My First, My Last, My Everything - Ayresome Memories 1st and last game

[rob_fmttm]

On this the 25th anniversary of Boro's final league game at Ayresome Park Chris Bartley has written his memories of not only that day but also his first game at the old ground. That was the day he first fell for Boro was beneath the four corner floodlights standing proud between the four individual stand roofs of old Ayresome Park.
As a prelude to the re-screening of the game this afternoon Chris recounts his first and last impressions of Boro's former home, Ayresome Park. He even still has his first programme to prove it. Ayresome Memories

 

[rob_fmttm]

What are your Ayresome memories - or if you are not old enough - what have you heard about Ayresome?
Looking back now to 25 years ago so much has changed in football and life.. for better and also for worse. I don't think we would have dared dream back then of what we have been through or the nightmare we are experiencing right now.

 

[mymatelookslikephilstamp]

My first and last memory of Ayresome (inside, at least) was the Stephen Pears Testimonial; the first and only time I visited the ground, as a 10 year old lad. I'd properly got into football only over that season and the season before, and had begged my dad to take me (he used to go for years in the 70s/80s and I think was over protective of the hooligan element still) and for the very last match there he did. Very vague memories include parking near Albert Park and walking down before the match, a bovril at half time, and awful stinking brick toilets (!). I do remember walking up into the stand for the first time though and having a 'Fever Pitch' style moment, thinking 'wow' as I looked out onto the pitch from the stands.