• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

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Rioch and Mowbray lead 30th Anniversary Boro reunion

Boro fans can enjoy a night of nostalgia when they join the team of 1986-87 enjoy a 30th anniversary reunion dinner, led by manager Bruce Rioch and captain Tony Mowbray.

Middlesbrough Former Players Association is organising the event that will recall a season that saw Boro bounce back from liquidation to win the first of two successive promotions.

The club went bust in the summer of 1986 and, with the gates of Ayresome Park locked by the official receiver, the players went without wages for several weeks whilst training on local parks.

But, inspired by Rioch, a young Boro achieved promotion from the old Division Three at the first time of asking.

Those attending the dinner along with Rioch and Mowbray are several others who went on to achieve legendary status with the club including Bernie Slaven, Gary Pallister, Colin Cooper, Stuart Ripley and Stephen Pears. 

Midfield star Gary Hamilton is planning to travel back specially from his current home in the USA, while current chief scout Gary Gill and his former team-mates Dean Glover, Archie Stephens, Alan Kernaghan, Lee Turnbull, Paul Kerr, Mark Burke and Kevin Poole will also be reuniting. 

Former full-back Gary Parkinson, who has had locked-in syndrome since suffering a stroke in 2010 at the age of just 42, also plans to attend with his wife Deborah.

Ex-Boro captain Gordon Jones, who is treasurer for the Former Players Association, said: “This promises to be a very special evening and a chance to relive one of the most incredible periods of Middlesbrough FC’s long history.

“We’ve had a fantastic response from the players of that era, so it looks like every one of them will be joining us, together with the manager, Bruce Rioch.”

The event will include a raffle and auction for money-can’t-buy prizes.

All profits from the dinner will go to the Former Players Association, which helps ex-Boro players who fall on hard times.

Tickets for the 30th Anniversary Reunion Dinner on Sunday January 29, priced £50 each or £500 for a table of 10, are available by calling Middlesbrough FC on 01642 757672.  The price includes a three-course meal including topside of beef.