50 years today - IMHO the start of

[erimus74]

An unbelievable, never to be forgotten season

      25th August 1973
Portsmouth 0 v The mighty Boro 1

50 years ago today the start of  big Jacks debut season in the Boro dugout, after his long, successful career with Leeds United he now starts life as a manager, our manager

Boro travelled to Portmouth for the seasons openor, who the bookies have tipped as 33-1 for promotion, with sports writer Bob Harris putting Villa & Boro to fight for the top spot come next May

Big Jack was fortunate in that he inherited a very good team from the previous manager Stan Anderson

Stan had put together a cracking team that challenged each season then fell away at the end, how Jack sets us up, formation we play, will go along way to seeing if he will have that little bit extra that Stan was missing & finally end our 20 year wait outside the top flight

In the baking heat the game was settled by a Alan Foggon strike, scoring the only goal of the game in the 21st minute
Boro taking both points back to Teesside & Jack starting life in the hot seat with a win 👍

For me this was the start of the best ever season, which 50 years later, is still fondly remembered by those who were lucky enough & old enough, to be around then, throughout the season the names on the teamsheet didn't change much, the team just picked itself

Our dad started taking me & our Kev back end of 71 with the following season 1972/73 been the season I almost went to each & every home game

For me, big Jacks team is most likely tbe reason I have lived & loved the Boro these past 50 years so much, I just cant get enough of reading & reminiscing about that fantastic team

Whenever I see a player wearing the No4 shirt I immediately think of Souness
Maddren our best ever defender
Boam our best captain
Have we had a better player wear No11 than Spike,
Jim Platt my all time favourite keeper
Mr Middlesbrough, John Hickton, my all time favourite Boro player & the list just goes on

Thanks dad x

Big Jacks 1st team he picked

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Frank Spraggon
Stuey Boam
Brian Taylor
Willie Maddren
Eric McMordie
David Mills
John Hickton - Malcolm Smith
Alan Foggon
David Armstrong

[erimus74]

[Nosmo-King]

Some great, great players as you say, Erimus.Was the start of a golden period for the club. If only Jack had signed a striker.........

[Ebenezer Good]

My favourite season as well' far and away the best in the division yet it was the season "Boring Boring Boro" started.