Calling All Boro Brains
NO more rows in the pub over Boro matters - let mfc.co.uk and our readers bring you the definitive answers.
Just send your Boro queries to editor@riverside.mfc.co.uk and we'll post them here. We'll trawl trough the record books to help out and if that draws a blank, the best Boro brains around will then send in their own thoughts.
A special thank you to Shaun Wilson, pictured above, left, in Eindhoven, for all his help answering queries on this page.
NEW QUESTIONS
Q: I live in Canada and was born in Stockton-On-Tees. My aunt was your fan club head at one time I believe, Edith Oram? Can you tell me anything about her?
Philip Rogers
Sean O'Connor
Website A: As the old Division One was reducing from 21 to 20 clubs, three teams (Portsmouth, Watford and Oxford United) were relegated automatically and the team finishing fourth bottom, Chelsea, had to win the play-offs to retain their top flight status. Boro, who had missed out for automatic promotion to Aston Villa on goals scored, beat fourth-placed Bradford City in the play-off semi-final. In the final Boro beat Chelsea 2-0 at home with goals from Trevor Senior and Bernie Slaven. Despite losing 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, Bruce Rioch's team replaced the Blues in Division One.
Q: Looking for info on a former player from the year 1923, Joe Harris. He signed from Partick Thistle in February for a fee of approximately £4,200. I believe he then went to Newcastle then York. Can you help please?Gordon McClure
Website A: Born in Glasgow on March 19 1896, right-half Joe Harris began his career with Partick Thistle before joining Boro in March 1923 for £4,200. He played 58 games without scoring and was in the team relegated from the first division in 1923-24. He moved on to Newcastle United for a knockdown £750 in September 1925 after the club had originally demanded £1,000. He was a bigger success on Tyneside than he had been on Teesside, playing 149 games and scoring twice and winning a league championship medal in 1926-27. He later played for York City and was still on their books when he died aged just 37 after a short illness.
Q: Back in 1976 we won the Anglo Scottish Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win over Fulham. Could you please confirm who was credited with the goal? I thought it was the Fulham defender Strong that scored an own goal.
Mark Crandon
Website A: Defender Les Strong's on goal on 55 minutes of the first leg at Ayresome Park proved to be the only goal of the tie. The return at Craven Cottage finished 0-0 to earn Boro the trophy.
Q: I've tried repeatedly to do some digging into my family's past - and had heard tell of my great-grandfather having played for Arsenal. Upon researching this online I discovered that he only played for Arsenal from 1900-1901 before moving to Middlesbrough and playing for you between 1901-1902. What I was hoping to find out is if there is any more information on him that you guys might have, such as how much he was bought for and what position he played in. I was also hoping you might know where he went after leaving Middlesbrough, and for how much? Great grandfather's name was Peter Turner. I also hear rumour that he was a capped for Scotland but have no proof of that as yet - you wouldn't be able to find that out by any chance?
Jonathan Visser
Website A: Our book The Who's Who Of Middlesbrough has the following details: Signed from Woolwich Arsenal for £90 in April 1901, inside-forward Turner was an ever-present for the first half of the 1901-02 campaign. Manager John Robson shuffled his pack in February and Turner permanently lost his place, save for a swansong appearance at Burton United in April. He was allowed to leave that summer." His details are given as born Glasgow, December 18 1876, died East Kilbride on February 8 1970. Career: Parkhead, St Bernard's, Woolwich Arsenal, Boro, Luton Town, Watford and Leyton. He played 25 games for Boro, scoring six goals. We understand he played 33 games for Arsenal, scoring give goals. We have no photographs and no more details.
Q: I was surprised to recognize the boyish features of ex-Boro star Andy Campbell on the back pages of the Whitby Gazette, where it states he is playing his trade with Whitby Town and has something of a good goalscoring record. Would like to know his full career stats with Middlesbrough and other clubs after he left if possible.
Robert Thorpe, Pickering
Website A: Stockton-born Andy Campbell was the first 16-year-old to play in what was then the Premiership when he came on as a sub against Sheffield Wednesday in April 1996. He started as a lone striker at Anfield three weeks later - but Boro hadn't taken a shirt for him and had to borrow one off the back of a fan outside the ground! He scored a total of seven goals for the club in 35 starts and 36 substitute appearances. The most memorable of these was against Manchester United in an FA Cup win in January 2002. He joined Cardiff for £950,000, famously scoring the play-off winner against QPR that won promotion to Division One. While with Boro he had loan spells with Sheffield United and Bolton and he later played for clubs including Doncaster, Oxford, Dunfermline, Halifax and Bradford Park Avenue.
Q: I live in Arlington, Texas, USA. An old man is always hanging around the coffee shop talking about he was a professional footballer for MFC around 1960. I cannot find any information on Google or any place one the net. Could you give me any information on William Bracy who may have played you club? I would like to find and old article or old picture to give to him, he says he has nothing left from those days.
Zac Tuttle
Website A: We've checked our records and nobody by that name ever played for the Middlesbrough FC first team. However, we don't have youth and reserve records and it's possible that he played for one of these teams. We get many enquiries like this and while it's easy to check of they have played first team games, going deeper is more difficult.
Q: I would be very grateful if you could help me on this very important matter. I am having great deal of difficulties locating a picture of the Middlesbrough first team squad from the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.
T Cadman
Website A: Can anyone help?
Q: My Dad, Giles Gillett, signed around 1948 straight from the army. He's 82 at the end of this month, still living in the Middlesbrough area and must be one of the oldest surviving players, I reckon. Any memories?
Giles Gillett
Website A: Giles didn't play for the Boro first team and so we have no records of him. Can anyone else help with any info?
Q: Can anyone remember Boro having a friendly with a club called Go Ahead Deventer around 1968/9? I think the opposition were either Dutch or Belgian. It was a night match but not pre-season. I was only 10 or 11 at the time and as nobody else seems to remember the match, I am beginning to think I imagined it.
Peter Jordison, Stockton
Website A: You didn't make the team up - they're a Dutch second division side. Can anyone else recall Boro playing them?
Boro Statto Shaun Wilson's A: We did indeed play against the team called DVV Go Ahead Eagles (Deventer). It was played at Ayresome Park on April 8 1968. The full details are:
Boro 1 DVV Go Ahead Eagles 3
Willie Whigham, Alex Smith, Gordon Jones, Michael Allen, Dicky Rooks, Frank Spraggon, Mike Kear, Eric McMordie, John Hickton, Derek Chadwick, Arthur Horsfield. Goalscorer: Hickton. Attendance: 6004
There was a return match played two years later, on April 25 1970, at the Dutch club's ground.
DVV Go Ahead Eagles 1 Boro 0
Willie Whigham, Willie Maddren, Brian Myton, Alan Moody, Michael Allen, Frank Spraggon, Alan Murray, David Mills, Stan Webb, John Hickton, Derek Downing.
Q: I'm hoping you can help me. I need to know if there were programmes issues for the following two games, as I've searched high and low but had no luck. They are in 1984/85, Middlesbrough v Oldham (January 26 1985) - I believe this was a postponed game- and in 1981/82: Plymouth v Middlesbrough (October 27 1982). This was a league cup game.Chris, Redcar
Boro Statto Shaun Wilson's A: There was definitely a programme for the Plymouth game. I've also been informed by Oldham collectors that a programme does indeed exist for the postponed game in 1984. If anyone has it, please get in touch!
OLDER QUESTIONS
Q: Did Boro ever have a sponsored blue adidas Datsun or McLean kit in the early 80s? Was it for sale in the club shop at the time? Does anyone have any photos of it?
Lee James
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: We had a plain blue away shirt from 1978 through to 1982. This included the years when Datsun Cleveland sponsored us. Then when McLean took over as sponsors in 82/83, our away shirts stayed the same although with the McLean 'key' logo on. However, part way through the season the logo seemed a bit unreadable and it was changed to plain block lettering. In 1983/84 the away shirt was a mirror image of the home shirt. I definitely know this as a friend of mine has Heine Otto's shirt from that season.
Q: Please can you help me find the four occasions that Harold 'Shep' Shepherdson was caretaker manager at Middlesbrough? There are many records of his stint following Stan Anderson's resignation in 1973 but I am struggling to find any records of the other occasions.
Nigel Moore
Boro statistician Harry Glasper's A: In the early 1990s - for the second Breedon Complete Record book - I spent some time trawling through Evening Gazettes on microfilm on this subject. I tried to put finite dates on manager ins and outs but, because of the circumstances of Walter Rowley's resignation and then his change of mind, I came to the conclusion that the club continued to function without a manager at the helm until Bob Dennison's appointment in 1954. Bob was taken on as secretary/manager but up to that point in time the board of directors chose the team to play on the Saturday at the Thursday morning board meeting and this was the case since day one back in 1899 (and probably before that). This was relaxed, after the start of the 1954/55 season as Bob Dennison started to select the team. He relinquished the secretarial duties on the appointment of Harry Green in around 1960/61. I believe Harold Shepherdson continued in his role of trainer after the removal of Walter Rowley and first sampled the role of caretaker-manager when Bob Dennison was shown the door.
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: Harold Shepherdson was caretaker manager for the following spells.
1. Either February to July 1954 or January 1963
2. February to April 1966, after Raich Carter was sacked
3. January to May 1973, after Stan Anderson left
4. October 1982, after Bobby Murdoch was sacked
The first spell was either in January 1963 when Bob Dennison left the club or in February 1954 when Walter Rowley left.
Nigel Moore adds: I've done some research myself in Middlesbrough Library and come to the conclusion that Harold Shepherdson was not caretaker in 1954, after Walter Rowley, and neither in 1963 after Bob Dennison. According to the Evening Gazette, although HS may have had some involvement with the team in 1954, while WR was in hospital. WR had tendered his resignation in February, but the board did not accept it until the end of March. Even then WR stayed on until the end of the season. The Gazette (dated April 27 1954) reported that Bob Dennison would be Boro's new manager, stating "succeeding Mr. Walter Rowley whose resignation was accepted some weeks ago - nearly a couple of months after it had been tendered - but who has carried on in the job." Following the sacking of Bob Dennison (Thursday January 10 1963), it was announced within hours that Raich Carter would be the new manager and would take up his post a week on Monday (January 21). However, in the middle of the worst winter the country has seen for years, Boro did not play for the whole month of January. Hence, if HS was to be involved on Saturday 12 and Saturday 19, he did not take charge of a match. So in conclusion, I believe HS was only caretaker on three occasions. I will continue my research. The reason behind my original question was to update the info on my website, www.ayresomepark.co.uk
Q: Who did Middlesbrough play on Saturday February 21 1976?
Marise Lindsey
Website A: Boro moved up to seventh in the old Division One with a 2-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road. John Hickton scored both goals, on six and 62 minutes, in front of 32,993. Two weeks later Hickton scored again, adding to an early Terry Cooper goals, as Boro won 2-0 against Liverpool at Anfield.
Q: We have searched the net for answer to my dad's question - did Boro beat Liverpool 9-1 in the 70s? He says he remembers it clearly.
Olga Hunnam
Website A: Unfortunately, it's wishful thinking, Olga. Boro did have a decent record against Liverpool in the 1970s, when they were the dominant team in English and European football, but nobody beat them by anything like that scoreline. We were promoted in 1974 and beat them 1-0 (Foggon) at home in 74/75 and 1-0 (Maddren) away in the League Cup the same season. In 1975/76 we won 2-0 (Cooper, Hickton) at Anfield in the league and we had to wait until a 1-0 win (Shearer) at Ayresome Park at the end of the 1979/80 season for our next victory. It would be nearly a decade before Boro faced Liverpool again in the league - with 3-0 and 4-0 defeats in the 1988/89 season.
Q: What is the ruling on using multiple balls in the EPL? I am an old (emphasis on old) Boro fan and have been for 60 years, an ex-pat and reside in Tecunseh, Ontario, Canada. We had a dinner party last week and among the guests were three additional Middlesbrough fans. One of these guests asked this question, I did not know the ruling. One of the guys did say an agreement between officials and managers has to be reached prior to kick-off. I personally dislike multi-ball usage, based on the fact that I played, coached and refereed (still have my badges for the latter two). I would appreciate a response as I've searched the Internet with no luck.
Barrie Williams
Former ref Graham Frankland's A: I was a Football League Referee between 1995 and 2002 and had first hand experience of the multiple ball system. It does have its advantages in that it can keep the game fast moving, but more often than not it was very difficult to control and invariably the away team did not benefit to the same extent as the home team. Many a time we would end up with two balls on the pitch due to the exuberance of ball boys and the fans throwing the ball back on to the pitch after the replacement ball had already been put into play. A complete nightmare! I remember it was so bad during a game at Tranmere Rovers I refused to implement it in the second half. I can confirm that there is nothing in the laws of the game in relation to this topic. However, if a club wants to employ this system then they must follow the guidelines as shown below.
Directives:
If a club uses the multiple ball supply system, in order to reduce the time between restarts, the following procedures are to be adhered to:The Multi-Ball Supply System is NOT to be used in Premier League matches or in Rounds 1-6 of The FA Challenge Cup
· The Home team representative, at the exchange of team sheets, must inform the referee and the Away team representative if additional balls are to be placed around the field of play. Failure to do so will result in the Multi-Ball Supply System not being sanctioned
· All balls are to be checked by the referee or fourth official prior to the game
· The responsible adult supervising the ball boys must liaise with the referee/fourth official prior to the game to establish the procedure for multiple ball supply
· The responsible adult supervising the ball boys should be reminded by the referee or fourth official of the following:
*The ball must remain with the ball boy and they must not play with the ball, either with their feet or their hands
*If possible the ball boys should be located behind the perimeter advertising boards
*The ball boy in the most appropriate position will, having established eye contact with the player, hand or throw the spare ball to him
*If towels are used to dry the ball, both sides must receive the same consideration
*The Referee and the Fourth Official will monitor the multiple ball supply system and any abuse or breakdown in the supply of a new ball will result in the referee withdrawing permission for its use.
Q: Looking through Can You Help? I came across the query from Julie Page about a John Murphy and your answer about David Anthony Murphy. DA Murphy was my husband's uncle, I have got all his army information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - he is buried in Gradara Cemetry, Italy. Do you or anyone have any more information about his football career, other that what you put in the reply? Also, DA Murphy had a brother called Eugene who apparently played for South Banks and Peters but never for Middlesbrough. Do you have any information for him? Would you have a date of birth or anything? I would be most grateful for any info.
Olwen George
Website A: Born in South Bank, Middlesbrough, on July 19 1917, David Anthony Murphy was known as "Mick". A half-back signed from South Bank St Peter's, he made 15 appearances for the club in 1937-38 and 1938-39. He was brought up with the great Wilf Mannion and the pair would travel in to Ayresome Park together. He was 20 when he made his Boro debut in a 3-1 defeat against Bolton in place of Billy Forrest at the end of the 1937-38 season. He played sporadically in the excellent Boro side that finished fourth in Division One the following year. He played in the last Boro game before the outbreak of war at home to Stoke City on September 2 1939. He continued to play for the club during the war years and was so dedicated that he once borrowed a stranger's bike to get to Ayresome after missing the bus from Redcar. Forced to travel by train, he arrived late and needed to cycle to Ayresome to make it for kick-off. He was killed in Italy in September 1944 during the Allied advance from Ancona to Rimini. In 2008 places on the Boro Brick Road outside the Riverside Stadium were given in honour of David and seven other former players who lost their lives for their country during the world wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45, Andy Jackson, Henry Cook, Don McLeod, Archie Wilson, Bobby Atherton, Dick Wynn and Ralph Arran.We don't have any information about Eugene, but the team he played for would be South Bank St Peter's, like his brother. Our picture shows Boro chairman Steve Gibson laying a wreath to those commemorated.
Q: I wonder if you can help me. My Grandad and Great Great Grandad were chairmen of Middlesbrough Football Club and I wondered if you can provide any club related information on them - photos etc. They were John Eric Thomas and Tom Thomas, mid 1970s and early 1950s, I believe.
Chris Maltby
Website A: The following information is printed in the book, Boro Gold - thanks to Shaun Wilson for providing it.
Tommy Thomas (1953): Middlesbrough born Tommy Thomas, head of Middlesbrough Iron and Steel Company, took over the Boro chair from Harry French during the 1952/53 season but was only in the chair for one season, during Walter Rowley's time as Boro manager. Thomas was the Middlesbrough director who motored to Oldham and persuaded the truant Wilf Mannion to return to Middlesbrough in the late 1940s. He died on January 25, 1956 at Aysgarth, 23 Belle Vue Grove, aged 69. He is interred at Acklam Cemetery. His three sons, Eric, Harold and Peter, all loved football, Peter becoming a football journalist with the Daily Express while Eric and Harold followed their dad into the family business and also on to the Middlesbrough board. Indeed, Eric was to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Boro chairman. In his youth, he was a keen cyclist, cricketer and bowler.
J Eric Thomas (1962-1972): Solicitor Eric Thomas and his brother Harold, who was also a director at Ayresome Park, were keen sportsmen - playing cricket and rugby - in their early days. Eric, whose father Tommy was a former chairman, succeeded Stanley Gibson as chairman during the 1961/62 season. He was in the chair as the club spiralled towards relegation to Division Three, but remained in charge as the club hosted World Cup fixtures and saw a return to Division Two under Stan Anderson. One of his first major jobs, in January 1963, was the sacking of manager Bob Dennision and, as results continued to worsen, he also ended Raich Carter's contract in 1966. By then he had agreed to allow outspoken businessman Charles Amer - a future club chairman - onto the board. Boro endured huge losses of over £47,000 in his first season at the helm but the return to Division Two in 1967-68 saw a new financial high of almost £40,000 achieved. Many attempts were made to take Boro back into the top flight under Stan Anderson's management, the result of which was four successive seasons of financial loss, culminating in a £55,000 deficit in his last season in charge, 1971-72.
Q: When I attended Southend School in Middlesbrough as a youngster (1957), my then headmaster was Walter Holmes. As a Boro fan I have read many books on the history of the club and many years ago spotted an old team photo and recognised a young Walter Holmes on it. Looking at Wikipedia I see he was with Boro from 1914 till 1928 and was a full-back. Have you any more info on him as I gather he was a local lad and am looking to do a story on the school and Walter Holmes for the Newport/Cannon street website.
Albert Honeyman
Website A: Nicknamed "Squire", full-back Walter Holmes was a deeply religious man and a Methodist lay preacher who played 174 games for Boro, scoring once. A teetotaller, he took up his first teaching post in 1912, signing forms for the Boro the same year after helping hometown club Willington Town to the Northern League title. He was given special permission by Middlesbrough to continue as a schoolteacher with his wife covering him when he was on football duty. He lived on Kensington Road near Ayresome Park and saw active service with the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War 1, recovering from bronchial pneumonia to resume playing after hostilities ceased. He taught at Newport Road, Linthorpe Road and Marton Road schools before becoming headteacher at Southend School on Boundary Road. Also a keen player of cricket, golf and tennis, he attended Boro games in later life along with former team-mate Maurice Webster. The club sent a red and white ball-shaped wreath when Walter died in summer 1978.
Kevin Morrison
Website A: We've checked the records and Vinny didn't play for the Boro first team. Can anyone supply and info about his time at the club?
Q: A question from your archives. The family story goes that my great uncle Benjamin Watts (1889 to 1951), a wood yard owner living in Middlesbrough, was a director of Middlesbrough Football Club (presumably about 1930 to 40s) and when he died my uncle ken says he had his ashes scattered on Ayresome Park. Is this fact or fiction? I would be most grateful as i am doing my family tree!
Francie Markham
Q: I collect Boro programmes, home and away. I don't have and can't find the Bristol City v Boro programme from April 22 1980. This was a rearranged game I believe. Can you tell me if there was a programme issued?
Chris, Redcar
Boro Statto Shaun Wilson's A: There was no programme issued for the actual game at Bristol City dated March 22 1980. The programme which was issued for the original date, March 29 1980, was sold at the match. This has been relayed to my by quite a few prominent Bristol City programme collectors.
Q: I wonder if you can help please. In the first season in the Premiership, I am looking a kick-off of the QPR v Middlesbrough game on September 19 1992. Can you help please?
Mike Versey
Q: I am in possession of a small gold medal with the insignia MFC on the front and engraved on the back J Mc Millen 1910. He was apparently a relation on my mother's side of the family. Would this have anything to do with Middlesbrough FC? Or if not, any suggestions?
Ken Lennox
Website A: We haven't come up with any ideas yet. We have no records of any player by this name and the only other professional MFC we can think of is Millwall. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
Q: It has always been my understanding that my uncle, Maurice Gormley, was a player for your organisation back in the 70s. If what my Dad has told me is correct, he was a back-up goaltender. Can you confirm? If so, would you happen to have any old photographs on file that you could possibly share?
Emmett Gormley
Q: I know it's a bit late and anyone still living at home probably knows the answer, but could anyone tell a long-time exile from Teesside why we changed the badge (glad we did).
Martin Jackson
Q: Has anybody got a copy of the Sports Gazette's report for the famous match in 1947/48 when we beat Blackpool 4-0? There were two reports, one on the front page and a more in depth inside. The reports were, of course, by the famous Cliff Mitchell. I will gladly pay for a photo copy of the reports. My email address is johndobbo@f2s.com.
John Dobson
Q: Was there a player in the late 60s I think called Gibson? I was told he played for Middlesbrough, Rangers and Scotland. If you could answer you would settle a big debate.
Mark Hanley
Website A: Ian Gibson played for Boro from 1962 to 1966, making 184 appearances and scoring 47 goals. Born in Newton Stewart on March 30 1943, he had a chance to join Rangers but his father advised against it and he instead signed for Accrington Stanley, becoming their youngest player aged 15 years and 358 days. He and joined Boro from Bradford Park Venue for £20,000 in March 1962 and left for Coventry City for £57,500 in July 1966. The midfield playmaker was a star in a struggling Boro side.
Q: As a young lad in South Wales, the first match I ever went to was Cardiff City v Middlesbrough on May 3 1966. What an introduction to the "beautiful game" that was, with so much at stake for both clubs and what a corker of a game it turned out to be! Of course, history shows that Cardiff won 5-3 and clung to Division Two status, but Boro were relegated to Division Three. I've seen an article recently by one of your local journalists, describing the match as "farcical" from a Boro point of view...presumably because of the nature of the defeat. However, there were 41 other games to be played in those days, so I think it fair to say that neither club covered itself in glory during the 65/66 season. Anyway, to get to my question. I have always had a recollection of a young Boro player making his debut that day, at the start of a long Boro career, but he was sent off late in the game. Try as I might, I cannot confirm that one way or the other. Can you clarify the situation for me, or have I been imagining this for the past 43 years? Look forward to hearing from you.
Website A: The Boro team that day was Bob Appleby, Alex Smith, Frank Spraggon, Billy Horner, Dicky Rooks, Ian Davidson, Ian Gibson, Derek Downing, Jim Irvine, Eric McMordie, Gordon Jones. Dicky Rooks scored a hat-trick, including a late penalty. But we have no record of any Boro player being sent off in any game during the whole of that calendar year, nor was any Boro player making their debut.
Boro Statto Shaun Wilson's A: As explained before there were no debutants or sending offs in the game at Cardiff City in the 65/66 season. However, in the same fixture in the 1968/69 season (September 7 1968), a young centre-half called Brian Myton was making his debut for Middlesbrough. But it was cut short after he was dismissed during the game. Maybe this is the game Mr Parker is thinking of.
Q: I'm an exiled Boro supporter living near Plymouth in Devon (had a rough ride from the locals after the Argyle match two weeks ago!). Last night at a quiz evening the question was "The late Sir Bobby Robson began his managerial career at which club?" a) Fulham, b) Ipswich or c) Middlesbrough. Well I immediately said to my team "He never managed Boro!" After some debate we chose Fulham. Imagine my acute embarrassment when the answer was read out as Middlesbrough! I had to say it must have been before my time. I went to my first Boro match in 1965 with my dad when Raich Carter was manager and from 1966 to 1973 missed very few home matches. Not convinced of this fact, I have Googled madly and found no mention of Sir Bobby at Boro. I did wonder if he had a caretaker role at some time or other possibly in the 70s when I was a student in London and I may have missed it in a drunken stupor. The quizmaster is a friend and she says that in her book he began his managerial role at Boro? Was he an assistant manager or something before he went to Fulham? Sadly I don't see Boro much these days as Devon is a long way from everywhere. Only been to the Riverside once. Hope they do better when they come to Argyle in April. I'd be grateful if anyone could settle our (friendly) argument and restore my credibility as a Boro fan. After all I've had a difficult two weeks down here with the Green Army mocking me!Angela Hickman
Website A: Sir Bobby had a trial with Boro as a young player but was never on the club's coaching or managerial staff, so you were right!
Q: Can any one tell me the outcome of the Middlesbrough v Arsenal game in the 1948/9 season. I know they drew at Highbury.
Barbara Paling
Website A: Boro played the Gunners on April 9 1949 in front of 51,540. Boro led at half-time thanks to a goal from the great Wilf Mannion but the home side struck back in the second half to earn a 1-1 draw. The Boro team was Ugolini, Blenkinsopp, Hardwick, Bell, Gordon, Dicks, Robinson, McCrae, Rickaby, Mannion, Donaldson, Hartnett. Boro were struggling to avoid relegation and in the end just stayed up, finishing in 19th place. Earier in the season, on November 13 1948, Boro had lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal in front of 35,852 fans at Ayresome Park.
Q:
Can you please tell me who David Armstrong made his debut against and when?Ron Davis, Spain
Website A: Armstrong made his debut in a 3-1 defeat at Blackpool on April 3 1972. Johnny Vincent scored for Boro in front of 13,726 fans. Stan Anderson's team were sixth in Division Two at the time and Armstrong was in the starting line-up or on the bench for every game until the end of the season as Boro finished in ninth place.
Lee Scott, 17
A: You can get the video from Youtube if you search for 'Lets dance Middlesbrough'. If you then use Mediaconverter.org you will be able to convert it into a file you can store on your computer.
David Wilson, Rugby
A:
The video is on Youtube. Click here to see it.Geoff Nugent
Q: I am presently completing my Masters dissertation at Teesside University based on the bombing of Middlesbrough during WW2. Could you help with the following question please? When was George Hardwick's debut game in 1937 and who were the Boro's opponents?
George Krezner
Website A:
George's debut was in a 2-1 defeat by Bolton at Ayresome Park on December 18 1937 in front of 21,407 fans.
Q: I purchased a signed postcard some while back signed by a footballer called Wheldon Emmerson in suit and tie - the postcard was dated May 4 1938. It also has the following info: Topical Pictures, Studio, 220 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. I lost out to another signed pic of Wheldon Emmerson who was this time pictured in full football kit which looked to be pictured at Ayresome Park. It stated as part of the listing that Wheldon was then a Middlesbrough player. After doing my own research I can only find a player called George Arthur Emmerson who played seven league games for the Boro between 1928 and 1930 scoring three goals. Did Wheldon play for the Boro and if not, who did he play for? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Francis Joyce
A: Wheldon Emmerson was on Boro's books in 1937-39 but never played a first team game. He was signed from Ouston Juniors. Attached is a picture of him in his Boro kit at Ayresome Park.
Harry Greenmon
Q: I am looking for info on Charles (Charlie) Thomas Scrimshaw, who joined the club in 1938 (?) from Stoke City at a transfer fee of £3,000. I understand he played one season, leaving for war service but still playing in the war time league for both Port Vale and Portsmouth.
Bob Phipps
Website A: Born in Heanor on April 3 1909, Charles Scrimshaw began his career with Hebden Bridge and was signed by Boro manager Wilf Gillow from Stoke City on 1938. He made his league debut at left-back in a 3-2 hoe win over Grimsby in October but went on to make just nine appearances. On the outbreak of war he returned to the Potteries, where he played wartime games for both Stoke and Port Vale. Boro released him in 1945 without him making a further appearance and he is thought to have become a publican.
Q: I have a 1953-1954 season red book season ticket. What is the earliest season ticket produced by MFC?
Jim Tait
Boro Communications and Media Manager Dave Allan's A: The earliest known season ticket was in the 1890s. Indeed several examples are on display at the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough. In July 1892, Middlesbrough FC advertised that season tickets for non-shareholders for 1892-93 were as follows: Admission to ground and uncovered stand 7 shillings 6 pence; covered stand 1 pound 6 pence; reserved enclosure 21 shillings; ladies and juniors 2 shillings 6 pence. Applications for tickets could be made any evening or to the secretary Albert Borrie at 93 Linthorpe Road or 5 Albert Road, Middlesbrough.
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: The 1953/54 ticket is actually the earliest season ticket I've got but there are earlier issues. The Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough has a collection of Boro season tickets, some predating our league years. The earliest one that they have is from 1887-88, when Boro were in the Northern League playing at the Linthorpe Road Ground.
Q: In your club historian Harry Glasper's A-Z of Boro players which appeared in club programmes around 1990 Dick Le Flem is stated to have been "one of the first professional players to wear contact lenses during a game". Can someone please confirm this to me as fact? Thank you for your help.
Mike Vaudin
A: I was trawling through the Can You Help? column and saw the points raised about Dick Le Flem's contact lenses. If I remember correctly I found the info on Dick wearing contact lenses in a Topical Times annual circa 1960.
Harry Glasper
A: Further to the question about Dick Le Flem's eyesight on the Boro website, I found the following on Wolves website www.wolvesheroes.com (Wolves were one of former clubs) which quotes the man himself. "But he has been irritated by an Internet report that he was the first footballer ever to wear contact lenses. 'I don't know where that came from,' he added. 'I've never worn them and always had very good eyesight.' So it would appear that the story is nothing but a rumour.
Robin Smith, London
A: My grateful thanks to Robin Smith reference Dick Le Flem and contact lenses. Dick, or Richard as we call him, himself contacted me to tell me at length that it was a myth and he had never worn contact lenses. I have apologised to him as I used the information in a book on local sport in Guernsey called "Do Pigs Fly?" (The story of a journeyman amateur, as indeed I was). My actual source was the match programme from Middlesbrough versus my team Portsmouth in Barclays Division 2 played on Saturday February 3 1990. The article appears on page 13 of the programme and I still have a copy at home. Richard Le Flem is always a hero to those of us from his home Island of Guernsey.
Mike Vaudin
Q: I'm wondering if you could possibly tell me when the last time we beat Newcastle was? Me and my boyfriend are fighting over it, ha ha ha, and I'm hoping you can settle it.
Kerrie Trippett
Website A: Boro beat Newcastle 1-0 in front of 30.060 fans at the Riverside on Sunday October 22 2006 with a goal from Yakubu five minutes from time. Four out of the five games between the sides since then have been drawn, with the only exception being Newcastle's 3-1 win at St James' Park at the end of last season.
Q: Could you please name the two teams' players in the Mannion Match against Blackpool on November 22 1947.
Dave Wright, Whitby
Website A: The Boro team was Goodfellow, Robinson, Hardwick, Bell, Whittaker, Gordon, McCormack, Spuhler, Fenton, Mannion, Walker. The crowd was 38,936 and the scorers in a 4-0 win were McCormack (2), Fenton and Spuhler. The story goes that Wilf Mannion turned on the style to impress is watching wife-to-be Bernadette, producing the performance of a lifetime.
Boro's official statistician Harry Glasper adds: The Blackpool line-up was Jock Wallace, Eddie Shimwell, Ronnie Suart, George Farrow, Basil Hayward,Harry Johnston, Stan Matthews, Stan Mortensen, Jimmy McIntosh, Andy McCall, Alex Munro.
Q: Have you any information on my grandfather Frank H Dennis, who played in the first Middlesbrough professional team 1889-90 and scored the winning goal in the Cleveland Cup against Stockton at the old Linthorpe Road Ground?
Bruce Ross
Boro Communications and Media Manager Dave Allan's A: We now have further information. Frank was a forward who played for Middlesbrough from 1887 to 1891 when he joins the club's arch-rivals, Ironopolis. He was with the club for the first ever season of Northern League football, 1889-90, when Boro finished a poor sixth from 10 teams, well behind champions St Augustine's of Darlington. He certainly played in Boro's opening match of that season, a 3-2 win over Elswick Rovers, which was later deemed a draw as Boro had fielded an ineligible player. He scored at least seven goals that season, although records from that period are incomplete. An outside-left or inside-right, in September 1889 he was one of five Middlesbrough players included in a Cleveland FA side to play the East of Scotland in Edinburgh. Middlesbrough turned professional in December 1889 and Frank did indeed play in their first competitive game as pros - a humiliating 7-0 Northern League defeat at Darlington! He scored a first half hat-trick in a 3-0 friendly win over South Bank at Linthorpe Road Ground in September 1890, the Gazette headline reading "Brilliant performance by Dennis". In October 1890 he scored another three (though some reports say two) in an 11-0 away win over Scarborough in an FA Cup qualifying round. This game remains Boro's biggest ever win. We have little information on Frank apart from this so any other information you may have, including date and place of birth, would be much appreciated. Please write to dave.allan@mfc.co.uk.
Website A: Unfortunately we don't have too much information but hopefully someone might be able to shed a little more light on a very interesting character. Frank played outside-left in the first professional Boro team. He would later find even more fame as a referee, officiating at FA Cup semi-finals, as well as the England versus Ireland international at Ayresome Park in 1905
Q: I recently saw the film Shaolin Soccer and I'm convinced that the team's coach, Golden Leg Fung, wears a shirt with the old, circular Boro badge throughout much of the first half of the film. Is this the case?
Tom
A: The question about Shaolin Soccer intrigued me, so I did a little viewing and don't think it's our old round badge. I think it looks very similar, but as far as I can know we have never done a version with a red lion but blue writing and border? That's my verdict anyways!
Geoff Nugent
Q: I recently found out that my great grandfather's brother was a footballer who played for Boro just before and after WW1. His name was Stewart Davidson and he was born in Aberdeen. I would be very grateful for any information you could give me about his career with the club and also what he did during the war - one of his brothers was killed and another badly injured fighting with the Australian Imperial Force.
Liz Young (nee Davidson)
Website A: Right-half Stewart Davidson was born in Aberdeen on June 1 1889. A legal clerk by profession, he joined Boro from Aberdeen for £675 in April 1913. He guested for Chelsea during WW1 but was wounded on active service. But he resumed his career after the war and played 216 league and cup games for Boro, scoring four goals. He captained the club in 1920 and won his only Scotland cap against England in 1921. Bro awarded him a benefit game against Derby on November 20 1920 and he rejoined Aberdeen for £250 in May 1923. He was later player-manager at Forres Mechanics, coached Kent County FA and in 1939 joined former Boro team-mate Billy Birrell as assistant manager at Chelsea. He stayed at Stamford Bridge for 18 years until retiring in July 1957. He died on Boxing Day 1960. 
Q: My dad, Dickie Robinson, played for MFC from 1945 to 1959. I have a plaque he gave me that says "Holland Tour MEI 1953". Could you tell me anything about this? Also, I have acquired a picture of him from the Internet and where I got it from thinks it was taken playing Arsenal in 1954. Do you have any dates so I can try to acquire the programme and who played in the number five shirt? I would be grateful for any information. Also, could you tell me the date that he scored a goal against Sunderland?
Anne Rooney
Boro Communications and Media Manager Dave Allan's A: From Harry Glasper's Complete History, we can tell you that Boro went on a Holland Tour in May 1953, drawing 2-2 with a Holland XI in Rotterdam in front of a 38,000 crowd (Delapenha scoring both goals), beating Holland B 3-1 in Nijmegen in front of 25,000 (Fitzsimons scored two, Delapenha one) and then played Rapid Club of Vienna (Rapid Vienna) in Amsterdam, with Delapenha scoring in a 2-1 defeat in front of an incredible crowd of 63,000. This final game was played in aid of the Flood Disaster Fund.
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: It states in The Who's Who of Middlesbrough that Dicky Robinson scored v Sunderland but according to the records, he never did. The only goal he scored in 416 appearances was away v Doncaster Rovers on December 26 1956. "Mei" is Dutch for May.
Anne Rooney replies: I enquired about the goal that my dad Dicky Robinson scored against Sunderland. You informed me that you had no record of this. For your records I have researched this from Middlesbrough central library and they have sent me a copy of The Evening Gazette dated Tuesday January 1 1946. Headlines say "Robinson Gives Boro Lead" and then there is an article of how the goal was scored against Sunderland by Dicky Robinson. He scored for Middlesbrough after 21 minutes and Boro won 1-0. He then proceeded to go home on the Sunderland players' bus. This is also recorded in The Boro Bible. I hope this will be of use to you and that you will update your records.
Further update from Shaun: Dicky Robinson did indeed score against Sunderland in the 1945/46 season. However appearances during this season are classed as wartime games and don't count towards a player's official tally.
Q: A member of my family is researching a family history. The name John Murphy has come up as someone who played for your club. Sadly, he was killed in World War 2. This is all that I know of him. Is there anyway you could check your archives and see if you come up with anything for John Murphy?
Julie Page
Boro Communications and Media Manager Dave Allan's A: Boro player David Anthony Murphy died in action during World War II so we wonder if this is your relative. He was killed in Italy in September 1944 during the Allied advance from Ancona to Rimini. A half-back signed from South Bank St Peter's, he made 15 appearances for the club in 1937-38 and 1938-39.
Website A: Only five Murphys have played first team football for Boro, two Davids, Thomas, Joseph and Michael.
Q: My ancestor's name was Fred J Griffiths. He was born in Presteigne about 1873 and he played for Middleborough as a goalkeeper and I also think he was a trainer in 1906. I know that his football career ended with Middleborough. I would be grateful if you have any information on him and the matches he played and maybe a photo of him. Hope you can help.
Veronica Preece
Boro Statto Shaun Wilson replies: Fred Griffiths was with Boro but never played a first team game. He was born on September 13 and died in 1917. His other clubs included South Shore, Clitheroe, South Shore, Blackpool, Stalybridge Rovers, Millwall Athletic, Spurs, Preston, West Ham (1902-04), New Brompton (1904-06), Boro (1906) and Moores Athletic (Shirebrook). He played for South Shore, who amalgamated with Blackpool in 1899. Griffiths, 6ft 2ins and 15 stone, was one of the largest goalkeepers in football. He was also one of the best and in 1900 played for Wales against both Scotland and England. Griffiths was the first Blackpool player to win an international cap. He joined Middlesbrough in 1906 and eventually became a coalminer at Shirebrook. He also trained the local football team before joining the British Army during World War I. Griffiths was killed on the Western Front on October 30 1917.
Q: In the 1911 census I have found a Samuel Thompson McClure living in Middlesbrough and who is a professional footballer. Is it possible to check if this person played for your club please?
Chris Lovell
Website A: Samuel played 12 games scoring three goals for the club in 1910-11 season at inside-left. He was born in Grangetown in September 1901 and left for Watford in August 1911.
Q: I am writing to you because I would like to ask you for some help. I am a student from Poland and I am writing my dissertation (in order to get an MA degree) on British football club nicknames. I need some information concerning the nickname of Middlesbrough. Of course, I mean Boro! I have already read about the history of Middlesbrough Football Club but I am still in search of some necessary information. I would be very grateful to you for providing me with some info.
Kronel Paszkiewicz, Poland
Website A: Boro is just a shortened version of Middlesbrough, although as you see there is no extra "o" in Middlesbrough, which is often wrongly spelt "Middlesborough". Before World War 2 the nickname was normally written as "Borough" but in recent years it has been shortened. In the 1970s there was an attempt to give the team the nickname "The Ironsides" because of the steel industry here, but it never really took off. More recently we have been nicknamed "Smoggies" by our rival teams because of the industry in the area. Some fans have embraced the nickname and call themselves Smoggies.
Q: I have recently been told that I had a family member that played for the Boro in the early 1900s. His name was Harry Crozier. I have no other info on him so if you could trawl records and pass on any info, I would be grateful.
Fred Seaman
Boro Communications and Media Manager Dave Allan's A: According to our records, a Joseph Crosier played for Boro between 1911 and 1914, making 27 league appearances and four more in the FA Cup. Other sources spell his name Crozier, so it could be that our records are incorrect. Born in Middlesbrough on December 4 1889, right-half Crosier made his first team debut for the club against Manchester United in March 1911. He moved on to Bradford Park Avenue, where he made 115 league appearances, scoring four goals, through to 1921. In 1922, he moved to Grimsby, where he made a further 14 league appearances.
Q: I am researching my family tree and I believe that a Great Uncle of mine played for Middlesbrough before the First World War. The Name is James Harkins, a Scot, probably from Glasgow. I also believe he was killed in the First World War. Do you have any information?Bob Harkins
Website A: Jack Harkins played 39 league and two cup games for Boro from 1906 to 1907. Born in Glasgow on March 19 1896, he joined the club from Partick Thistle for £4,200 in March 1923. Equally at home ay centre of right-half, he partnered player-manager Andy Aitken in the centre of defence, playing 30 games in his first season. The following season he lost his first team place and he moved to Bathgate in 1907. He later played league football for Leeds City and Darlington and served with the Black Watch regiment during World War I.
Q: I am writing a book of memories for my children. I saw Stanley Matthews play at Boro when I was quite young. Could you please give me dates when this could have been?
Anthony Mitchell, 66
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: The games that Stanley Matthews could have played in at Ayresome Park were:
November 4 1933: Boro 6 Stoke City 1
February 2 1935: Boro 2 Stoke City 0
April 25 1936: Boro 0 Stoke City 0
January 23 1937: Boro 1 Stoke City 0
September 4 1937: Boro 2 Stoke City 1
December 31 1938: Boro 5 Stoke City 1
September 2 1939: Boro 2 Stoke City 2 (World War II broke out shortly afterwards and records from this season were expunged)
September 7 1946: Boro 5 Stoke City 4
November 22 1947: Boro 4 Blackpool 0
October 30 1948: Boro 1 Blackpool 0
August 31 1949: Boro 2 Blackpool 0
November 25 1950: Boro 4 Blackpool 3
March 3 1952: Boro 1 Blackpool 0
April 11 1953: Boro 5 Blackpool 1
October 24 1953: Boro 0 Blackpool 1
December 2 1961: Boro 2 Stoke City 2
December 8 1962: Boro 2 Stoke City 2
Q: I am trying to find the answer to this question and would to know if you can answer it. I was at a Glentoran v Middlesbrough match at The Oval in Belfast. I cannot find any record of it, could you maybe supply me with any information? Boro were on tour. Juninho and Emerson were playing, it was about 10 to 12 years ago.
Norman Redshaw
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: The Glentoran game was played on August 2 1997. Emerson did indeed play but Juninho had by then left for Atletico Madrid. The full details of the match are: Glentoran 0 Boro 5, Oval Grounds. Boro: Ben Roberts, Curtis Fleming (Craig Liddle 64), Vladimir Kinder, Steve Vickers, Gianluca Festa, Emerson, Clayton Blackmore, Robbie Mustoe, Chris Freestone, Craig Hignett, Andy Campbell. Subs not used: Bryan Robson, Andy Dibble. Goalscorers: Campbell, Hignett (2 (1 pen)), Freestone (2). The game was part of a three-match tour to the province. The other games were at Portadown (1-1) and Newry Town (5-0).
Q: I am looking to identify the team of 1998/99 that have signed a Boro shirt that i have in my possession. I was wondering if you could help me. The signed shirt has the Cellnet sponsor on the front. The signatures I can identify are as follows: M Schwarzer, N Maddison, P Gascoigne, S Ripley, H Ricard.
Colin Eales
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: The full squad for the 98/99 season was: Mark Schwarzer, Curtis Fleming, Dean Gordon, Steve Vickers, Gianluca Festa, Gary Pallister, Robbie Mustoe, Paul Gascoigne, Marco Branca, Paul Merson, Brian Deane, Alun Armstrong, Alan Moore, Mikkel Beck, Marlon Beresford, Phil Stamp, Neil Maddison, Andy Townsend, Vladimir Kinder, Andy Campbell, Hamilton Ricard, Craig Harrison, Robbie Stockdale, Jason Gavin, Mark Summerbell, Keith O'Neill, Clayton Blackmore, Ben Roberts, Gustavo Lombardi, Anthony Ormerod, Colin Cooper, Michael Cummins
Q: How many Australians have played for the Boro and who were they?
Tog
Boro communications and media manager Dave Allan's A: Craig Johnston (born in South Africa, raised in Australia, played for England Under-21s), Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Viduka and Rhys Williams.
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: Eight Aussies have played a first team game for Middlesbrough. They are: Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Craig Johnston (even though he was born in South Africa), Paul Okon, Mark Viduka, Rhys Williams, Tony Vidmar, Luke Wilkshire. In addition a player called Fausto De Amicis was on trial at Middlesbrough in the 1998 pre-season and played a couple of friendly games
Q: Could you name all Boro's sponsors, from first to last, to settle an argument please?William Cooper
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A:
1980-82 Datsun Cleveland
1982-84 McLean Homes
1984-86 Camerons (Hansa on away shirts) - Some of the early shirts had Cameron Ales on the front
1986-88 Dickens (Visqueen on away shirts - 86/87)
1988-90 Heritage Hampers
1990-92 Evening Gazette
1992-94 ICI
1994-95 Dickens
1995-02 Cellnet (Changed to BT Cellnet in 1999)
2002-04 Dial-a-phone
2004-07 888.com
2007-Present Garmin
Q: Could someone please tell me what season you had a blue training kit and were sponsored by 888.com? I believe it was a training kit but am not entirely sure. Any information would be much appreciated.
Alex Dewberry
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: The blue training top was worn in the 2006/07 season
Q: Has Timmy Mallet ever done Mallet's Mallet at the Riverside at half-time?
Chris Wright
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: Yes. He was performing in a panto at Billingham Forum during Christmas 1999 and appeared at the Riverside to carry out the half-time draw.
Q: My mom often says her dad, John Leslie Dixon, played for Middleborough at some level. Are you able to confirm this in the player records? If he were still alive I guess he'd be around his mid 80s.
Dan Smith, Cape Town, South Africa
Website A: The only two Dixons by that spelling who have played for Boro's first team are Charlie (1915-23) and Tom (1907-11). It's possible that your granddad played at reserve or youth level as we don't have records for that.
David Williams
Website A: Born in Morpeth in 1921, George Stobbart played two FA Cup games for Boro and made no league appearances. But he holds the record for wartime games played for the club, scoring 125 in 168 games. He was allowed to join Newcastle in 1946 and also played for Luton, Millwall and Brentford. However, we unfortunately have no details of any non-league playing record.
Q: Can you name the two Boro league goal top scorers in season 1974-75?
Mogens Hansen, Odense, Denmark
Website A: Top scorer was Alan Foggon (above right, with John Hendrie, left) with 16, followed by David Mills and John Hickton on eight each. Q: My husband used to say that his grandfather was a founder director of the club. His name was Cook. Do you have a list of founding directors or members? My son is an avid supporter and I am trying to piece together information which might be relevant to the family. Many thanks.
Margaret Cook
Website A: Records show that George Cook was appointed as a director of the club in December 1893, Margaret.
Q: Our great grandfather was Walter Rowley, my brother and myself do not have a great knowledge of who he was, so can anyone help us? My grandad is the only child (Brian Rowley) and we would like further information and history about him. We would love to have the opportunity to see where he played and have a greater understanding of what he contributed to modern day football.
Holly Rowley
Website A: Walter Rowley became Boro's 11th manager when he took over from David Jack in 1952 (after Boro considered Matt Busby for the job) but his reign was something of a disaster and ended with relegation after 18 top-flight seasons. In Rowley's first season Boro struggled for consistency but finished 13th. However, they spent virtually the whole of 1953-54 in the relegation zone, eventually succumbing to the drop. He had undergone surgery on a stomach ulcer and with Boro in serious trouble, he tendered his resignation in February 1954, saying the club needed a fully fit man at the helm. He later withdrew his resignation but the club had already found a replacement in Bob Dennison and his 20-month reign came to an end. Club records show that during his time at Ayresome Park, Rowley travelled to Ashington to try to sign a young Bobby Charlton, but the player had already set his heart on joining Manchester United. Highlights of his tenure include a 5-0 win over Manchester United, but there was also an 8-1 defeat at Charlton and a 7-1 slump at Spurs.
David Brown
A: This is in fact true. It dates from the early 1980s and the reason we played in a Manchester United kit was due to the banning of teams in sponsor emblazoned strips from any sort of TV coverage. The match was chosen to feature in that evening's Match Of The Day but I believe that Boro were unaware of the fact and packed their normal home Datsun Cleveland sponsored kit for the trip to Maine Road. Naturally there was no alternative but to borrow a full set of home kits from City's bitter rivals to get around this broadcasting technicality. I remember being a very confused young lad watching the game which I think ended up in a 3-2 defeat for Boro United. The rule regarding kits carrying commercial logos was subsequently changed in the mid-1980s. Not the full story but something that may spark further discussion.
Paul Edwards
Q: I wonder if you can help me. A few years ago, my family and I took a guided tour of the Riverside and remember seeing some paintings or prints near or on the entrance stairs which we thought were lovely. They were black and white scenes, with just a touch of red - like a scarf round a fan's neck - quite cartoon like, but simple. Can you tell me the name of the artist who used to exhibit there and if these prints are still around somewhere?
Fiona Davis
Website A: These prints are by Mackenzie Thorpe, the world famous Middlesbrough-born artist. His prints are very collectable and widely available. You'll be able to find more on his official website, http://www.mackenziethorpe.net/, and prints often come up for sale on Ebay. Q: I was recently in France and on a French TV programme, I saw a Middlesbrough Football Club cake in an episode of Midsomer Murders. Please could you tell me, if you know, which episode this was so I can try to watch the full episode in English. Thank you.
Geoff Smith
A: This was in episode 29, The Green Man. The reason was this was the last episode that featured the actor Daniel Casey, who played Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy. Casey is a Boro fan in real life and the cake was a little on screen treat for him!
Sam Newton
A: It is the one where his assistant is leaving and he goes to Middlesbrough. The town is not shown in the programme and is only mentioned in the last scene where you see the cake.
Josh Bartram
A: The Boro cake was a leaving present for Sgt Troy (Daniel Casey) when he left the series, supposedly to take up a promotion in the North East. I believe the storyline said he was going to involve Newcastle but when he was due to leave Midsummer, the Barbabys presented Troy with a cake featuring his favourite team - Boro of course, as Daniel Casey is from Stockton. I am not sure of the name of the actual episode but I think it was probably The Green Man, made in 2003, which is listed as Troy's Farewell. See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0647507/.
Eric Wilson, Northampton
Keith Mizon
Boro statto Shaun Wilson's A: Cloughie's record is as follows...
1955/56 - 9 League games, 3 goals
1956/57 - 41 League games, 38 goals (3 FAC games, 2 goals)
1957/58 - 40 League games, 40 goals (2 FAC games, 2 goals)
1958/59 - 42 League games, 43 goals (1 FAC game, 0 goals)
1959/60 - 41 League games, 39 goals (1 FAC game, 1 goal)
1960/61 - 40 League games, 34 goals (1 FAC game, 0 goal - 1 LC game, 2 goals)
Total - 213 League games, 197 goals, 8 FAC games, 5 goals, 1 LC game, 2 goals)
Send your questions and answers to editor@riverside.mfc.co.uk.
