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
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