9th March 1990 - Sad new, Bruce is dismissed

[erimus74]

For me, he's up there in my all time top 3 Boro managers

Just after one in the afternoon I got up after my nightshift, made my way downstairs & noticed a crunched up note someone had pushed through my letter box, on opening the note I couldn't believe what I was reading & immediately turned on the radio in the kitchen for the local news. No sky sports back then

On the note was written, 'Bruce Rioch has been sacked', I was shocked & gutted, yes we were struggling in the 2nd division after, unluckily relegated the previous season, but this man had, IMHO, saved our football club from falling in to the football abyss, while guiding us to our 1st ever Wembley cup final under the twin towers

I'm a great believer that a club & person can be an ideal fit, no matter where they were born, John Hickton, Gary Hamilton, Bernie Slaven, players who came to the Boro & left as legends, well Bruce Rioch fitted into that category

I think if we had turned to any other manager when Willie Maddren was sadly dismissed those incredible seasons under Bruce would have been pipe dreams & we would have become a third, even 4th division team ack then, just my opinion mind
Willie Maddren, who made some excellent signings, yet to me, Bruce, who was Willie Maddren's final recruit & probably the most vital when he took charge as temporary manager of his 1st match v Grimsby Town on the 4th March 1986, within a few games after a 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United when the team received a standing ovation as they left the field, the directors were so impressed with the new Boro that they offered Bruce the job full time & thankfully Bruce accepted, we looked a team, the following seasons were unbelievable & most likely never, ever repeated, to then take us to Wembley only one month previous after beating 1st division, 2nd place Aston Villa in the northern final on 6th February over 2 legs

1st match 4th March 1986 v Grimsby Town at Ayresome Park, Boro won 3-1
Last match, 7th March 1990, Boro 1 Watford 2 at Ayresome Park

Met the great man a few times at former player reunions & his love for the Boro still shines through

Thanks for the ride Bruce, it was as good a ride as anytime in my Boro supporting lifetime