Embedded Files
At the outbreak of war in Middlesbrough, the working man’s game, was affected and local football club Middlesbrough AFC, the Boro as everyone in Teesside know them, were about to begin the 1914/15 season.
The league started but never really finished and by the wars end some of the players along with the Club Secretary had ‘Enlisted’, some with the ‘Teesside Pioneers seen above...
A Couple were killed, but their names live on outside Boro’s current ground the ‘Riverside Stadium’...
During the move from Ayresome Park in the 1990's, the Main Entrance Gates were salvaged and brought from Ayresome Park before the old ground was demolished…
This is the Tale of those men, some of whom gave everything for their Football Club, their Town and their Country….
In 1914 Middlesbrough Football Club, had expected to embark on a shot at the League Title. Now at their new home ground of Ayresome Park, which had been opened in 1902, in the expanding industrial northern town of Middlesbrough
A Commemorative Medal was even made by a local Jewellers J M Croziers of West Hartlepool, as a Souvenir to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, circumstances curtailed the 1914/15 season, and what began as a promising team was ended by ‘The Great War’ in 1914/18.
On the day Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, which was reportedly what kicked off ‘The Great War’, Boro had battered South Bank 11-1 in a local friendly as they geared up for the coming seasons campaign.
Though they lost the season opener, 3-1 at Sheffield Wednesday – it was followed by three straight wins, including a 3-2 away win, at eventual champions Everton. Boro played a thrilling 11 unbeaten games to settle into the leading group in the League.
Late in September the allies had won the Battle of the Marne to stop the German advance, and the long networks of trenches began to appear as the armies dug in. By October and the First Battle of Ypres the casualties of almost 8,000 dead and 30,000 wounded, brought the enormity of war firmly home. It was clear it wouldn’t be over by Christmas.
Soon players were joining up along with millions of others and football faded into insignificance. After Christmas a much-changed Boro side were becalmed in mid-table and a team touted as champions finished 12th.
Of the side that started the season ripe with opportunity in red, four were to finish it wearing khaki as part of the ‘Teesside Pioneers’.
The football authorities were in two minds whether to scrap the season, as a reflection of the depth of the losses and for public morale. The fixtures were however finished but the second half of the season fizzled out as skeleton sides filleted of stars went through the motions, distorting the competitive balance and rendering the table almost meaningless.
A painting was commissioned in 2118 in time for the Centenary of the end of The Great War and hangs in the foyer of the 'Riverside' stadium, showing the men who ‘joined up’ and did their Town Proud….
UP THE BORO!!!!!!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse