Senior team management
Role Person
Manager Flag of England Gareth Southgate
Assistant manager Flag of England Malcolm Crosby
First team coach Flag of England Colin Cooper
First team coach Flag of England Steve Agnew
Reserve team coach Flag of England Martin Scott
Goalkeeping coach Flag of England Stephen Pears
Academy team management
Role Person
Academy manager Flag of England Dave Parnaby
Academy coach (U-18) Flag of England Mark Proctor
Academy coach Flag of England Craig Hignett
Academy coach Flag of England Kevin Scott
 
Medical
Role Person
Head of medical Flag of England Grant Downie
Head of sports science Flag of England Chris Barnes
Head of physical development Flag of Scotland Frank Nuttall
Conditioning coach Flag of England Nick Allamby
Senior physiotherapist Flag of England Chris Moseley
Recruitment
Role Person
Head of senior recruitment Flag of England Dave Leadbeater
First team scout Flag of Scotland Gordon McQueen
First team scout Flag of England David Mills
Head of Academy recruitment Flag of England Ron Bone

Players

Current squad

As of 2 October 2008.[72]
No. Position Player
2 Flag of England DF Justin Hoyte
3 Flag of England DF Andrew Taylor
4 Flag of England MF Gary O'Neil
5 Flag of England DF Chris Riggott
6 Flag of Austria DF Emanuel Pogatetz (captain)
8 Flag of France MF Didier Digard
9 Flag of Egypt FW Mido
10 Flag of France FW Jérémie Aliadière
11 Flag of the Netherlands FW Marvin Emnes
12 Flag of Brazil FW Afonso Alves
14 Flag of Germany DF Robert Huth
15 Flag of Egypt MF Mohamed Shawky
17 Flag of Turkey FW Tuncay Şanlı
19 Flag of England MF Stewart Downing
20 Flag of Argentina MF Julio Arca
No. Position Player
21 Flag of England GK Ross Turnbull
22 Flag of Australia GK Brad Jones
26 Flag of England DF Matthew Bates
28 Flag of England MF Adam Johnson
31 Flag of England DF David Wheater
32 Flag of England GK Jason Steele
33 Flag of England MF Nathan Porritt
34 Flag of England DF Joe Bennett
35 Flag of England MF Graeme Owens
36 Flag of England MF John Johnson
38 Flag of England DF Seb Hines
39 Flag of Wales DF Rhys Williams
40 Flag of England DF Jonathan Grounds
41 Flag of England MF Josh Walker
42 Flag of England FW Tom Craddock
For recent transfers, see List of English football transfers Summer 2008.
For appearance details for the current season, see Middlesbrough F.C. season 2008–09.
For career statistics relating to the squad, see List of Middlesbrough F.C. players.

Players out on loan

As of 2 October 2008.[73]
No. Position Player
29 Flag of England DF Tony McMahon (on loan at Sheffield Wednesday until 15 November 2008)

Reserves and Academy

For the team's reserve and Academy squads, see Middlesbrough F.C. Reserves and Academy.

Notable players

There have been many notable players, these have been classified as below. The Halls of Fame and top record holders are noted below.

Middlesbrough Legends

These players were voted for by fans as part of a campaign with the Evening Gazette.[74]

  • Flag of England John Hickton
  • Flag of England Willie Maddren
  • Flag of England Tony Mowbray

Top appearances

Further information: Middlesbrough F.C. records – Appearances

These players made more than 430 appearances during their time at the club. The number in brackets indicates the number of appearances in all competitions.[75]

  • Flag of England Tim Williamson (602)
  • Flag of England Gordon Jones (532)
  • Flag of England John Hickton (499)
  • Flag of England John Craggs (488)
  • Flag of Northern Ireland Jim Platt (481)
  • Flag of England George Camsell (453)
  • Flag of England Jacky Carr (449)
  • Flag of Australia Mark Schwarzer (446)
  • Flag of England David Armstrong (431)

Top goalscorers

Further information: Middlesbrough F.C. records – Goalscorers

These players scored more than 140 goals during their time with the club. The number in brackets indicates the number of goals scored in all competitions.[75]

  • Flag of England George Camsell (345)
  • Flag of England George Elliott (213)
  • Flag of England Brian Clough (204)
  • Flag of England John Hickton (193)
  • Flag of England Micky Fenton (162)
  • Flag of Ireland Bernie Slaven (146)
  • Flag of England Alan Peacock (141)

Football League 100 Legends

The Football League 100 Legends is a list of "100 legendary football players" produced by The Football League in 1998, to celebrate the 100th season of League football.[76]

  • Flag of England Steve Bloomer
  • Flag of England Alf Common
  • Flag of England George Camsell
  • Flag of England Wilf Mannion
  • Flag of England George Hardwick
  • Flag of England Nobby Stiles

English Football Hall of Fame

The English Football Hall of Fame is housed at The National Football Museum in Preston, England. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top English Footballers and Footballers who have played in England. These players appeared for or managed Middlesbrough at some point in their careers.[77]

  • Flag of England Viv Anderson (2004 inductee)
  • Flag of England Wilf Mannion (2004 inductee)

Managers

Further information: List of Middlesbrough F.C. managers

The following are all the full time Middlesbrough managers since the club turned professional in 1899.[78]

Dates Manager(s)
1899–05 Flag of England Jack Robson
1905–06 Flag of Scotland Alex Mackie
1906–09 Flag of Scotland Andy Aitken
1909–10 John Gunter
1910–11 Flag of Scotland Andy Walker
1911–19 Flag of England Tom McIntosh
1920–23 Flag of Scotland Jimmy Howie
1923–26 Flag of England Herbert Bamlett
1927–34 Flag of Scotland Peter McWilliam
1934–44 Flag of England Wilf Gillow
1944–52 Flag of England David Jack
1952–54 Flag of England Walter Rowley
1954–63 Flag of England Bob Dennison
1963–66 Flag of England Raich Carter
1966–73 Flag of England Stan Anderson
 
Dates Manager(s)
1973–77 Flag of England Jack Charlton
1977–81 Flag of England John Neal
1981–82 Flag of Scotland Bobby Murdoch
1982–84 Flag of England Malcolm Allison
1984 Flag of England Jack Charlton
1984–86 Flag of England Willie Maddren
1986–90 Flag of Scotland Bruce Rioch
1990–91 Flag of England Colin Todd
1991–94 Flag of England Lennie Lawrence
1994–00 Flag of England Bryan Robson
2000–01 Flag of England Bryan Robson with
Flag of England Terry Venables
2001–06 Flag of England Steve McClaren
2006– Flag of England Gareth Southgate

References and notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Boro FC club info". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Middlesbrough, Official Site of the Premier League". Premier League. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Club rivalries uncovered" (pdf). footballfancensus. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Glasper, Harry. Middlesbrough A Complete Record 1876–1989. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 0-907969-53-4. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Season 1996/97". Premier League. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Boro lift Carling Cup", BBC Sport (2004-02-29). Retrieved on 2007-05-21. 
  7. ↑ "Southgate appointed as Middlesbrough manager", BBC Sport (2006-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Any Answers?", "mfc.co.uk". Retrieved on 2007-07-20. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "We're Backing The Band", mfc.co.uk (2008-01-08). Retrieved on 2008-01-09. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Matt Westcott (2007-05-12). "Boro change badge to reflect history", The Northern Echo. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  11. ↑ "Club History - Birth of The Boro: 1876-1902". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  12. ↑ "Battling with the Boro for 125 years", Evening Gazette (2003-10-21). Retrieved on 2007-06-07. 
  13. ↑ "Club History - Early Years: 1903-World War II". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "League history". mfc1986.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  15. ↑ "George Camsell". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  16. ↑ "Obituary: Brian Clough". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  17. ↑ "Club History - Mannion, Hardwick, Clough and Charlton: 1945 to 1986". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  18. ↑ "The Anglo-Scottish Cup". The English Football Archive. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  19. ↑ "Just 37 days to save our club". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  20. ↑ "Uefa final caps Boro fairytale". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Club History - Winners At Last! 1986 to present". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  22. ↑ "Manchester United: The Sir Alex Era - Part 1", bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  23. ↑ "Middlesbrough Football Club Profile", premierleague.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-25. 
  24. ↑ "Bryan Robson". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
  25. ↑ "Middlesbrough Football Club", premierleague.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  26. ↑ "City pay the penalty for Fowler miss". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
  27. ↑ "Middlesbrough 4-1 Basle", BBC Sport (2004-04-06). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  28. ↑ "M'brough 4-2 S B'chrst", BBC Sport (2004-04-27). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Sevilla run away with trophy". uefa.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  30. ↑ "Southgate wins coaching badges appeal", Telegraph.co.uk (2006-11-23). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  31. ↑ "Afonso Alves eyes Middlesbrough debut", Daily Telegraph (2008-02-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-27. 
  32. ↑ "Middlesbrough F.C. kits". kitclassics.co.uk. Retrieved on 21 May, 2007.
  33. ↑ "Middlesbrough", Historical Football Kits. Retrieved on 2008-05-21. 
  34. ↑ "Take Part in Boro's Battle of the Band", mfc.co.uk (2007-12-30). Retrieved on 2007-12-31. 
  35. ↑ "The Band Is Back!", mfc.co.uk (2008-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-07. 
  36. ↑ "DAVE ALLAN INTERVIEW 23-12-05", ComeOnBoro.com (2005-12-23). Retrieved on 2007-05-22. 
  37. ↑ "Boro Sponsorship Talks Ongoing", mfc.co.uk (2007-06-28). Retrieved on 2007-06-28. 
  38. ↑ "Boro Announce New Sponsor", "mfc.co.uk" (2007-07-20). Retrieved on 2007-07-20. 
  39. ↑ "Boro's Biggest Shirt Signing in History", eveninggazettelive.co.uk (2008-01-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Road to the Riverside". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
  41. ↑ "Rockliffe Park". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  42. ↑ "Riverside Stadium". foxsoccer.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  43. ↑ "Boro FC club info, The Riverside Stadium". gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
  44. ↑ "'Record' Premier League wage bill". BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  45. ↑ "England historical attendance and performance". European-Football-Statistics.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  46. ↑ "Riverside boost as season card sales rise", Evening Gazette (2008-08-14). Retrieved on 2008-08-16. 
  47. ↑ "Football's Rich Pickings". BBC. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
  48. ↑ "Premier League - Noise League Table". Yahoo! Sport (2007-10-26). Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  49. ↑ "Supporters' Clubs". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  50. ↑ "Supporters' clubs". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
  51. ↑ "Football club bans gas masks". BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  52. ↑ "Banners". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  53. ↑ "'Impeccable' Boro fans win praise", the Northern Echo (2006-05-20). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  54. ↑ "Boro fans praised for behaviour", BBC News (2006-03-16). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  55. ↑ "Boro first to take advantage of new TV rights regulations", sportbusiness.com (2001-08-31). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  56. ↑ "Boro television channel to close", BBC Sport (2005-07-01). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  57. ↑ "Official website". Middlesbrough FC. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  58. ↑ "Success is taken as read (section title)", Evening Gazette (2007-03-14). Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  59. ↑ Fraser, Alan (2008-04-13). "Mowbray, the 'miserable sod' whose life was truly kissed by an angel". Daily Mail. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  60. ↑ "Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community". mfcic.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
  61. ↑ "Blair Praises Community Role", mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-10. 
  62. ↑ "Funders and Sponsors". mfcic.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
  63. ↑ "Boro Inspire Enterprise Push", mfc.co.uk (2008-03-14). Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  64. ↑ "Boro are charity champs", Evening Gazette (2007-12-10). Retrieved on 2007-12-10. 
  65. ↑ "Boro's Annual Charter Report". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  66. ↑ Second tier of English football.
  67. ↑ Third tier of English football.
  68. ↑ "Boro's nearly men". BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  69. ↑ "Other Records". mfc1986.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  70. ↑ "Kirin Cup". Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  71. ↑ "Who's Who". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  72. ↑ "Boro Squad". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  73. ↑ "Injuries, Suspensions and Loans". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  74. ↑ "Boro Legends", Evening Gazette (2007-08-13). Retrieved on 2007-08-28. 
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack (2006). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2006-2007. Headline. ISBN 0-7553-1526-X. 
  76. ↑ "Sport: Football Legends list in full", BBC News (1998-08-05). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. 
  77. ↑ "Hall of Fame". National Football Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  78. ↑ "MFC History - Managers". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.

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2003–04
Runner up: Bolton Wanderers		 Succeeded by
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Middlesbrough F.C.
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