30 years ago today, the unthinkable happened

Erimus74

Erimus74

Well-known member
9th March 1990 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 the letter box, on opening the note I couldn't believe what I was reading & immediately turned on the kitchen radio for the local news

On the note was written, 'Bruce Rioch has been sacked' , I was shocked & gutted, yes we were struggling in the 2nd division after, unluckily, being 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 visit to 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, Bernie Slaven, two players who came to the Boro & left as legends
Bruce Rioch fitted into that category, I think if we had turned to any other manager when Willie Maddren was dismissed those incredible seasons under Bruce would have been pipedreams & we would have become a third, even 4th division team

Bruce Rioch was Willie Maddren's most vital signing
When he took charge of his 1st match v Grimsby on the 4th March, we looked a team, the following seasons were unbelievable & most likely never, ever repeated to finally take us to Wembley after beating 1st division, 2nd place Aston Villa on 6th February over 2 legs & a month later dismissed was cruel

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
 

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Yeah his return v millwall was a great experience, I always hoped he’d comeback in some capacity.

One thing is for sure history suggests theyl be more positive emotional experience to come .
 
At the time we were underperforming as a team. After the defeat at home to Watford the crowds had dwindled at AP.

p 33 w 9 d7 L 17

At the moment he was dismissed we were around the relegation zone and if you recall a good end to the season saved us. We beat Newcastle 4-1 on the last day to save ourselves.
some say Rioch had lost the team with his disciplinarian style. The team was no longer a bunch of local kids in need of guidance and players like Peter Davenport had arrived.
 
He was from a military family in Aldershot and like said above drilled the young lads to excellence . They tired of it in time and he lost the dressing room
 
Those years under BR will be forever remembered by all who were lucky to be old enough to have been on that journey
I went to the 1st 20 year reunion when Colin Cooper stood up & said, 'it was an amazing period, the fans & the club were one, we didn't realise what we had until it was gone'
 
Aye it was sad all round not having him at the final , even Todd didn’t want to do it so offered Mowbray to lead us out .

To think a man like rioch gets sacked and we have this todger in charge of us now .
 
I remember an interview telling us that rioch received a call while on holiday in Spain , basically telling him we can’t afford to pay you are you still our manager. He said yes and we know the rest .

I can’t help feel we might of been a bit harsh on beagrie mind
 
Bruce parked his car on the man hole to stop them cutting off the power as well -now there is a Boro legend.

he also brought bergkamp to arsenal which a lot of people forget.
 
10th March 1990 away to Hull City was the 1st match after the sacking of Bruce Rioch, IIRC, there were fans given out leaflets regarding Bruce be reinstated as Boro manager
The match finished 0-0 with temp manager Colin Todd naming the following team

Stephen Pears
Gary Parkinson
Owen McGee
Tony Mowbray
Simon Coleman
Mark Proctor
Bernie Slaven
Paul Kerr
Ian Baird
Mark Brennan
Stuart Ripley
 

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Was at Boothferry Park that day. Very strange atmosphere, didn't feel real without Bruce in the dug out. I was 16 at the time and thought he'd be here for ever - naivety of youth.
 
Subbuteo_171 said:
Was at Boothferry Park that day. Very strange atmosphere, didn't feel real without Bruce in the dug out. I was 16 at the time and thought he'd be here for ever - naivety of youth.
Click to expand...
Subbuteo_171, what is the reason for your avatar, was that the Boro's Subbuteo number?
 
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