This day 1974 - Our 1st top flight game since April 1954

[erimus74]

When Carlisle arrived at Ayresome Park

Carlisle, who won promotion with us, finishing 16 points behind the Boro, were in their 1st ever season in the top flight & after a fantatsic win over Chelsea the previous saturday, with both teams winning their opening day fixture both felt confident going in to this game 

Big Jack made just the one change, similar to 12 months ago, he left out Brian Taylor, dropping Willie Maddren, wearing the No6 shirt, alongside Stuey Boam & brought in Graeme Souness, wearing his famous No4 shirt, well that worked well Jack

As if history repeated itself, 12 months previous the Boro lost their opening home fixture 2-0 to Fulham, this time the same score to Carlisle, resulting in Carlisle ending saturday top of the 1st divison, played 2, won 2, goals for 4, goals against zero

A few choice words will have been said by Jack as the players slowly walked in to the home dressing room

Big Jacks team

Jim Paltt
John Craggs
Frank Spraggon
Graeme Souness
Stuey Boam
Willie Maddren
Bobby Murdoch
David Mills
John Hickton - Malcolm Smith
Alan Foggon
David Armstrong

Attendance  - 28,719

[Ural Quntz (Moderator)]

I remember a journo in the times reporting a game on that team that went

'Craggs Spraggon Foggon Platt - even their names sounds like chewing iron filings! This team is hard as nails

Excellent

[erimus74]

I remember a journo in the times reporting a game on that team that went

'Craggs Spraggon Foggon Platt - even their names sounds like chewing iron filings! This team is hard as nails

Excellent

😁 Class 👍