Boro flashback this day 1985 - The start of a Boro legend

[erimus74]

One of our bargain signings of all time, made his Boro debut away to Leeds United this day 1985, Bernie Slaven

At the end of 1984-85 season, Bernie wrote to every team in the English 1st & 2nd division asking for a trial with the chance to prove his goalscoring ability at the highest level

Boro's manager, Willie Maddren, one of a few clubs who replied to Bernies letter, offering him the chance in a behind closed doors match, the trial match was IIRC, Bradford City, Boro winning 2-0

After the game, at a cold & empty Ayresome Park the late, great Willie Maddren had seen enough & instructed the groundsman to lock the gates, not letting anyone in, or out & with time ticking on & his constant phonecalls to the Boro chairman unanswered WM agreed to sign Bernie without permission from chairman Alf Duffield
Willie knew that if Bernie left AP that night he would be snapped up & ironically, one of the teams waiting to pounce were Leeds, the team who Bernie was to make his Boro debut against

So on the 12th October 1985 Bernie, signed from Albion Rovers for £15k & a further £10k after a number of 1st team appearances, starts life at the Boro wearing the No9 shirt, registered No577

Boro struggling in the 2nd division had last tasted victory on the 21st September & after playing 10 games that season had won just 2, scoring 4 in the process, with only 2 players on the score sheet so far
With Boro struggling in the league a goalscorer was the priority & hopefully, fingers crossed, this young, hungry striker from Scotland has to be the answer

Unfortunately Bernie & Boro went down 1-0 to a Peter Lorimer penalty

Willie Maddrens team that day

Stephen Pears
Brian Laws
Pat Heard
Tony McAndrew
Tony Mowbray
Irving Nattrass
Gary Hamilton
Don O'Riordon
Bernie Slaven
Archie Stephens
Peter Beagrie
Sub
Dave Currie

[tunstall]

He was class

[Mike Peeler]

Certainly knew how to put the ball in the net - a snip of a buy @25k given the number of goals he knocked in.

A great era to follow Boro in - the players whilst should be proud of their time at Boro back then. Must also feel like they missed out on a lottery win due to what money is now in-game, and not then.

[Nosmo-King]

Never really got the appreciation universally amongst our fan base that was deserved.

Goal scorers of that ilk are not 10 a penny- as such they do deserve massive recognition.