BORN in Crewe, Chris played for Stoke City before retiring at a young age due to injury.

He went on to study for degrees in sport rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

Worked for Stoke as physio for three seasons, leaving when they won promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship.

Chris joined Boro in 2001 as head Academy physio and was promoted to first team the following season and is now a familiar face to Boro fans at first team games.