12th August 1972 at home to Sunderland

[erimus74]

My 1st full season going to Boro games

Malcolm Smith who had made one sub in the final game of the previous season made his full league debut for the mighty Boro in the opening game of the new season, when Boro manager Stan Anderson gave him the No9 shirt

Went in the boysend with my younger brother, trouble in our end too, we watched as Sunderland took the lead through Latham after 21st minute, on the half hour Malcolm Smith equalised, becoming the 85th different Boro player to score on his full debut, on the hour mark Malcolm Smith scored the winner, both points remaining on Teesside & starting off the season with a win over our local rivals, it doesnt get any better

Stan Anderson in his final season picked the following team

Jim Platt
John Craggs - Alan Moody
Frank Spraggon
Nobby Stiles
Stuey Boam
Willie Maddren
Eric McMordie
David Mills
Malcolm Smith
Harry Charlton
Johnny Vincent

Attendance - 24,145

Boro went on to finish 4th that season

No 1 in the charts this day 1972  -

Beer was 16p a pint
Gallon of petrol was 35p
Pint of milk 5p
Average house price £7k
Dail Mirror 3p
Raleigh chopper bike £35

The average weekly wage for full-time male manual workers over twenty-one was £36.60 
For women workers over eighteen it was £20.50

Postal rates were 3p for first class & 2½p for second class letters

[erimus74]

[erimus74]

Those were the days, the beginning of a lifetime obsession, 😍

[TerryCochranesSocks]

I was at that game with my old man, sat in the South Stand.
I was 5.