Flashback/On this Day Erimus74 & McMordie

[Erimus74 305]

5th August 1998 - Sure this was the 1st Riverside testimonial - Chris Morris, brought from Celtic by Lennie at the start of the 1st ever PL season, Chris Morris making his Boro debut away to Coventry City on the 15th August in a 2-1 defeat, Morris went on to make 82 appearences between 92 & 97 scoring 3 goals

 

5th August 2001 - Curtis Flemings debut wearing the No14 shirt, was named by Lennie in the squad v Ipswich away on the 24th August 1991, replacing Gary Parkinson in the 2nd half in a 2-1 defeat, Curtis went on to make 266 appearences for the Boro, scoring 3 goals, between 1991 & 2001

[McMordie 23]

August 6th 1977

Wrexham 3 Boro 0

A pre-season friendly defeat at the Racecourse Ground against manager John Neal's previous club.

In an evenly contested first half the best player on the pitch appeared to be a Wrexham striker by the name of Billy Ashcroft, who Neal was keen should follow him to Ayresome Park. Ashcroft had refused to sign a new contract with Wrexham, saying that he was determined to play in the First Division and a move to Boro appeared to be imminent. He said before this friendly, though, that if selected he'd give 100%, not least in the hope of attracting interest from other First Division clubs to strengthen his position in contract talks. He put one shot narrowly wide and set up three good chances for colleagues in the first half before being withdrawn in the usual plethora of friendly substitutions.

Boro faded badly in the second half, appearing to show the signs of a hard week ahead of the match. While Wrexham had been back in training for 3 weeks, Boro came into the game on the back of an intensive first week back at a training base in Aberystwyth. They'd then played Aberystwyth Town on the Friday evening before leaving their training base to travel to Wrexham early on the Saturday. Wrexham duly took control in the second half, with an opening goal from John Lyons followed by a double from Graham Whittle.

Neal said after the match that it had been a good run out and that he wasn't too concerned by the result, which he attributed to defensive errors that wouldn't occur when his players regained their sharpness.

And he was right. 1977/78 proved to be a glorious season for Boro as they swept to Wembley to lift the FA Cup for the first time in their history after that very man Billy Ashcroft fired them to a quarter final victory over Orien…...oh, hang on....

 

In the news - England named an unchanged 12 for the second test against Australia which would begin ay Headingly on the Thursday as talk grew about whether Geoffrey Boycott could possibly make his 100th century in an Ashes test on his home ground (surely not - that kind of thing only happens in comics), it was estimated that the British shipbuilding industry would take a £2 billion boost from work connected with North Sea gas pipelines, security was being ramped up in Northern Ireland ahead of a Silver Jubilee visit by the Queen and a family was saved as fire swept through a block of flats in Washington (the Tyne and Wear one) by their squawking budgie.

Top of the charts - I Feel Love by Donna Summer.

[McMordie 23]

[Erimus74 305]

1 hour ago, McMordie said:

August 6th 1977

Wrexham 3 Boro 0

A pre-season friendly defeat at the Racecourse Ground against manager John Neal's previous club.

In an evenly contested first half the best player on the pitch appeared to be a Wrexham striker by the name of Billy Ashcroft, who Neal was keen should follow him to Ayresome Park. Ashcroft had refused to sign a new contract with Wrexham, saying that he was determined to play in the First Division and a move to Boro appeared to be imminent. He said before this friendly, though, that if selected he'd give 100%, not least in the hope of attracting interest from other First Division clubs to strengthen his position in contract talks. He put one shot narrowly wide and set up three good chances for colleagues in the first half before being withdrawn in the usual plethora of friendly substitutions.

Boro faded badly in the second half, appearing to show the signs of a hard week ahead of the match. While Wrexham had been back in training for 3 weeks, Boro came into the game on the back of an intensive first week back at a training base in Aberystwyth. They'd then played Aberystwyth Town on the Friday evening before leaving their training base to travel to Wrexham early on the Saturday. Wrexham duly took control in the second half, with an opening goal from John Lyons followed by a double from Graham Whittle.

Neal said after the match that it had been a good run out and that he wasn't too concerned by the result, which he attributed to defensive errors that wouldn't occur when his players regained their sharpness.

And he was right. 1977/78 proved to be a glorious season for Boro as they swept to Wembley to lift the FA Cup for the first time in their history after that very man Billy Ashcroft fired them to a quarter final victory over Orien…...oh, hang on....

 

In the news - England named an unchanged 12 for the second test against Australia which would begin ay Headingly on the Thursday as talk grew about whether Geoffrey Boycott could possibly make his 100th century in an Ashes test on his home ground (surely not - that kind of thing only happens in comics), it was estimated that the British shipbuilding industry would take a £2 billion boost from work connected with North Sea gas pipelines, security was being ramped up in Northern Ireland ahead of a Silver Jubilee visit by the Queen and a family was saved as fire swept through a block of flats in Washington (the Tyne and Wear one) by their squawking budgie.

Top of the charts - I Feel Love by Donna Summer.

One of John Neals 1st games in charge as our manager 

[Blanco 1,122]

This is very enjoyable reading. Keep up the good work @McMordie and @Erimus74 👍

[McMordie 23]

Thanks Blanco.

[Erimus74 305]

This day 6th August 2000 Robbie Mustoe led the Boro team out at the Riverside Stadium for his fully deserved testimonial v Borussia Dortmund 

Colin Todd, who also signed John Hendrie & John Wark, paid Oxford United £375k for Robbies signature & what a signing he became, a box to box player who scored some cracking goals, some crucial goals & certainly, IMHO, a very important player in all his time at the Boro

Robbie had seen the lot with the Boro, changing grounds, promotions, relegations, Cup finals, big signings, World class players, 3 points, it certainly wasn't a dull period at the Boro

The biggest compliment I can give RM is that with all the millions of pounds Robbo had to buy anyone he chose & the big name players who were arriving at the Boro, Robbie name was one of the 1st on the teamsheet 

Robbie Mustoe went on to make 365 appearance, scoring 25 goals in over 12  seasons at the Boro

In our 1st season in the PL under Robbo, 1995-96, from boxing day till mud February, the Boro lost 8 on the bounce & sliding down the PL table, with Mustoe out injured throughout, he eventually returned to 1st team duty away to Coventry where the defeats were stopped as the Boro drew the game 0-0

A true Boro legend indeed

[Uwe 1,358]

Merged these two threads together. Absolutely love your work @Erimus74 & @McMordie please keep it up 

@Downsouth if I haven’t done it correctly please feel free to undo or correct 👍

[Downsouth 1,456]

24 minutes ago, Uwe said:

Merged these two threads together. Absolutely love your work @Erimus74 & @McMordie please keep it up 

@Downsouth if I haven’t done it correctly please feel free to undo or correct 👍

Agree with you and now much stronger a thread.

Thanks both Erimus and McMordie I will slightly alter the thread title

[RiseAgainst 866]

Wish we'd signed more players like Mustoe over the years. Unglamorous and often unheralded, but a key part of any successful team. How we could use his talents now. He'd probably still be more effective than some of our midfielders.

[Erimus74 305]

4 hours ago, Uwe said:

Merged these two threads together. Absolutely love your work @Erimus74 & @McMordie please keep it up 

@Downsouth if I haven’t done it correctly please feel free to undo or correct 👍

Cheers Uwe & Downside, with August upon us, which means the start of the football season, it makes posting this day back in time matches appropriate 

[Erimus74 305]

3 hours ago, RiseAgainst said:

Wish we'd signed more players like Mustoe over the years. Unglamorous and often unheralded, but a key part of any successful team. How we could use his talents now. He'd probably still be more effective than some of our midfielders.

A signing in the John Hickton, Bernie Slaven bracket, a player & club a perfect fit, with all 3 signings making a massive contribution to the Boro, having great careers on Teesside & enjoying richly deserved testimonials 

[Downsouth 1,456]

1 hour ago, Erimus74 said:

Cheers Uwe & Downside, with August upon us, which means the start of the football season, it makes posting this day back in time matches appropriate 

There is always a downside to life!😐

[Erimus74 305]

9 minutes ago, Downsouth said:

There is always a downside to life!😐

I will have to proofread better 😔

[Downsouth 1,456]

4 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

I will have to proofread better 😔

Know what you mean sometimes I just hit the buttons and hope!

As they say give enough time and a chimpanzee will  type the bible!