32 years ago - Blimey

[erimus74]

17th August 1991

Boro 1 Millwall 0

Bruce Rioch returned to the Ayresome Park dugout this day 1991, not as Boro manager but as todays opponents Millwall, take nothing away from our manager on this day Lennie, I loved Lennies time at the Boro, but what Bruce acheived at the Boro & the appreciation he was given before kickoff showed the fans still cared for him, up till KO anyway

IMHO, Bruce (the late, great Willie Maddrens final piece of business as our manager was bringing Sir Bruce to the mighty Boro) saved our football club, certainly, like the man he replaced, was the right man at the right time, following all the hard work Willie Maddren had put in place with his excellent signings

BR still had to guide the players in the right direction, which he done brilliantly

Lennies debut in the dugout was a home game against our former managers Millwall, slightly overshadowed by the legend in the opposing dugout (though he was actually sat in the directors box come KO) Lennie had brought 3 players to the club during the summer, he gave 2 of those players home debut for the opening fixture
Willie Falconer, registered No609 & Paul Wilkinson, registerred No610 a double swoop signings from Watford, with Trevor Putney going in the other direction as part of the Willie Falconer transfer

The game was won by a Robbie Mustoe goal, wearing the No7 shirt, an excellent signing by our previous manager Colin Todd

Lennie's 1st official team he picked

Stephen Pears
Gary Parkinson
Jimmy Phillips
Tony Mowbray
Alan Kernaghan
Willie Falconer
Robbie Mustoe
Mark Proctor
Paul Wilkinson
Stuart Ripley
John Hendrie

Attendance - 16,234

Another excellent season in store for Boro fans

[erimus74]