9th March 1990 - A very sad day Bruce was dismissed

[erimus74]

Up there in my top 3 Boro managers of all time

Just after one in the afternoon I got up after my nightshift, made my way downstairs & noticed a crunched up note someone had pushed through the letter box, on opening the note I couldn't believe what I was reading & immediately turned on the kitchen radio for the local news

On the note was written, 'Bruce Rioch has been sacked', I was shocked & gutted, yes we were struggling in the 2nd division after, unluckily, relegated the previous season, but this man had, IMHO, saved our football club from falling in to the football abyss, while guiding us to our 1st ever Wembley cup final under the twin towers

I'm a great believer that a club & person can be an ideal fit, no matter where they were born, John Hickton, Gary Hamilton, Bernie Slaven, players who came to the Boro & left as legends
Bruce Rioch fitted into that category
I think if we had turned to any other manager when Willie Maddren was dismissed those incredible seasons under Bruce would have been pipedreams & we would have become a third, even 4th division team
Willie Maddren, who made some excellent signings, to me Bruce was Willie Maddrens final recruit & probably the most vital signing Willie ever made

When he took charge of his 1st match v Grimsby on the 4th March, we looked a team, the following seasons were unbelievable & most likely never, ever repeated, to finally take us to Wembley only one month previous, when we beating 1st division, 2nd place Aston Villa on 6th February over 2 legs & a month later dismissed

1st match 4th March 1986 v Grimsby Town at Ayresome Park, Boro won 3-1
Last match, 7th March 1990, Boro 1 Watford 2 at Ayresome Park

Met the great man a few times at former player reunions & his love for the Boro still shines through

Thanks for the ride Bruce, it was as good a ride as anytime in my Boro supporting lifetime

[Johnny Thunder]

Absolute legend. Great man. Great manager.

[erimus74]

Absolute legend. Great man. Great manager.

Without a doubt Johnny

[TerryCochranesSocks]

A proper football man, a proper man.

(Great pic btw mate)