This day 1966 - Happy birthday & a debut goal to an iconic Boro legend

[erimus74]

On this day 1966 Mr Middlesbrough, John Hickton, starts out life at the Boro in a 3rd division game at home to Workington Town on a saturday afternoon kickoff

John Hickton, born 24th September 1944, was 22 on the day he made his Boro debut

Up to the Workington Town home fixture we had lost both of our home games that season, our only points on the board were won away from Ayresome Park, a 3-2 win at Colchester on the opening day of the season & a 1-1 draw at Oxford United, Boro were finding life tough in the 3rd division
Boro manager Stan Anderson knew he needed to sign players if he wanted to halt the slide & the unthinkable of the Boro dropping in to the 4th division

One of Stans 1st signings in his quest to turn the clubs fortunes around was to pay Sheff Weds £20k for big John signature

On the 23rd September club secretary Harry Green was instrumental with John Hickton signing for the Boro when he drove to his home in Chesterfield to complete the signing, apparently other clubs were in for him but Harry got in first, well done Harry, we are forever in your debt

Middlesbrough were at the foot of the 3rd divison table when John Hickton made his debut, registered No459, wearing the No5 shirt, playing at centre half, due to our CH Dickie Rooks out injured
Big John must have wondered what he'd let himself in for as the player he was marking & struggling against was Max Tolson, who had scored twice in the opening 17 minutes

The Boros fortunes lifted when on the 37th minute we were awarded a penalty & no would step forward to take it. Hickton then asked who the penalty taker was & was told it was Dicky Rooks, who wasn't playing.

Big John took full responsibility, picked up the ball, placed it on the penalty spot, stepped up & smashed it in to the net, bringing us back in to the game at 2-1, Boro's 147th penalty & becoming the 83rd player to score on his Boro debut

HT Boro 1 Workington 2

The goal proved to be the turning point for the Boro who played with a lot more confidence after the break

With 18 minutes remaining Billy Horner's pass was flicked on by David Chadwick & Arthur Horsfield cracked the ball home from close range, 2-2

With 5 minutes remaining & the crowd in full voice Boro grabbed the winner, John O'Rourke drove in a cross which Arthur Horsfield met at the far post to head home

3-2 to the mighty Boro

We got the 2 points, our 1st home win of the srason & a legendary penalty king was born

On promotions winning sessons you look back at certain games, turning points & that game must be high in the list of games

Stans Boro team

Des McPartland
Geoff Butler
Gordon Jones
Ian Davidson
JOHN HICKTON
Billy Horner
David Chadwick
Arthur Horsefield
John O'Rourke
Jim Irvine
James Lawson.

I'm lucky enough to have met the great man a number of times, while also receiving a good luck message on the day of my daughters wedding

[erimus74]

Ayresome Park saturday 1966

[erimus74]

[erimus74]

Big John with two other Boro legends in David Armstrong (RIP) & Jim Platt

[erimus74]

[teamboro]

Great read Erimus your our mr Middlesbrough your write ups are a great read

[AtomicDog]

Great photo's . . .

You look made up on the one with him, class
UTMB Lad
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[Johnny Thunder]

Class that Erimus.



 

[AtomicDog]

To use the words of that sultry,  sex siren, the power balladeer penner

Carly Elisabeth Simon

"Nobody Does It Better"

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[TerryCochranesSocks]

Brilliant again.
That card from Big John for your daughter's wedding! Just great.

[erimus74]