Blessing in disguise Sunderland not going up that year. The following season we hit 105 points and then had back to back 7th place finishes in the top flight.
I was at the Swindon-Sunderland game. Swindon season ticket holder. There was a lot of Sunderland fans in the home ends near by me. Brilliant atmosphere that day
I was at Swindon that day and it was a bit of a party from memory. But watching that video, what a friggin side Boro had that season in the Championship. Mad how time makes you forget
I used to religiously tape the Nationwide Football League Extra, Gabriel Clarke is the greatest there’s ever been at what he does. ITV Sport must have so many of these segments in the archives….get them ALL on UA-cam
I was at the Swindon v Sunderland game that day. And things seemed to be going to plan at the break, when we led 2-0, while Middlesbrough were being held 0-0 at home by Swindon's local rivals Oxford. But sadly, & even though we eventually won 2-1, it wasn't enough, as we were still pipped for automatic promotion by one point by Middlesbrough, after they'd hit four goals in the second period, to run out eventual 4-1 winners. Which left us to perhaps rue the rather disastrous 0-2 defeat we'd suffered at another of our promotion rivals, Ipswich, the previous mid-week, also dropped points v QPR & WBA, over the vital Easter period. So it was onto the play-offs, and eventual heartache v Charlton, in that epic final at Wembley. Still, our response to the setback couldn't have been better in season 1998-99, when we won The First Division/returned to The Premier League in rather emphatic fashion. Great days.
Some squad boro had that season with the likes of merson and the gazza and the under-rated alun armstrong and in a newcastle fan. Had to laugh at them blokes dressed as arabs at swindon. Look forward to the wear tees derby game tomorrow
Blessing in disguise Sunderland not going up that year. The following season we hit 105 points and then had back to back 7th place finishes in the top flight.
I was at the Swindon-Sunderland game. Swindon season ticket holder. There was a lot of Sunderland fans in the home ends near by me. Brilliant atmosphere that day
I was at Swindon that day and it was a bit of a party from memory. But watching that video, what a friggin side Boro had that season in the Championship. Mad how time makes you forget
I used to religiously tape the Nationwide Football League Extra, Gabriel Clarke is the greatest there’s ever been at what he does. ITV Sport must have so many of these segments in the archives….get them ALL on UA-cam
Absolutely agree. Nobody comes close to Clarke’s reports, pre-game montages etc. he is sheer class.
He was a class act compared to the dross you see on there now, just there to tick boxes
Boro should have absolutely smashed the league that year with the squad they had.
Lots of injuries hampered them tbf
Blimey , there were some good players in div 1 that season 😮 Boro had a hell of a team
You’ve done Gaza with that thumbnail
I know man. He looks like Alf Roberts. You'll never get as fat a lad playing at that level again
Alun Armstrong never got a fair crack at the Boro. He was a brilliant finisher.
Charlton would win that season's playoff final, whilst Sunderland would win the 1st division title the following season!
When football was proper
People didn’t say that at the time
I was at the Swindon v Sunderland game that day. And things seemed to be going to plan at the break, when we led 2-0, while Middlesbrough were being held 0-0 at home by Swindon's local rivals Oxford. But sadly, & even though we eventually won 2-1, it wasn't enough, as we were still pipped for automatic promotion by one point by Middlesbrough, after they'd hit four goals in the second period, to run out eventual 4-1 winners. Which left us to perhaps rue the rather disastrous 0-2 defeat we'd suffered at another of our promotion rivals, Ipswich, the previous mid-week, also dropped points v QPR & WBA, over the vital Easter period. So it was onto the play-offs, and eventual heartache v Charlton, in that epic final at Wembley. Still, our response to the setback couldn't have been better in season 1998-99, when we won The First Division/returned to The Premier League in rather emphatic fashion. Great days.
Then came THAT FINAL. The greatest at the Old Wembley in my lifetime.
Huge day at both ends of the table with Man City going down into the third tier
Alan Curbishley looked about 60 even back then
A cross between Arthur Fowler and Frank Warren 🤣
He's not still managing is he? Haven't seen him on telly in about fifteen years
Merson a cheat code at that level. Still a quality player at that time and at Villa after in the Premier league.
Don't know if Merse was rubbing his nose because he was telling fibs, or dusting off toot.
Can you post the 1977/78 second division promotion race.
Where is Gabriel Clarke nowadays ?
When football was good.
Sunderland fans in saudi gear
?? 😂
Some squad boro had that season with the likes of merson and the gazza and the under-rated alun armstrong and in a newcastle fan. Had to laugh at them blokes dressed as arabs at swindon. Look forward to the wear tees derby game tomorrow
Man United
97/98? You sure about that mate? Pretty sure Gazza was at Rangers that year…
100% at Boro but he joined from Rangers in March '98
@ my bad