@ken This game?
https://www.northernfootballleague.org/event/14446/
It looks like the crowd was 108 rather than the score.
I will keep this short and sweet. That was a wonderful performance by Boro in terms of possession, tempo and goals where everyone played a part. Topped off by a beautiful rainbow at the end. I hope there is a promotion at the end of that rainbow. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
@martin-bellamy @ken - Whilst we are on the topic of crowds, I see from today's Sunday Times that the crowd (in the Fourth Tier!) for Bradford City 2-2 Hartlepool United yesterday was 18,137. Unless that is a misprint, it is a staggering crowd. I mean, I can see why people might flock to see Pools play under their new manager, but....
Re Bradford City attendance. That 18,137 is genuine.
See here an article about their home attendances this season: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/how-bradford-citys-stunning-home-attendances-compare-to-sheffield-wednesday-barnsley-ipswich-town-derby-county-bristol-rovers-and-plymouth-gallery-3929238
A Boro match finally warrants a proper report in The Sunday Times (not in the on-line version)as opposed to a paragraph or two in the Championship round-up section:
Akpom on target again as Boro close the gap
Paul Fraser
Chuba Akpom needs six more goals in the final eight matches to become only the fourth player to have scored 30 goals in the Championship after he struck his 24th of the season to set Middlesbrough on their way to a hugely impressive victory. The former Arsenal man's 11th goal in ten matches arrived midway through the first half and from then on they looked every bit a promotion-winning team. And Cameron Archer, on loan from Aston Villa, scored in the 52nd and 58th minutes to effectively seal the points.
Then, the Preston defender Bambo Diaby's disappointing afternoon ended with a red card for picking up a second caution with two minutes to go and Middlesbrough finished things off when Marcus Forss added the fourth in stoppage time.
Michael Carrick, the Middlesbrough manager, had the look of a satisfied man as the team he has transformed into promotion contenders since taking over in October dictated the game. And this victory - which takes his side to within three points of second-placed Sheffield United, who have a game in hand - was triggered by Akpom's goal. Six more and he would join Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Toney and Glenn Murray in hitting the 30 mark.
"The beauty is Chuba is not satisfied and he wants to keep pushing to be a better player and score more," Carrick said. "The boys were good all round, from the start. All aspects of the game were."
Akpom's goal came out of nothing. A move involving first touches from Jonny Howson, Akpom and Archer ended with Akpom taking a touch before firing low and beyond the goalkeeper, Freddie Goodman. Middlesbrough passed the ball around like genuine top-two contenders from that moment on, even though it was only in the second half that more goals arrived.
Archer, who scored goals on loan at Preston last season, turned Diaby and Jordan Storey before firing low into the net seven minutes after the break. Six minutes later the loanee controlled Akpom's pass 22 yards out and fired home low and in style. And following Diaby's second caution for pulling down Akpom, the home side made the most of their extra man.
Mitrovic, Toney & Murray: illustrous company, if it happens! 🙂
Just one question off topic: how can a team possibly be "within three points" of the team in front of it when, as in Boro's case, it's exactly three (& not two or one)?!! *baffled* I know I'm probably splitting hairs, but as a very literal-minded, retired professional linguist, I can't stop myself! 😉
Terrific performance from Boro. Some of our play this season under Carrick has been the best since the Robson era, when we could afford top class/expensive foreign and English players, but now it is hard to believe how he has given our present squad the self belief so that they can tear teams apart with passing taking us from defence through midfield to attack and then scoring so many goals. The blip against Stoke (which I didn't go to) left me feeling low even on the following morning so it is a much happier me still basking in Saturday's euphoria. (Also I was able to stay in New Marske with my 84 year old sister who had previously been going a rough patch for several months during which she felt she couldn't cope with having company. It was also better than my usual stay in a hotel though she thinks I am mad to be so emotionally tied to the ups and downs of the Boro.)
Sheffield United now have the doubtful privilege of playing Manchester City in the Wembley semi final. Their Championship results will show whether this inspires them to success in the promotion chase but playing 9 matches April (even with five at home) are a lot to ask any squad.
I have been able to cancel my hotel booking for 15 April and book for the 14th, even with a saving of £6! Now I am just relying on the rail workers not to target me. I agree however that the switch of date and the 8pm kick off shows SKY's contempt for both home and away supporters, who actually want to attend the match. In spite of the poor terms of the current Championship/TV contract I don't think most clubs are financially able to refuse such changes. The Good Friday change of kick off to 8pm is, for me, just an inconvenience as I will have to fill in the time before the match. I have to travel over on the Thursday in any case (again subject to no rail strike).
Re Penrith F C
Although I have lived for over 37 years in Penrith I have only been to see them play 3 times and they have lost each time! Nearly always when Penrith are playing, the Boro are also playing and I follow all away games, and home matches I cannot get to, on Radio Tees, Diasboro and BBC "live text" while also following other teams live scores.
Penrith F C were sold down the river by the council wanting an additional (unnecessary) supermarket plus a row of shops, most of which are still unoccupied decades later. The town stadium was demolished and a new ground poorly constructed on the cheap out of the town. I never went to the old ground but understand it was in need of repair. The new one has has a pitch which is regularly waterlogged and in spite of attempts by the council to improve it the club are hoping to get help to put in an artificial pitch. The stand was built without regard to the club's wish to to have a bar area large enough to cater for private bookings. (The bar area has since been extended. I think at the club's cost.) The isolated place the ground is in really requires supporters to drive there especially for dark evening finishing and for most night matches as most of the way there is no pavement or road lighting. (This also applies for any private events.) I did once go to a night match but hadn't thought about the need to take a torch with me. Fortunately someone saw me struggling along the grass verge and gave me a lift part of the way but I had to make my own way home relying on the lights from passing cars.
The isolated North West location of Penrith and the reduction in income has left Penrith F C unable to compete financially in recruiting players in competition with most other clubs in the league.
I will keep this short and sweet. That was a wonderful performance by Boro in terms of possession, tempo and goals where everyone played a part. Topped off by a beautiful rainbow at the end. I hope there is a promotion at the end of that rainbow. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Down here in Oz it was a very beautiful way to start the day. Wake up, watch the full recording on cable, read all the reports, listen to the Radio Tees blog etc etc. It certainly made for a good Sunday. One of the best performances that I have seen for a long time mainly because we destroyed a good team unlike, say, Reading who weren't on a seven game unbeaten run as Preston were.
UTB
You’ve all said everything about Boro’s magnificent win yesterday. I’ll just add that it was virtually flawless. I have certainly never seen a Boro side play this well before.
Just a word to praise PNE’s support: they brought a very large contingent with them, which really boosted our own attendance. They wore their ‘gentry’ bowler hats with pride, and sang and supported their side gamely throughout, despite their team’s being ripped to shreds by Boro. At one point - I think it must have been when they unfurled their gentry banner, which I couldn’t see from my East Stand eyrie - half our South Stand burst into spontaneous applause. My goodness! An outbreak of sportsmanship in football? Whatever next?!! All of that, Boro’s outstanding performance and MFC’s kind gesture in allowing the banner helped create a special atmosphere. It will live long in the memory.
Just to follow up on that, and especially if you weren’t able to make the game yesterday, you may be interested in this smashing short video from the Lancashire Evening Post.
@clive-hurren - Thanks for that link to the newspaper article with phtographs and interviews.
@powmillnaemore - Incredibly large crowd even compared to the other "big clubs" in the lower 2 tiers of the EFL. Many Championship clubs would be happy with 18K+.
Thanks for the link.
Lovely to see those photographs of Preston supporters remembering the loss of their fans during the last 12 months, and top marks to the Boro fans for applauding the Preston Gentry contingent especially as the Lilywhites were taking a horrible beating. It was almost a throwback to the 1950s when crowd segregation was never heard of. In my youth I regularly integrated with the home crowd proudly wearing a Boro rosette and scarf without a moment of trouble. A bit like Rugby League used to be like before Super League was introduced.
Among the football stadia I visited were Park Avenue (former home of Bradford PA), Ewood Park Blackurn, Eastville Bristol Rovers, Feethams Darlington, Belle Vue Doncaster, Elland Road Leeds, Anfield Liverpool, Maine Road Manchester, St James’s Park Newcastle, City Ground Trent Bridge Nottingham, Vale Park Burslem, Roker Park Sunderland, White Hart Lane Tottenham, and Bootham Crescent York. Sadly half of those stadia no longer exist, but I never even had to purchase a ticket, but just joined any available queue sporting my red and white scarf.
Of course I wouldn’t be allowed to do that today, but all we wanted to do was to enjoy the football without any hassle. Boro won half of those matches but there weren’t any Boro supporters coaches in those days and the grounds were smaller too. Also I was fortunate to be located near at hand to most of those grounds in those National Service days before spending the following 4 months on route to and billeted in Singapore, so I was determined to watch as much football as time would allow.
I wouldn’t dream of doing that once I returned to Blighty in August 1958.
Incidentally I notice that the Penrith League score has been amended to 0-1 and the League table amended accordingly, although the attendance is now shown as zero, so where the 108 came from still remains a mystery.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2023 - Part 2
Because of the international break we all have plenty of time to consider our predictions, you will all notice that Sunderland have dropped out of the running (for the time being) it now consists of the top ten. Talking of which, the deadline is 1900 hrs Friday 31 March just before Burnley v Sunderland. I will publish our league table later, once I have scored all the entries from Part 1.
There is only Sunday until Tuesday between Parts 2 and 3, so I will endeavour to publish Part 3 fixtures as early as I can on the Saturday evening.
Good Luck to everyone, especially the Boro.
Burnley (83) S’land (H) Boro (A) Shef Utd (H) Reading (A)
Shef Utd (70) Norwich (A) Wigan (H) Burnley (A) Cardiff (H)
Boro (67) H’field (A) Burnley (H) Bristol (A) Norwich (H)
Luton (64) Watford (H) Millwall (A) B’pool (H) R’ham (A)
Blackburn (61) B’ham (A) Norwich (H) H’field (A) Hull (H)
Millwall (60) WBA (A) Luton (H) Hull (A) PNE (H)
Norwich (57) Shef Utd (H) B’burn (A) R’ham (H) Boro (A)
Coventry (57) Stoke (H) Swansea (A) Watford (H) QPR (A)
WBA (55) Millwall (H) R’ham (A) QPR (H) Stoke (A)
Watford (55) Luton (A) H’field (H) Coventry (A) Bristol (H)
Come on BORO.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2023 Part 1 - League Table
1. jarkko 10,9,10,9,8,10,8,5,9,8,7 = 93
2. Ian Gill 8,8,10,6,7,10,9,8,7,9,10 = 92
3. lenmasterman 8,9,8,7,9,8,10,5,8,9,10 = 91
4. Norfolk and Boro 10,9,10,4,4,8,8,7,9,9,10 = 88
5. Selwynoz 10,10,10,7,7,6,9,5,7,7,7, = 85
6. Andy R 8,9,8,10,9,6,10,3,8,5,9, = 85
7. deleriad 10,9,8,6,5,6,8,7,8,9,8 = 84
8. exmil 8,10,8,6,7,8,9,5,7,7,9 = 84
9. Forever Dormo 8,9,8,6,7,8,9,3,7,9,9 = 83
10. Powmill Naemore 10,8,8,5,5,6,9,5,9,9,6 = 80
11. Clive Hurren 8,10,8,4,5,6,9,5,7,9,8 = 79
12. Martin Bellamy 8,9,8,7,6,7,9,5,5,7,8 = 79
13. KP in Spain 8,8,10,4,7,6,8,3,9,5,9 = 77
14. Peasepudinperth 8,7,8,7,4,6,6,7,7,9,7 = 76
Congratulations to our early leaders in the automatic promotion spots, jarkko and Ian Gill but doing a Boro close behind is lenmasterman. The playoff pack is not far behind and even though I am 8th I am still in it ! To be honest the whole league could turn upside down with the next set of fixtures and will there be a final twist after Part 3.
If anyone thinks I have made an error with their score please let me know, remember I took out the postponed fixtures for the FA cup.
Come on BORO.
That looks right for my score Exmil. Typically bad for me ☹️
Good effort from our Flying Finn - straight out of the traps and into an early lead!
Thanks again for running this for us all. It never ceases to amaze me how so many of us can be so wrong and in my case, so consistently !
Anyway, and in true Blue Peter fashion, here's one I prepared earlier:
- Burnley (83) WLWW (92)
- SheffU (70) DWLW (77)
- BORO (67) WWDW (77)
- Luton (64) WDWW (74)
- Blackburn (61) DWDW (69)
- Millwall (60) LDLW (64)
- Norwich (57) DLWL (61)
- Coventry (57) WLWD (64)
- WBA (55) WDWL (62)
- Watford (55) LWLW 61)
- Sunderland (53) LWLW (59)
@exmil Oh no, that’s relegation form from me. I’m on the phone to MC right now to find out how to turn it round and I’ll post my entry when I’ve had his advice 😉
Thanks Exmil.
Here's my entry for Part 2:
Burnley (83) WDWW 93
Shef Utd (70) DWLW 77
Boro (67) WDDW 75
Luton (64) DDWW 72
Blackburn (61) WWLW 70
Millwall (60) LDDW 65
Norwich (57) DLWL 61
Coventry (57) DWDW 65
WBA (55) WDWL 62
Watford (55) DWDW 63
Wigan have been deducted 3 points with immediate effect for failing to pay their players wages on time 🤔, leaves them 8 points from safety.
Come on BORO.
Like Martin, I’m in a relegation battle. Again. Perennial struggler, me.
@exmil Oops, I am top of the league. Like I wrote earlier, CarrickBoro will favour us who are over-optimistic.
Anyway, with Ian and Len both right behind me, it won't be easy. I have met both gentlemen - so I know how they look like.
And this is the Championship!
Anyway, I will take one game at a time and still try to improve - step by step is my motto. Let's hope Boro get promoted - I will do my best for the team.
Up the Boro!
Hopefully no errors this time Exmil
Burnley (83) DDDW (89)
Shef Utd (70) DWDW (78)
Boro (67) DDWW (75)
Luton (64) DDWW (72)
Blackburn (61) WWWD (71)
Millwall (60) DDWW (68)
Norwich (57) DLWL (61)
Coventry (57) DWDW (65)
WBA (55) DWWD (63)
Watford (55) DDDW (61)
Scores from beyond the wall
Burnley (83) WDWD 91
Shef Utd (70) DWLW 77
Boro (67) WDWW 77
Luton (64) LLWW 70
Blackburn (61) WLWW 70
Millwall (60) LWDW 67
Norwich (57) DWWL 64
Coventry (57) LWDW 64
WBA (55) WWWL 64
Watford (55) WWDD 63
@deleriad i like that. Boro to be above Sheffield United on goal difference with four (Sheffield United with 5) matches to go.
It won't be over before the last week of the season when the Blades have three matches in eight days. Others have only two.
Up the Boro!
@deleriad i like that. Boro to be above Sheffield United on goal difference with four (Sheffield United with 5) matches to go.
It won't be over before the last week of the season when the Blades have three matches in eight days. Others have only two.
Up the Boro!
Great minds think alike. I too see us neck and neck going into the last games and am hoping that Sheffield's United fixture congestion will come back to bite them.
Here are the Sydney votes
BURNLEY (83) WDWW (93)
SHEFF UNITED (70) DWLW (77)
BORO (67) WDWW (77)
LUTON (64) WLWW (73)
BLACKBURN (61) DWWW (71)
MILLWALL (60) LWDW (67)
NORWICH (57) DLWL (61)
COVENTRY (57) DWWW (67)
WEST BROM (55) WWWL (64)
WATFORD (55) LDLW (59)
UTB
@deleriad i like that. Boro to be above Sheffield United on goal difference with four (Sheffield United with 5) matches to go.
It won't be over before the last week of the season when the Blades have three matches in eight days. Others have only two.
Up the Boro!
Great minds think alike. I too see us neck and neck going into the last games and am hoping that Sheffield's United fixture congestion will come back to bite them.
My prediction was also 77 points apiece after the next 4 games. However, I am languishing in 10th place in the Exmil challenge after round 1, so I am not sure how effective these predictions will be!
Mind you. If the Blades can do a Burnley when they face Man City, as well as fixture congestion at the end, they may also have to deal with abject disillusionment...
Here are my predictions:
Burnley (83) W D W W (93)
Shef Utd (70) D W L W (77)
Boro (67) W D D W (75)
Luton (64) D L W W (71)
Blackburn (61) W D W W (71)
Millwall (60) D W W D (68)
Norwich (57) D D W L (62)
Coventry (57) D W W W (67)
WBA (55) D W W L (62)
Watford (55) D W L D (60)
Here are my predictions, for what they’re worth.
Burnley (83) WLWW (92)
Shef Utd (70) DWLW (77)
Boro (67) WWDW (77)
Luton (64) WDWW (74)
Blackburn (61) DWDW (69)
Millwall (60) LDLW (64)
Norwich (57) DLWL (61)
Coventry (57) WLWD (64)
West Brom (55) WDWL (62)
Watford (55) LWLW (61)