38 years tomorrow

[erimus74]

21st May (my wives birthday & the year we got married) 1986 the shattering news that Middlesbrough FC went into voluntary liquidation

As Boro fans we still coming hadn't got over the agony of our glorious football club relegated to the, then, 3rd division, following our defeat at Shrewsbury Town on the final day of the season

Since relegation in 1982 we continually fought against the dreaded drop into the third tier, following our relegation in 82 when Bobby Murdoch was dismissed, Harold Shepherdon stood in for 3 games, then the board turned to Malcolm Allison, who amazingly seemed to turn the corner & results improved & with so few players, Big Mal then paid the price for some unsavoury words & was dismissed, Jack Charlton returned for a short spell came in & kept us up, Willie Maddren followed & finally Bruce Rioch, who tried in vain, the clubs were losing money & with what seemed like fighting continually fighting season after season we finally buckled, went down & worse was to follow that summer

I can still remember when the local news came on the radio & TV

I was totally gobsmacked & heartbroken, I just couldn't believe it, here I was building up to my wedding & now this, high one minute, low the next


UTMB erimus

[tunstall]

Sad times

Thankfully all that was before my time

I can remember seeing a sticker in the window of a house I used to walk past on my way to school in Billingham asking for donations to save the club

Must have been horrible as a supporter to see that happening

At least now we know we have someone who knows how wrong it can go, and above all else has the financial well being of the club as his number one priority

[erimus74]

Sad times

Thankfully all that was before my time

I can remember seeing a sticker in the window of a house I used to walk past on my way to school in Billingham asking for donations to save the club

Must have been horrible as a supporter to see that happening

At least now we know we have someone who knows how wrong it can go, and above all else has the financial well being of the club as his number one priority

So true, yet depending on how results are going our way, some so called fans have thrown a political tantrum towards Gibbo
I have no issues with people wanting a change at the top, that is their opinion & I respect that, I would never as I recogniae his true value to our football club, but some of the vile comments wasnt about football, needless to say, we're doing well so its a bit quiet

[Nosmo-King]

Erimus, I was a coward over this episode. Refused to listen to radio and TV reports, gave up with newspapers,I blocked my mind off from the info. I really did think we were done for. And it was a prospect I couldn't bear to think about.

Thankfully, as we know, we were saved at the last minute and rose like a Phoenix from the ashes.


Certainly the most worrying period to endure in my time supporting the club

[TerryCochranesSocks]

It was terrible to see our club falling into the fire but the Phoenix-like rise from the flames was one of the most joyous times.

Sometimes you need to have known darkness to truly appreciate the light.


Happy birthday to Mrs Erimus.
  

[TommyDickfingers]

The two seasons after was pure Roy of the Rovers stuff and alongside the two European seasons, my favourite times of following the Boro for 45 years.

[John Trebor]

Just a year or two before that Alf Duffield was talking about building a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium outside of the town centre.
Even before the Taylor Report forced the issue. A visionary 10 years ahead of everyone else.
Just a pity he couldn't use that vision to save the club in 86.

[erimus74]

Just a year or two before that Alf Duffield was talking about building a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium outside of the town centre.
Even before the Taylor Report forced the issue. A visionary 10 years ahead of everyone else.
Just a pity he couldn't use that vision to save the club in 86.

Great memory JT, that is 100%  correct, I have the right up from the gazette in one of my scrapbooks, once I find it I will post on here

[erimus74]

@John Trebor

[John Trebor]

@John Trebor

Brilliant! Your scrap books should have National Heritage status or something.

My brother in law was convinced I had dreamt it or was just making shit up😁

[erimus74]

@John Trebor

Brilliant! Your scrap books should have National Heritage status or something.

My brother in law was convinced I had dreamt it or was just making shit up😁

Cheers JT, well now you can prove to your BIL that you were right all along

Its crazy that on the 23/12/1993 more, or less 8 years after Alf Duffields announcement that we had breaking news in the gazette & 2 years later it was done, a bew stadium, obviously it made an impression with Steve Gibson who was on the board back then

[John Trebor]

@John Trebor

Brilliant! Your scrap books should have National Heritage status or something.

My brother in law was convinced I had dreamt it or was just making shit up😁

Cheers JT, well now you can prove to your BIL that you were right all along

Its crazy that on the 23/12/1993 more, or less 8 years after Alf Duffields announcement that we had breaking news in the gazette & 2 years later it was done, a bew stadium, obviously it made an impression with Steve Gibson who was on the board back then

Good point. Alf probably planted the seed for him.

[fukyu]

I have no heroes but gibbo is as close as you can get to being one.Not just for what he's done at the club but his championing and defence of the area.He's done more for Teesside than here to day gone tomorrow politicians.

[erimus74]

@John Trebor

Brilliant! Your scrap books should have National Heritage status or something.

My brother in law was convinced I had dreamt it or was just making shit up😁

Once retired I would like to use all my memorabilia, scrapbook cuttings in some sort of book format, thats my goal anyway

[John Trebor]

@John Trebor

Brilliant! Your scrap books should have National Heritage status or something.

My brother in law was convinced I had dreamt it or was just making shit up😁

Once retired I would like to use all my memorabilia, scrapbook cuttings in some sort of book format, thats my goal anyway

That would be superb. It would be a uniquely meaningful compilation of memories.
I'm sure the club would love to be involved in that if you wanted them to be.

[tunstall]

Rob could do the Foreword for it as well

 

[Ural Quntz]

Just a year or two before that Alf Duffield was talking about building a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium outside of the town centre.
Even before the Taylor Report forced the issue. A visionary 10 years ahead of everyone else.
Just a pity he couldn't use that vision to save the club in 86.

Except the cunt wanted his sons building firm to do the job!

Could only swing it for the indoor training pitch

[John Trebor]

Just a year or two before that Alf Duffield was talking about building a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium outside of the town centre.
Even before the Taylor Report forced the issue. A visionary 10 years ahead of everyone else.
Just a pity he couldn't use that vision to save the club in 86.

Except the cunt wanted his sons building firm to do the job!

Could only swing it for the indoor training pitch

Wasn't that Amer?

[Ural Quntz]

Just a year or two before that Alf Duffield was talking about building a 30,000 capacity all-seater stadium outside of the town centre.
Even before the Taylor Report forced the issue. A visionary 10 years ahead of everyone else.
Just a pity he couldn't use that vision to save the club in 86.

Except the cunt wanted his sons building firm to do the job!

Could only swing it for the indoor training pitch

Wasn't that Amer?

Well yes it was - but its still a fucking good rant innit!