This day 1987 - The Boro are back

[Erimus74]

Good morning all

This day 6/5/87 Boro 0 Wigan 0

Just 12 short months after the mighty Boro went in to liquidation & in fear of going out of business, we have, not only a football club survived, but a football club that is now thriving, full of energy, full of passion, promoted to the 2nd divison & as close as a team & fans could become

The club & fans went through so much turmoil during the summer of 86, that when the club was saved at the 11th hour a special bond had developed with the players & fans as one

The evening of the 6th May 1987 was a special night for every Boro fan all around the world, the club have gained promotion at the 1st time of asking
Until all the talk about liquidation was going on, no pre season friendly matches, only training at local parks, it was basically jumpers as goalposts, no incoming transfers, we wern't even sure what our starting 11 would be.
Some players were earmarked to leave, some wanted to leave, but those that stayed with the club were rewarded

Players can go through a whole career & not experience what our players went through that season

In 2006 I attended a 20 year reunion of 86 with the majority of player who could attend.
Colin Cooper stood up & spoke about the seasons following liquidation, then said, '' we didn't know what we had till it was gone"", Tony Mowbray spoke with his usual hairs on the back of your neck stuff

The match itself was similarity to a lot of Boro games, Boro were on the front foot, creating chances, the ground was buzzing & whatever Boro tried the ball just wouldn't go in. the atmosphere was building & building, there were fans around the pitch celebrating, wanting to party on the pitch, the full time whistle went. the fans invaded the pitch, the players ran down the tunnel, the Boro were promoted & later joined the fans from the directors box

What a time to be a Boro fan & player back then, I certainly feel proud that I stood by the club during the bad times, as are the players too & seeing the good times return

The end result of Boro 0 Wigan O didn't tell the whole story, Brucy should have been named manager of the season, with Boro team of the season

But for now the Boro were back

Boro team

Stephen Pears
Gary Hamilton
Colin Cooper
Tony Mowbray
Gary Parkinson
Gary Pallister
Bernie Slaven
Archie Stephens
Lee Turnbull
Paul Kerr
Stuart Ripley

Attendance: 18,523

 

[ticker_tape]

Date mate.

 

[ticker_tape]

Got to say that was one of my favourite moments as a Boro fan, I said away to Hartlepool in the League cup in a worse for beer argument with my best mate that we would go up. To which he laughed and said look at the clip of us.

Later in the season.
I think Saint Bruce headlined in the Gazette prior to the Notts County home win we had 13 games left and he said we needed to win all 13, a bold statement, we never won them all but we never got beat.
Quite inspired by this statement I read it aloud in the bar of our pub prior to the game.


In the pub before the Wigan game my mate said wouldnt it be heartbreaking to blow it in the next 2 games !

I only missed 3 away games that season and was ready for Doncaster if we blew it, and lets be honest we normally did.

So that night I could barely breath, nerves dont have a look in, however with a minute or so to go the news filtered through ther results had gone our way and everyone edged to the pitch, but the cheering had already began. The crowd virtually made sure Wigan werent going to sneak a sickener, standing defiantly ready to celebrate.

I think at the time I shed a tear of happiness, quite a remarkable turn around with a bunch of lads who where left when everyone buggered off, and above all after all the years of slowly dying we were back and the pride was restored to Teesside.

I dont think we ever looked back after that season, although some will disagree I think everything since was built on those foundations.

Not bad for a 0-0 DRAW WAS IT?

 

[Borobarmy]

You had to be there to understand. Those days will never ever leave me.

 

[JaenBoro]

Greatest time in my Boro supporting life. I´d started going regularly the season before and really thought we´d lost our club during the summer.

Bruce Rioch and that team will always be legends to me and a generation of Boro fans. The atmosphere at Ayresome was something special. I remember one away manager saying when you came to Boro you weren´t playing against a team but an entire town. The players felt it too - I don´t know if its still available but in the podcast on BBC Tees Stuart Ripley talks a bit about this.

If I could relive one season I´d pick this one - even above winning the Cup or qualifying for Europe or seeing Juninho in a Boro shirt.

 

[Erimus74]

Got to say that was one of my favourite moments as a Boro fan, I said away to Hartlepool in the League cup in a worse for beer argument with my best mate that we would go up. To which he laughed and said look at the clip of us.

Later in the season.
I think Saint Bruce headlined in the Gazette prior to the Notts County home win we had 13 games left and he said we needed to win all 13, a bold statement, we never won them all but we never got beat.
Quite inspired by this statement I read it aloud in the bar of our pub prior to the game.


In the pub before the Wigan game my mate said wouldnt it be heartbreaking to blow it in the next 2 games !

I only missed 3 away games that season and was ready for Doncaster if we blew it, and lets be honest we normally did.

So that night I could barely breath, nerves dont have a look in, however with a minute or so to go the news filtered through ther results had gone our way and everyone edged to the pitch, but the cheering had already began. The crowd virtually made sure Wigan werent going to sneak a sickener, standing defiantly ready to celebrate.

I think at the time I shed a tear of happiness, quite a remarkable turn around with a bunch of lads who where left when everyone buggered off, and above all after all the years of slowly dying we were back and the pride was restored to Teesside.

I dont think we ever looked back after that season, although some will disagree I think everything since was built on those foundations.

Not bad for a 0-0 DRAW WAS IT?

Our last defeat Walsall away, we bought fish & chips from the chippy across the road where Coyle & Turnbull were eating F& C's
I was there, sat next to Walsall striker Kelly who signed for Newcastle in the summer
Bruce said after the defeat, '' We started off the season going 12 games unbeaten, let's finish the season one better'', & we did, great speech

Yes I bang on about the 70' s but the 80's played a special part in my life as a Boro fan, proud that I stood by the club at our lowest ebb & proud to have felt something special in 86 for those 3 seasons is was special & it was all down to one person, Bruce Rioch

Because, IMHO, even with the exceptional group of players we had we needed a special person to guide them tbriugh

I've said before, Willie Maddren was the right man at the wrong time, Bruce was the right man at the right time x

 

[Borobuddah]

1987 not 1887

 

[Funky_Chicken]

1887 even you can’t go that far back erimus

 

[Erimus74]

1987 not 1887

Cheers Borobuddah

Sorted now mate

 

[ticker_tape]

Greatest time in my Boro supporting life. I´d started going regularly the season before and really thought we´d lost our club during the summer.

Bruce Rioch and that team will always be legends to me and a generation of Boro fans. The atmosphere at Ayresome was something special. I remember one away manager saying when you came to Boro you weren´t playing against a team but an entire town. The players felt it too - I don´t know if its still available but in the podcast on BBC Tees Stuart Ripley talks a bit about this.

If I could relive one season I´d pick this one - even above winning the Cup or qualifying for Europe or seeing Juninho in a Boro shirt.

What a time to start off and at that time it takes a bit of doing to keep going.
Its something in your character that sees you do that. As Erimus said, and in my eyes the people that stuck with them at there lowest ebb are a special type.

 

[JaenBoro]

What a time to start off and at that time it takes a bit of doing to keep going.
Its something in your character that sees you do that. As Erimus said, and in my eyes the people that stuck with them at there lowest ebb are a special type.

Yes it wasn´t the best time!!!

But I´d been a fan for years listening on the radio. I came from near Whitby and it was difficult to get to the match. We only went to about 2 per season from 1976 to 1984. I started go a lot more in the 85-86 season because I got my own transport. From summer 86 onwards I never missed a home match. Except for the Everton cup tie (locked out) and West Ham at home when tickets guaranteed a Wembley ticket.

 

[Erimus74]

Following nights evening gazette

 

[Smoginexile]

That was a proper team.
I was just a kid at the time but I went to watch the matches including the Wigan game with my older brother.
I remember one time being on the bus going into Redcar with my mam and this old man gets on.
He had a big grin on his face from ear to ear.
Everyone was talking to this old guy about the Boro and he was really pleased about how well they were playing.
My mam leaned over and asked "you know who that is don't yer"
Of course I did. Everyone knew.
It was Wilf Mannion.