Happy birthday to the best defender ever to play for the Boro

Erimus74

Well-known member
The late, great Willie Maddren was born in Port Clarence this day 1951
And what a legend as player & manager he was

As a youngster, while playing for Port Clarence, he broke his ankle just two days before he was to have a trial with Leeds, who never followed up on his progress & that was Boro's gain

He made & scored on his full Boro debut, after one sub appearence he was named in the starting line up at home to Bury on the 12th April 1968, unbeaten at home Boro v almost relegated Bury, Willie scored & not long after he hit the bar, leaving a round muddy stain mark, unfortunately we lost 3-2, he mentions in his brilliant & emotional book extra time, he reported back to pre season training & the ball stain mark was still visible on the crossbar

He had a fantastic telepathic relationship with Stuey Boam, IMHO, the best defence pair the club have ever had
Willie played 343 games between 1968 - 1977, scoring 21 goals

He scored our 2nd goal at Burnley that put us in our 1st ever cup semi final

Sadly his final Boro appearences was the same game as Cyril Regis & Billy Ashcroft made their debuts & at such a tender age of 26 he'd played his final game for the Boro

A few turbulent years later in March 1984 big Jack came back as temp manager to successfully keep the Boro up, he left in June 1984 & recommended Willie Maddren take over the hot seat at Ayresome Park, Willie took the role in June 1984 & even though he couldn't stop the slow decline of the club he brought players to the Boro who not only, played a major part in the amazing, unforgettable season which followed his leaving but, when some of those players left we gained financial windfalls from their sale

Just remember some of the players he brought, Bernie Slaven, Stephen Pears, Archie Stephens, Gary Pallister, Brian Laws, Gary Rowell, while giving debuts to Stuart Ripley & Colin Cooper, with his final signing been the jigsaw that moulded all the named players together into an excellent team, Bruce Rioch, there were others hecwanted to sign but couldn't get the deal over the line, one Neil Pointon who was playing for Scunthorpe I think, later transferred to Everton

I could go on writing about Willie's time at the Boro

RIP Willie Maddren x Screenshot_20210111_214518.jpgScreenshot_20210111_215234.jpgScreenshot_20210111_215155.jpgScreenshot_20210111_215143.jpgScreenshot_20210111_215123.jpgScreenshot_20210111_214810.jpgScreenshot_20210111_214949.jpgScreenshot_20210111_215107.jpg
 
An outstanding contribution to our club as both player and manager from Mr Maddren and he was Boro through and through.

I used to play a lot of school football with a very good mate of mine who was a centre half and a Sunderland fan (Dad was a Mackem). He was a very good player and every match he would tackle the opposing forwards, take the ball beyond them out wide and then launch the ball long into touch or down the pitch depending on how much time he had. Then he would run up to me and shout ‘That’s what Willie Maddren does and you lot think he should be playing for England so what does that make me?’

Whenever I see anything about Maddren I always think about my mate doing his Maddren impersonations during our matches and it always brings a smile to my face 👍
 
I remember buying a pair of trainers from his shop when Teesside Park was just opened . He attended to me and I was dying to talk to him about the Boro but bit my lip as I’d heard so much about him . Lovely fella , unfortunately a bit before my time that partnership as I was more a Mogga/Pally creature .

ps his book is a cracking read 👍
 
If he had signed for Leeds rather than us you can bet your life he would have been regularly picked for England. Classy defender who could read the game so well, he seemed to know what was going to happen ten seconds before it actually did. The only centre back who was anything like that in his reading the game was Woodgate and that is praise indeed for Woody.
 
Well written Erimus. I agree best defender we have ever had. At least in my 50+ of going. Never saw Hardwick though and he was supposed to be class.
 
6 foot 2, eyes of blue, Stuey Boam is after you, once said at a 73-74 former players reunion that Willie could play in any position on the field, including goalkeeper & be be outstanding
 
If he had signed for Leeds rather than us you can bet your life he would have been regularly picked for England. Classy defender who could read the game so well, he seemed to know what was going to happen ten seconds before it actually did. The only centre back who was anything like that in his reading the game was Woodgate and that is praise indeed for Woody.
Without a doubt
 
If he had signed for Leeds rather than us you can bet your life he would have been regularly picked for England. Classy defender who could read the game so well, he seemed to know what was going to happen ten seconds before it actually did. The only centre back who was anything like that in his reading the game was Woodgate and that is praise indeed for Woody.

Southgate too surely?

I'm too young to have seen Maddren but he's in that select group of Boro players that everyone who did see him has the same extremely high opinion of him.

On a random side note always thought he has the look of Gary Sinise. Definitely should have played him if they'd done a movie.
 
Some fantastic memorabilia there Erimus.

You have a real treasure trove of Boro mementos.
 
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Great thread, Erimus. He is up there as one of the best, uncapped players. He was class, read the game superbly and made the art of defending look so easy. Still a mystery to all who saw him how he failed to gain international honours.

As a manager he could spot a player. I am just sorry he managed us in one of our worst times.

A gentleman, unassuming and a great credit to the club.Terrible illness he succumbed to. Willie will never be forgotten by our older fan base. RIP
 
Great thread, Erimus. He is up there as one of the best, uncapped players. He was class, read the game superbly and made the art of defending look so easy. Still a mystery to all who saw him how he failed to gain international honours.

As a manager he could spot a player. I am just sorry he managed us in one of our worst times.

A gentleman, unassuming and a great credit to the club.Terrible illness he succumbed to. Willie will never be forgotten by our older fan base. RIP
I've posted many threads on flyme about the late, great Willie Maddren & would often state, the best manager at the wrong time to manage us, then coluka put me right & said, the the best manager at the right time, as the players he brought in & while also bringing youngsters from within the club, he put together a fantastic foundation that gave us an unbelievable few seasons following his departure, each season as we went closer & closer to the black hole no manager was putting anything in place, just buying adequate replacements to see us through, Willie Maddren built for the future & what a job he did
 
Without a doubt
What a patnership Charlton amd Maddren! (even if it would have been for dirty Leeds) I think they played together once or twice in preseason friendlies on Scottish tour at start of Charlton's managerial spell but Charlton saw how good Boam and Maddren were so never picked himself for a competitive game.
 
I've posted many threads on flyme about the late, great Willie Maddren & would often state, the best manager at the wrong time to manage us, then coluka put me right & said, the the best manager at the right time, as the players he brought in & while also bringing youngsters from within the club, he put together a fantastic foundation that gave us an unbelievable few seasons following his departure, each season as we went closer & closer to the black hole no manager was putting anything in place, just buying adequate replacements to see us through, Willie Maddren built for the future & what a job he did

Great point Erimus74 with a little steering in the right direction from Coluka. Never thought about it from that point but makes complete sense.

Suppose you could say same about Mogga to a lesser extent. Laying the foundations for Karanka to come in and get us over the line.
 
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