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Quick Facts: |
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Nickname:
Boro
Founded: 1876
Clothing: errea
Sponsor: 888.com
Stadium: Riverside Stadium (attendance: 35049) |
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Club Honors |
»League Cup winners: 2004
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History |
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Formed in 1876 by members of the
Middlesbrough Cricket Club who were looking at ways to keep fit
during the winter. Attempted to join the Football League in 1892
after linking up with the oddly-named Ironopolis Football
Company, but their bid failed and the two teams went their
separate ways. Backed by subsequent fierce rivals Sunderland and
Newcastle, Middlesbrough finally gained access to the Football
League in 1899. The club moved to Ayresome Park four years later
and, bar brief flirtations with the Second Division in the
1920s, spent almost fifty years in the top flight. However,
following relegation in 1954, the next two decades were spent in
the second tier and below. Former England star Jack Charlton
took charge in 1973 and guided the team back into the First
Division. Their spell in the top flight ended in 1982 and the
club almost went out of business in 1986. However, Boro was
saved by lifelong fan Steve Gibson whose massive investment led
to a move to the modern environs of the Riverside Stadium in
1995 and saw the club enter the FA Premier League era. Boro came
within touching distance of silverware on three occasions, but
were beaten finalists in both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1997,
and again in the League Cup the following year. However, their
128-year wait for a major trophy ended in the 2004 League Cup
final when they beat Bolton 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium. |
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