Hardest Boro player of all time

[Badonde]

Uncle Festa

Above Gazette article is all about Festa's toughness.
Doesn't mention the Steve Lomas broken nose incident mind

Lomas slap

 

[newyddion]

Roy Keane liked to shout his mouth of and put himself about a bit, Emerson wasn't having none of it.
Soul Glo 1 - 0 Goatee

Ugo Ehiogu was hard as nails just didn't make a show of himself like Nigel Pearson

then there was Uncle Festa

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

Surely it's Mo Besic. He's the quiet bloke who when there's a bit of trouble in the pub pops out back to get his machete.

 

[Heam44]

For the uninitiated, I'd recommend buying Teesside Urban Legends and acquainting yourself with the chapter on Poga

Care to enlighten us? Was it a genuine story? Or just banter?

 

[junos_boots]

Liked his martial arts too did Festa, he was a blackbelt in something I think.

Varga is worth a mention. Might not have offered much going forward, but I certainly wouldn't want to mess him.

It was something that involved whacking hell out of each other with huge sticks wasn't it?

 

[ticker_tape]

Mick Kennedy was a tough nut, as was Souness, Hammy gave as good as he got, not a dirty player.
Hankin was nuts. Boam was as tough as they come.

The only player Vinnie Jones bounced off and was intimidated by the way he looked at him was Emerson.

 

[The_Tiler]

Always thought Dave Shearer could mix it up a bit, or was that just with taxi drivers?

 

[riversideparmo]

Festa - wasnt he a Blackbelt ?

 

[Fattyfoggon]

And for the Oldies on here -

has to be Souness, Jimmy Case was also meant to be a hard man but no match for Souness that day, best Boro play ever in my time as a fan. Even as a manager, he was nuts like when he stuck the Galatasaray flag in the centre circle against Fenerbahce in their own stadium no less! flag

 

[festa5]

It was something that involved whacking hell out of each other with huge sticks wasn't it?

Definitely remember seeing a picture of him doing something like that.

 

[Blf]

Been watching them since 1962 and never seen a harder player than Dean Glover.

 

[Redlips]

Barry Robson I remember him punching that big pompey defender and they equalised from the spot

Yep that gave away a penalty resulting in a 2-2 draw.

 

[Redwurzel]

Mick Kennedy (RIP) not just at Boro, but also @ Pompey.

 

[HarryVegas]

Care to enlighten us? Was it a genuine story? Or just banter?

I think it'd be fair to class it as 'outlandish embellishments as to his physical/fighting prowess'...

 

[Heam44]

I think it'd be fair to class it as 'outlandish embellishments as to his physical/fighting prowess'...

Ahh ok Chuck Norris style?

 

[NoloBoro]

Gianluca Festa

 

[HarryVegas]

Ahh ok Chuck Norris style?

Exactly this and further!

 

[redblood]

This fella clearly

View attachment 21534

I'm Telling ya, one more tackle like that and I'm gonna punch your right knee.

 

[Smoginexile]

Souness
End of
Next question please

 

[alanmoodysdog]

Souness ...... way way out as The Hardest...

others
Mick Kennedy .... nigley and hatchet tackler
Gary Hamilton ... not physically intimidating but players would bounce off him...
Stuart Ripely ... strange choice but rippers would intimidate full backs verbally and back it up physically
John Hickton .... Not a pussy for sure, seen Mr Middlesbrough floor a good few CBs at Ayresome
Jamie Pollock ... always capable of the odd hard moment.... came over a tad contrived
Ray Hankin.... finished as a player when we got him so just resorted to floating around elbowing and kicking ... seen plays avoid him on the pitch
Bill Gates was very very dirty ......


Riverside times struggling to find a hard man as footie got soft and hardman wouldnt stay on the pitch

Pogga was a presence but was a tad wingey
Festa was just dirty. but a great fella and a big heart
Ince, Botang, .... skillful and sly