13th January 1973

[erimus74]

13th January FAC 3rd round

Plymouth 1 Boro 0

Stan Anderson considered his Boro future after this defeat to 3rd divison Plymouth Argyle, with one win since 2nd December Stan had the weekend to consider his position on whether to stay as manager of the Boro & if he decides to go, then a sad ending to a good managers reign & the 1st Boro manager for me following the Boro

He had put together a very good team, made some excellent signings, including my favourite player of all time, John Hickton & introduced some brilliant youngsters through the ranks, Willie Maddren, David Mills, David Armstrong, he had transformed the mighty Boro from a relegated team to a team constantly knocking on the door to win promotion to the 1st division, now PL

Stan signed for the Boro from Newcastle in November 1965 as the clubs 1st player coach ( back then a coach wasnt a manager, he was an assistant manager) the 1st such role in Boro's history, he then went on to become the 1st player to represent & captain all 3 north east teams, making his scoring debut at home to Cardiff on November 4th in a 4 -3 defeat

January 1st seen him score his 2nd & last Boro goal in a 4-1 defeat at Rotherham & by April 66, with the team struggling & heading towards the 3rd division, he was offered the position & appointed manager of the Boro, unfortunatly Stan couldn't halt the slide in to the 3rd divison for the 1st time in our history

Stan got the Boro promoted at the 1st attempt & in the following 5 seasons had us finishing, 6th, 4th, 4th, 7th & his final full season 9th, this was long before the playoffs were even thought of

Stan had proved to be a very good manager, good football, cracking FAC runs, including victories over Man Utd & West Ham

The Ayresome Angels, supporters on the terraces from 66, now the red faction, had come & gone, but Stan had one thing that never left him, his eye for a good player, John Hickton, Hughie Mcllmoyle, Willie Whigham, John Craggs, record signing Jonny Crossen, 6 foot 2 eye of blue Stuey Boam is after you, world cup winner Nobby Stiles & the introduction of Joe Laidlaw, Willie Maddren, who eventually played alongside Stuey Boam, as the telepathic twins & my favourite Boro keeper, Jim Platt

Most of the players mentioned, including his final 2 signings & what a pair to sign to call your last two & infact your last ever signing, Alan Foggon & the best player ever in my time, Graeme Souness, again a master stroke, played a massive part, IMHO, forming the best ever Boro team in my lifetime
 
The Boro team this day was.....

Jim Platt - Debut October 1971
John Craggs - Signed by Stan August 1971
Gordon Jones
Nobby Stiles - Signed by Stan Anderson summer 1971
Stuey Boam - Signed by Stan summer of 1971
Willie Maddren - Scored on his debut 12th April 1969
Eric McMordie
John Hickton signed by Stan, scored on his debut on the 24th September 1966, his 22nd birthday
David Mills - Full debut 12th April 1969
Graeme Souness - Final signing by Stan, debut 6th January 1972
Alan Foggon - Penultimate signing by Stan, debut 25th November 1972
Sub - Malcolm Smith

[Johnny Thunder]

Stan Anderson could certainly identify a quality player.