13th January FAC 3rd round - Plymouth 1 Boro 0

[erimus74]

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

Through his term as Boro manager he'd 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 etc, 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 wasn't 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, unfortunately Stan couldn't halt the slide in to the 3rd division for the 1st time in our history, but good days were around the corner

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, Man City

The Ayresome Angels, supporters on the terraces from 66 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 Willie Maddren, who eventually played alongside Boam, as the telepathic twins & my favourite Boro keeper, Jim Platt
Most of the players mentioned, including his final 2 signings, Alan Foggon & Graeme Souness, again a master stroke, played a massive part, IMHO, forming the best ever Boro team

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 full 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 - 2nd final signing by Stan, debut 25th November 1972
Sub - Malcolm Smith.