Boro blast from the past - 2nd October 1971

[erimus74]

This day the bedrock behind the best ever league defence was born

Following our 4-1 defeat away to Sunderland 3 days earlier Stan Anderson had decided to take Willie Whigham out of the firing line & hand a debut to an Irish youngster waiting patently to be given his chance

Stan handed Jim Platt's the No1 jersey for his football league debut
Since joining the football league in 1899 Jim, who was registered No484, became the 36th different Boro 1st team keeper when  he started his first of 468 games, stretching over 12 seasons, between 1971/1983
Becoming mine & Kens No1 Boro keeper of all time

Bill Gates doubled his seasons account for the only game of the game against Blackpool, as the Boro bounced back from the Roker Park defeat
 
Including Jims starting Stan made 3 other changes, bringing in Alan Moody, Alex Smith for their first appearances of the season & Don Burluraux his first start after making one sub appearance

Stans team.

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Gordon Jones.
Alan Moody
Alex Smith.
Bill Gates
Don Burluraux
Eric McMordie
Willie Maddren
John Hickton
Jonny Vincent
Sub - Joe Laidlaw