10th September 1977

[erimus74]

47 years ago today a record signing CF Billy Ashcroft, registered No513, who made his away debut 7 days earlier, makes his Boro home debut, manager John Neal went back to his old club Wrexham & signed Billy for £135k a club record.

The mighty Boro are at home to Birmingham City with, soon to be, 1st million pound footballer, Trevor Francis

After a 2 game absence Graeme Souness came back into the side, Tony McAndrew dropped back alongside Stuey Boam  with Peter Brine wearing the No10 shirt. Ian Bailey replacing Graeme Hedley on the bench

Billy became the 85th different Boro player to score on his (home/away) debut, he actually scored a 2nd goal (both at the holagte end) unfortunately his second was disallowed Trevor Francis spoilt the party with 2 goals to take both points back to the midlands & John Neals 1st back to back defeats & 1st home defeat as manager

Two members of Charltons Champions legends
Willie Maddren, between 1968/77 played 343 games, scoring 21 goals, misses his 1st home game since 12th March & sadly, never to play for the Boro 1st team again           
Peter Brine, between 1972/77 played 93 games, scoring 8 goals, played his final Boro game
 

John Neal's 3rd home game as manager picked the following team

Jim Platt
John Craggs - Should have played for England
Terry Cooper - Again, good enough to have played for England while at the Boro
Graeme Souness - For me, the best player ever to play for our football club
Willie Maddren
Stuey Boam
Tony McAndrew - Youngest Boro player to score a 1st team hat trick
John Mahoney
David Mills
Billy Ashcroft
Peter Brine
David Armstrong

Sub
Ian Bailey - Replaced Peter Brine in the 2nd half

Attendance - 19,240

John Neals first back to back defeats

[TerryCochranesSocks]

Billy is a driving instructor in Liverpool now and in quite a bad way; knees and back buggered.
He was one of my favourites back then.
Do you remember that after a head injury he had ballet dancing lessons to restore his balance?