Your Dad must have been a really good player because Boro Swifts were a crack youth team. That was the reason that Don Revie as a young kid was desperate to play for them. Indeed Bill signed him on for the princely sum of 5 bob, as the Hermiston book details.
There were a number of local youth teams that were nursery sides: South Park Rovers for Doncaster Rovers and Middlesbrough Crusaders for Sunderland.
Ken's mention of South Bank St Peter's and South Bank East End brought back a special memory.
The first game I ever saw at Ayresome Park was a local Cup Final (the Magnum Bonum Cup? The Ellis Cup?) between those very two teams. It must have been in 1946 or 1947 when I was just 6 or 7 years old. I think it must have finished 0-0 as I don't recall having seen a goal.
@lenmasterman. Thanks Len. I never got to see him play because he had given up the game by the time I was born.
The family always said he was a good player but without seeing him and knowing more about who he played with and the quality of the other teams you just have to take their word for it so it’s lovely to hear your comments and memories. Much appreciated. 😎
Andy,
A witty opener to lift the darkness and move the cobwebs out of the way, well done.
Boro are just unpredictable and Hull seem to scratch out the odd positive result so OFB's 'eyes in the sky' would do m. Bbut we all know Boro and it doesn't seem to matter how much the personnel change they seem to be programmed for unpredictability. Or is it stupidity?
Like a previous post I'm out of the predictions, in my case for fear of jinxing them.
I hope Mr Carrick instills some confidence in them and reminds the team the game isn't over until the final whistle. Oh and not forgetting a tour of what the far post area is and don't mark one another.
UTB,
John
Having given the information to Len and KP for more responses to Jarkko’s original comment I quickly turned back to cricket mode where I had recorded the T20 group match at Brisbane where England have again defeated New Zealand by 20 runs and now need to beat Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday to reach the semifinal. As it stands New Zealand are almost certain to qualify whilst England and Australia are level on points with 5 each, although England’s scoring rate is plus 0.547 and Australia’s minus 0.304.
Incidentally I spotted 3 Boro fans holding a St George’s flag erect with Middlesbrough FC blazoned across it, surely not our Diasborian friends MW in Darwin or Peaspuddin Perth, but quite possibly Selwynoz or Billy.
Not sure where Boro Swifts played their home matches. Possibly Clairville Stadium anybody??
Hull City are set to appoint Liam Rosenior as their new head coach.
BBC Radio Humberside reports the 38-year-old has agreed a deal to take over at the Championship club, and will sign a contract on Wednesday.
He spent five seasons with the Tigers as a player between 2010 and 2015 and will replace Shota Arveladze, after the Georgian was sacked in September.
Rosenior started the season in interim charge of Derby but this will be his first permanent managerial role.
He is expected to be at Hull's home game against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, with his first game in charge likely to come at Millwall on Saturday.
Caretaker Andy Dawson has so far won three of his six matches in charge.
Up the Boro!
Just caught up on a lot of reading. Lots of great posts to follow AndyR's quality starter for 10.
I didn't get to see our ghoulish performance on Saturday but was disappointed in the result and in what I have read about it.
Was it 3 or 4 the back? I'm not clear from comments and reports, but did wonder that he had adopted the back three with wingback approach that has failed us miserably all season. Jones looked so much more himself when played as a proper outside right against Wigan. Let's hope MC goes 4 at the back tonight. Otherwise I carry forward my hope that we will play as a team that is enjoying the game and that is trying to play on the front foot.
No prediction...just fingers crossed he gets the team right and up for it.
CoB
I think they played at Hustlers Fields off Stockton Road, but later moved to Hutton Road, on a pitch later taken over by the Boro as their training ground.
Not sure where Boro Swifts played their home matches. Possibly Clairville Stadium anybody??
Probably not Ken.
Clairville Stadium only opened in 1963. I recall watching the red helicopter carrying the Duke of Edinburgh to open it flying over our house in Clairville Road while were waving like mad to attract his attention from our front garden.
Before it was a stadium, I think it was all just part of Clairville Common, but some may recall more than I can.
Team News...
Just one change from the team that started against Preston with Forss replacing Muniz - Crooks is on the bench but no Watmore or Bola in the squad.
@jarkko. Let’s hope they don’t get a new manager bounce tonight!😎
I not only recall Clairville Common consisting of a couple of mud-patch pitches in the 19440s and 1950s but I played on them many many times.
They ran along the other side of the road from Albert Park, and the games I played in were communal affairs rather than oganized matches. They had more in common with the origins of the game where you just turned up and were assigned to one of the teams, which might consist of anything up to 20 a side. You would enquire what the score was ( "14-10 to them") and get on with it.
Players would join and leave the game as they got tired or went home for a meal and it went on for most of the day.
In the late 40s the rest of the common was developed into multiple pitches of much higher quality and many local teams played their home games there. It was no longer really a common, however, open to kids or with access to the wider casual public except on Saturdays, Wednesday afternoons and Bank Holidays. If we wanted a kick about we would go to Albert Park. Coats for goals.
There was a real stink when Clairville Stadium was proposed and eventually opened in the 1960s. It was seen as a land grab for commercial purposes from the local community and many local teams because it was built over many existing pitches which were very well used.
I had a very sad experience on my last visit to the Boro. I dropped in at the Acklam Steelworks ground just opposite Clairville Common. The Steelworks always had a decent side and were the winners of the Ellis Cup, open to all local amateur teams, on many occasions.
One of their star players in the 40s and early 50s was their goalie Chris Old, the father of the famous Old brothers. Old Chris, as he was later known to distinguish him from his cricketer son, Young Chris, was a much respected and incredible athlete in spite of being somewhat disabled.
I myself played cricket for the Steelworks for most of the 60s and spent many happy hours (as well as a good deal of time in A&E) keeping wicket on a pitch that could have been flatter.
Both football and cricket pitches were neglected and overgrown when I dropped by for what I hoped might be a nostalgic moment. It wasn't to be and I was left very disappointed that the scene of so many historic community sporting events and the scene of former sporting glories had been allowed to fall into such a sad state of disrepair and disuse.
So Carrick is giving the Scott proteges a chance. Forss selected: Hoppe on the bench.
We shall see.
afraid not me with the banner. I was actually in Brisbane during the weekend but was back home in Sydney before the T20 game.
I’m nervous for tonight. I sense that one win could see us on a run but we do need some points.
UTB
I am somewhat concerned about our left side tonight. Giles and McGree, neither can tackle so expect some pressure down that side
The line up doesn’t fill me with confidence. What has Forss done as a substitute to deserve a starting place?
If Crooks is fit to start I’d have him as he plays well with Jones. Giles is proving a disappointment and does very little when he doesn’t have the ball , and , in my opinion, does little when he has the ball.
Here’s hoping they all prove me wrong.
I would take the draw now.
Philip of Huddersfield
ps In winning on Saturday, Huddersfield produced their best performance of the season and the locals are looking upwards at the League table.
Chuba again gives Boro the lead in the 30th minuten (header). $64,000 question: can they hang on? *prays*
Tepid game half an hour in. We have shown nothing, then a nice ball in from Smith headed home by Akpom.
Hope this gives us some confidence as we have looked like real relegation prospects up to the goal
Poor game. One shot on target and we go in one up. Some nice little midfield triangles just before half time but we generally lack cohesion.
If we get another goal we could and should run away with it. A Hull goal and it's in the lap of the gods.
No performance worth commenting upon though Fry has made some nice tackles.
Forss is disproving the theory of nominative determinism.
As Len said, the first half hour was a nothing game, no questions asked, no answers needed. However, the goal (another for Akpom) has settled the team and were in control from that point. Beginning to see Hackney and McGree linking up well together but we need more from the wide players as a few decent crosses would be gratefully received by Akpom, who has so far shown the most quality and touch. Forss not really in the game and it's hard to see how he fits in with the team other than his pressing without the ball. At least Boro have scored against the worst defence in the Championship - another will keep up the averages and probably secure the three points.
Nothing wonderful but we’ve had the only chances so far.
I'm very impressed by Akpom. He has a great first touch and is strong enough to hold the ball as people get free round him. He produced one bit of magic in the left hand corner that was a cut above anything that I’ve seen anyone else do this season. In fact,,as the half went on you can see Hackney, McGree and Akpom starting to create a triangle in the midfield that could be the basis for something good.
I’m also starting to see an understanding developing between Smith and Jones.
I’m still nervous about those two yellow cards which were handed out to Hackney and Smith in the first five minutes but they have stayed sensible so far. Let’s hope that it continues.
All in all, some good signs but we definitely need at least one more to get confidence going.
utb
Yes we need to make more of the opportunities down the sides, however there is generally a lack of bodies when the crosses come in.
We are a one trick pony as nothing, nothing at all comes through the middle from midfield. An are the really does need an upgrade.
Still one up, but feeling unsure of something from Hull.
Well, no surprise here in Norfolk I've got my hands over my eyes and earplugs in.
Now where's the back of the couch.
UTB,
John
It just had to be Cyrus Christie who equalised for Hull, didn't it (60th minute)? 🙁
It just had to be Cyrus Christie who equalised for Hull, didn't it (60th minute)? 🙁
Then, out of nowhere, we benefit from an OG! 🙂
Boro 3 - 1. Good pass by Akpom to Giles who beat keeper on near post
Then a Cyrus Christie OG makes it 1-3 to Boro in the 80th minute. Poetic justice! 🙂 Fingers crossed that that's that...
I'm not sure I can believe what I just listened to. Hull City 1-3 Middlesbrough. Unbelievable, Jeff! Maybe there can be some hope, after all....