Here we go with the final words from junos_boots. Followed by the final league table for this quiz.
Before I publish the answers I would just like to thank junos_boots. Like all off the question setters he has played by far the biggest part in making the quizzes a success.
I enjoy doing grunt work. I always have got a bit of job satisfaction out of something being completed tidily. Maybe I am a little too inclined towards OCD.
My 123 for ‘Higgy’
Music video is Run DMC V Jason Nevins
The song list connection – had one correct answer from Otto 42, all of the songs were at number 1 in UK chart when the day’s player scored his final Boro goal (I tried hard to make sure no errors – but sorry if there are any).
Paul Wilkinson - East 17, Stay Another Day
Paul Merson - Run DMC + Jason Nevins, Its Like That
Hamilton Ricard - Emma Bunton, What Took You So Long?
Juninho - McFly, Five Colours In Her Hair
John Hendrie - Michael Jackson, Earth Song
Mikkel Beck - Boy Zone, When The Going Gets Tough
Bernie Slaven - Take That featuring Lulu, Relight My Fire
Fabrizio Ravenelli - Puff Daddy and Faith Evans, I’ll Be Missing You
Robbie Mustoe - Gareth Gates, Unchained Melody
Craig Hignett - Run DMC + Jason Nevins, Its Like That
Not many goals become truly iconic, but I think that the first goal at The Riverside has to be classed as one of them. Only three times can I remember walking into a ground and having my breath taken away. This was one walking up from the concourse and seeing the Riverside pitch and stands from the inside for the first time, I knew that Boro had shifted not just grounds but also hopes and expectations with this ‘box fresh ground’ as Vickers likes to call it. The goal itself showed us what to expect for the first few months of that season, quick incisive link up play between Fjortoft, Barmby and Hignett and a good finish at the end of it. What a feeling
1st Place Aug 1995 v Chelsea
https://youtu.be/v73bU3-XLn0?t=107
If you get the chance watch the kick off and spot the point where I thought Barmby was going to be a real hero for Boro as he stops the Chelsea move.
Next up I was unsure which of the goals from the Oxford game to pick and I have a feeling that it is going to matter as I am sure that everybody will have picked Chelsea as first choice. I have decided on his second to make it 4-0. It was a beautifully clean strike and what a way to finish your career with Boro – promotion and a double in your last game on another lovely sunny day – also stopped Sunderland going up (along with Clive Mendonca – does he still work at Nissan in Washington?)
2nd Place May 1998 v Oxford (his second)
https://youtu.be/NaM1MICwiwM?t=201
The last goal I have selected for this 123, is because of everything that was going on around it. It is from the league cup quarter final at Elm Park. Festa has just thought (along with me) that he had won the game, shirt off in the crowd – then Reading player keeps stopping him from putting his shirt on, Festa whacks him, referee blows free kick to Reading and red card surely – no much to everybody’s surprise and certainly the Reading centre backs who were rushing forward for the free kick, it has been given to Boro. Maddison takes it quickly, on to Merson, then Hignett puts it in the net with a cool finish – cue absolute mental celebrations behind the goal – then it was Liverpool. I have started clip at the beginning of this farce.
3rd Place January 1998 v Reading
https://youtu.be/zqwIjOMR3lI?t=54
Hignett will always have a special place in Teesside hearts and he has said many times that he now considers this area as his home. He along with Mustoe may not have been one of our ‘mega star’ signings of the 90s, but he was definitely an important one.
Update (4/6/20) I produced all of my 123s in the blank week, before this started, fully expecting everybody to get Higgy’s 1st place, so thought long and hard about 2nd and third for Higgy – oh well nevermind Spanishman
Seriously though, anybody who wants to collate another of these quizzes / discussions, Spanishman gives loads of help and thoughtful promptings on how it will work best – so get involved and keep these happy thoughts going.
So here goes with the league table. Very close at the top - with the top two separated by the tie-break videos. They did come in handy.
My excuse for coming last and also getting the wrong answer in the final round is as follows. I had the massive pleasure of marrying my current wife in the summer of 1994. So I was living in London and somewhat loved up then. The thought of when the first match at the Riverside took place did not really come in to my head during that time. I even missed the significance of it while watching the video of the goals.
Well done to Otto42. Commiserations to Zoophonic on just missing out on the title.
I now have the delights of going out for a large lot of shopping in the local supermarket. The missus normally does this on her own. On this occasion the list of things to buy is so long she wants some help. Joy of joys.
