Score yourself - how big a Boro fan would you say are you?

Erimus74 said:
Me to Block when my grandson arrives next march, boy or girl there's only one team they'll follow & my daughter says the baby will obviously go to matches along with pop, can't wait
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Fantastic mate. What it’s all about. I’m sure the nipper will know all about the Boro in the 70’s. I have certainly picked some stuff up from your posts
 
Some wonderful and detailed replies here. I thought I would add some context to my score of a 4.

I'm not from not from Middlesbrough or have any connections with the area. I started to support the Boro in my own way back in either 75 or 76 when the local football paper had headline score and Boro had won. I was 10 at the time and just getting really interested in football other then playing and I said to my dad Middlesbrough that sounds like a nice name I can support them.

My dad suggested I should write to the club and let them know as there was no merchandise available locally, so I wrote a letter addressed to the managing director as advised by my dad and a few weeks later I got a reply, a big brown envelope with a nice letter in and some posters and pin badges, how nice was that, Boro were now definitely my club with David Mills my first Boro hero.

I took loads of stick through school especially living in a city where the two clubs had some great teams and were winning everything in sight during the 80's.

As we know Boro were rarely on TV in them days so when we were on match of the day or the big match it was such a joy. I always dreamt of Boro reaching the FA cup final because of all the coverage on the day of the match itself but it never happened, we just couldn't get passed the 6th round despite some great opportunities and never thought it would happen and then came the Gibson/Robson revolution.

We've managed to have some great teams of our own over the years, my favourite area was probably under BR, coming back in the face of adversity, with a group of talented young local players and playing some great football I truly believed we could beat anyone we played and were always competitive.

I remember how special it felt the first time I actually visited the town and went to AP and stood on the holgate. When we moved to the Riverside and it looked magnificent on TV and the first time I went it didn't let down, again another magical experience.

I remember watching ceefax for the man u V Boro league cup semi final whilst away in Holland, it was still more entertaining them most things TP managed to serve up!

It's a nearly 300 mile round trip for me, so I only ever come with a friend and have managed rope a few in over the years but it cost me double as I always insist on paying for them too and the fuel if course, he buys what we eat which is nice (that's the least I can do). The person who has come with me most recently who is a big Evertonion has now developed a soft spot for Boro and we are now his second team.

I go as often as I can but with work and time to travel it can be a problem sometimes, I said I wouldn't go again with TP in charge after the play off second leg against Villa, I was so disappointed at how he approached the games given what was at stack and I wasn't going to pay and travel to watch what in my opinion was anti football, so I haven't been the RS since (although I always listen to the audio or watch the games) i'm really looking forward to when we can safely go again.

Great support on here for the Boro across the generations and by the sound of it, a few more on the way once they are old enough.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing, like I said it's not about being a super fan or anything else just your own perception of your overall support for Boro during the time you have supported them, everyone's situation is unique and the score is on your own interpretation of the scaling and support can mean whatever it means to you.

Best wishes

UTB
 
Corco65 said:
Some wonderful and detailed replies here. I thought I would add some context to my score of a 4.

I'm not from not from Middlesbrough or have any connections with the area. I started to support the Boro in my own way back in either 75 or 76 when the local football paper had headline score and Boro had won. I was 10 at the time and just getting really interested in football other then playing and I said to my dad Middlesbrough that sounds like a nice name I can support them.

My dad suggested I should write to the club and let them know as there was no merchandise available locally, so I wrote a letter addressed to the managing director as advised by my dad and a few weeks later I got a reply, a big brown envelope with a nice letter in and some posters and pin badges, how nice was that, Boro were now definitely my club with David Mills my first Boro hero.

I took loads of stick through school especially living in a city where the two clubs had some great teams and were winning everything in sight during the 80's.

As we know Boro were rarely on TV in them days so when we were on match of the day or the big match it was such a joy. I always dreamt of Boro reaching the FA cup final because of all the coverage on the day of the match itself but it never happened, we just couldn't get passed the 6th round despite some great opportunities and never thought it would happen and then came the Gibson/Robson revolution.

We've managed to have some great teams of our own over the years, my favourite area was probably under BR, coming back in the face of adversity, with a group of talented young local players and playing some great football I truly believed we could beat anyone we played and were always competitive.

I remember how special it felt the first time I actually visited the town and went to AP and stood on the holgate. When we moved to the Riverside and it looked magnificent on TV and the first time I went it didn't let down, again another magical experience.

I remember watching ceefax for the man u V Boro league cup semi final whilst away in Holland, it was still more entertaining them most things TP managed to serve up!

It's a nearly 300 mile round trip for me, so I only ever come with a friend and have managed rope a few in over the years but it cost me double as I always insist on paying for them too and the fuel if course, he buys what we eat which is nice (that's the least I can do). The person who has come with me most recently who is a big Evertonion has now developed a soft spot for Boro and we are now his second team.

I go as often as I can but with work and time to travel it can be a problem sometimes, I said I wouldn't go again with TP in charge after the play off second leg against Villa, I was so disappointed at how he approached the games given what was at stack and I wasn't going to pay and travel to watch what in my opinion was anti football, so I haven't been the RS since (although I always listen to the audio or watch the games) i'm really looking forward to when we can safely go again.

Great support on here for the Boro across the generations and by the sound of it, a few more on the way once they are old enough.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing, like I said it's not about being a super fan or anything else just your own perception of your overall support for Boro during the time you have supported them, everyone's situation is unique and the score is on your own interpretation of the scaling and support can mean whatever it means to you.

Best wishes

UTB
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Cracking story Corco65, what a lovely suprise writing to the club & receiving badges & posters, excellent of the club to do that & all these years later you're still following the Boro from afar & travelling when you can
I've mentioned before on here for someone will no family, or local ties to support the Boro is remarkable, good on ya Corco65 👍
 
How far do you travel to watch Boro?
4 Miles

Any major events you have sacrificed to watch a match?
No


Where you there during the really dark days in the 80's (not many did), did you donate to keep the club afloat? I was only 6, but my grandad went every week

Do you wear club colours when you go the match?
Yes

Have you watched Boro live at AP and the Riverside?

Yes, first game opening game of the season v west ham, i black markered ince out of the west ham team photo as he had left.


Did you see Boro lift their first major cup and play in Europe? Yes

Do you collect Boro merchandise and memrobillia?

yes a bit of a crazy collection of shirts over 300, and a match worn home from every year since 88.


Have you encouraged others to support Boro?

Of course

This is not meant to be a competition, it is self defined against your perception of other supporters you know or have an impression of, there is no right or wrong.

So on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest (not much at all) to 10 being absolutely fanatic, what would you score yourself?

9
 
boro_shirts said:
How far do you travel to watch Boro?
4 Miles

Any major events you have sacrificed to watch a match?
No


Where you there during the really dark days in the 80's (not many did), did you donate to keep the club afloat? I was only 6, but my grandad went every week

Do you wear club colours when you go the match?
Yes

Have you watched Boro live at AP and the Riverside?

Yes, first game opening game of the season v west ham, i black markered ince out of the west ham team photo as he had left.


Did you see Boro lift their first major cup and play in Europe? Yes

Do you collect Boro merchandise and memrobillia?

yes a bit of a crazy collection of shirts over 300, and a match worn home from every year since 88.


Have you encouraged others to support Boro?

Of course

This is not meant to be a competition, it is self defined against your perception of other supporters you know or have an impression of, there is no right or wrong.

So on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest (not much at all) to 10 being absolutely fanatic, what would you score yourself?

9
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Over 300 shirts that's incredible and hence your username. 👍
 
there others with bigger and better than me, its been really great getting to know and sharing with other collectors since march, there's about 8/9 of us in a group, but i am the oldest at 40 :(
 
boro_shirts said:
there others with bigger and better than me, its been really great getting to know and sharing with other collectors since march, there's about 8/9 of us in a group, but i am the oldest at 40 :(
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Did they use these shirts on the 1975 Australian tour?
1975 Australian tour.jpeg
 
First game Boxing Day 1955, v West Ham. Lifted over turnstile. Won 2-0,. Hooked.

I remember being taken by my old fella to a few games through the fifties. i remember Port Vale, Swansea, Bury, others are lost in the mists.

First game I was allowed out for [Boys End] was either Liverpool or Sunderland [still division 2], early 60s. I was in the Holgate End for both promotion clinching games out of div 3 v Peterborough and Oxford.

First away game v Millwall Nov 1968. Lost 2-0. I'd moved to London. Second away game v Millwall FA Cup replay Jan 69. Lost 1-0.

Since, apart from a short spell back on Teesside, 1973-4, when I watched Jack Charlton's team almost gain promotion [I was back in London to see them pull Fulham apart at Craven cottage on Bobby Moore;s debut], my attendance has been very patchy. I've seen Boro at all the London clubs they've played, some more than others and had awaydays to Cambridge Utd. Ipswich, Southend, Portsmouth Southampton, Reading, Oxford, Watford, Luton, Bristol City, WBA, Wolves, Birmingham City, Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle [from Teesside]. When my mother was alive, if there was a match on when I was visiting I'd go to that, usually Christmas. More recently, while I was living in Manchester for a while, I saw the 2019 pre-season v Salford and later the game at Wigan.

I brainwashed my son into supporting Boro and now he's keener than me, but I have to admit to allowing a jaded old age to get the better of me in that respect. I was never the most fervent, I'm even less so now.

Points out of ten? 2 to 3 if I'm lucky. It's not for me to judge. There is no other though, except non-league.
 
Cooper671 said:
Cardiff 94 fa cup reply 1st game 10 year old
Derby 97 fa cup q/f 1st away
Went to every game at AP from cardiff.
lots early days at riverside less over years due to cost.
Was at wembley 97 both games and 98. 2004 at cardiff
Elland road and old trafford/hillsborough in 97 too.
Used to listen to every game on radio no mattwe what. I still try but have a little girl now so other things take over:)
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In terms of 'following and interest' probably a 8-9

I live down on the south coast so mainly go to away games Birmingham South. I probably attend 10-15 games a season. So a 6-7

I have to say nothing will beat my teenage years. No outgoings and season tickets. I used to go home and away pretty much every game in the early 90s (pre Riverside). I actually missed most of the glory years due to joining the armed forces in 96. In hindsite should have waited a year as missed euros due to basic training starting in May 😂

I don't get as gutted when we lose. It used to ruin my weekend. I get over it a bit quicker these days. I mean 'it's only football'. Also really like Cricket so I'm 'duel sport'.
 
1st game Nov 1954 v Doncaster Rovers 4-1, 1st away game Blackburn 1962 lost2-1. from early 60s to 2002 missed 2 home games( 1league,1 friendly) .was at Hartlepool games, went to all finals,missed 2 uefa games Xanti and Alkmaar away.From 2002 I have lived in Spain still a season ticket holder get home to see the games when I can.After every losseven now in a bad mood for hours. I Think all Boro fans are 10s
 
Almeria2005 said:
1st game Nov 1954 v Doncaster Rovers 4-1, 1st away game Blackburn 1962 lost2-1. from early 60s to 2002 missed 2 home games( 1league,1 friendly) .was at Hartlepool games, went to all finals,missed 2 uefa games Xanti and Alkmaar away.From 2002 I have lived in Spain still a season ticket holder get home to see the games when I can.After every losseven now in a bad mood for hours. I Think all Boro fans are 10s
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67 seasons of incredible loyalty and support. most of it has been tough going.
 
Used to be a 9, now more like a 2. Think its 45 different clubs away from home, missed 2 home games in 10 years at one time (3-3 vs Norwich in 1992-93, was at Sheff Wed away the week before, then Robb‘s first game 2-0 win vs Burnley in 94-95, was at every other home game that season including Anglo Italian). Missed weddings due to matches, arranged holidays around matches.
 
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