12th September 1903 -The official opening of Ayresome Park

[erimus74]

James Clifton Robinson president & managing director of Imperial Tramways & also a shareholder of the club performed the official opening ceremony of Ayresome Park

Sunderland were our league opponents to Ayresome Park for the 1st home league game of the season

After losing the opening league fixture seven days previously 4-1 away to Sheff Weds hopefully we bounce back in our new home.

Although not 100% complete, the first paying customers were admitted to Ayresome Park for a friendly game against Glasgow Celtic on Tuesday 1st September, which attracted a crowd of around 7,000 spectators, with Boro new boy Willie White scoring the only goal of the game
On this day the Boro took the game to Sunderland & were the dominant team in the 1st half & with both teams looking like going in at HT goalless Boro's captain, Joe Cassidy become the 1st player to officially score a league goal on our sacred football ground
Half time Boro 1 Sunderland 0

Sunderland levelled early in the 2nd half, but within 30 seconds of Sunderland's goal, Alex Brown, restored Boro's lead, 2-1 to the mighty reds, Sunderland eventually ran out winners by 3-2, if VAR was around back then all Sunderland's goals would have been disallowed

John Robson, Boro's 1st manager at Ayresome Park, picked the following team

Tim 'Tiny'Williamson - 602 appearances, 2 goals, both home penalties, against Bristol City & Liverpool & to this day, our only keeper to score in a competitive game, he actually missed a third penalty but due to realising he then had to  race back to his position in goal decided to call it a day on future spot kicks
John Hogg - 100 appearances, no goals
Joseph Blacket - 80 appearances, 4 galas
David W Smith - 114 appearances, 12 goals
Abraham jones - 149 appearances, 9 goals
Andrew Davidson - 201 appearances, 8 goals
Edward Gettings - 47 appearances, 5 goals
Willie White - 7 appearances, 0 goals
Alex Brown - 49 appearances, 20 goals
Joe Cassidy - 135 appearances, 33 goals
Robert Atherton - 66 appearances, 14