This day 1980

[erimus74]

Dave Hodgson bagged a hat trick at home to Spurs, his 1st, Boro's 84th at Ayresome Park & 117th overall hat trick as a football club

With the ever, energetic Craig Johnston getting on the scoresheet, as the mighty Boro ran out 4-1 winners in this 1st divison fixture

The hat trick took Hodgys goals of the season to 4 & career goals to 14

Craig Johnston was on goal scoring form that season, the goal was his 10th to date in the league, though sadly it was to be his last ever Boro goal as he only played another 5 league games after the Spurs game then transferred to Liverpool at the end of the season

Unfortunately, as a league team this was as good as it got 😔

Another if only Boro team again, dismantled for money & greed

John Neals team

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Ian Bailey
Craig Johnston
Billy Ashcroft
Irving Nattrass
Terry Cochrane
Mark Proctor
Dave Hodgson
Dave Shearer
David Armstrong
Sub
Tony McAndrew

Attendance - 15,990

[John Trebor]

I enjoyed that game, as I did most home games that season. Fortress Ayresome.

But that crowd, bloody hell.
Mid-table in Div 1.
Only lost once at home at that point.
Playing great football.
And less than 16k.

It's easy to take today's crowds for granted.
 

[erimus74]

And folk complain about todays attendances

Ww could beat anyone at home back then, we generally did, different story on our travels, if Jonn Neal had sorted out our away form we'd have challenged the very beat of em

[Bud Wiser]

The one and only time I've ever been 'arrested' at a football match.

I was nabbed in the east stand seats then frog marched around the pitch to some police room located under the north stand. When asked why I'd been nicked, the almost embarrassed copper said it was because season ticket holders had been complaining about having their views blocked by people being stood on their seats - which admittedly I was.
Anyway, they took my details and told me if I attempted to readmit the stadium I would be arrested for real. So on release I slipped into the now open Holgate for the last few minutes.

[Blott]

I had been married 6 months. Mine was the longest day and shortest night. The night was too long.


42 1/2 years later and I was only daft enough to think I was right once. I wasn't.