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downendcity

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  4. The Official Middlesbrough V Champions Match Day Thread

    in The Havanatopia Match Day Archive

    Posted

    Middlesbrough; hard to believe it has a population of 175,000 with over 376,000 in the Teeside area taking in Redcar. Even more hard to believe that in 1820 there were fewer than 40 souls in the place. Then came the tracks, then came the trains carrying their dirty ole' coal, then came the churches and then came the port. And then came the people and by 1840 it was 5,000 and then came the blast furnaces and it never looked back..streets, gas lamps and trams, it was a dandy place for the industrial working class with the dance halls and walks of a weekend on Roseberry Topping. What a wonderful name for a hill, sounds like dessert is about to be served.

     

    But then the coal shut down and Middlesborough became a shadow of its former self, a Salford of the North East and a post industrial Teeside was not a particularly nice place to be. Those years have passed and there exists today a slightly better and regenerated Teeside. Interesting to note though that the population has actually fallen by 20,000 in the last 20 years. It's a common tale of urban decay: unemployment is still high and often long-term; much of the workforce is employed in vulnerable sectors; educational achievement and life expectancy are low; and more than two thirds of council wards are classed as deprived. However its not all bad; what Middlesbrough really has going for it is not a snazzy town centre, but an industrial heritage that has produced a technology and skills base that continues to attract investment.

     

    And like most of Britain its a fine ole' landscape outside these industrial heartlands. Roseberry Topping being one that features strongly in the identity of the Teeside people and has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. At just over a thousand feet high you have panoramic views of the Vale of Cleveland to distant towns of the Tees Valley. Its grand from up there.. George Tweddle wrote that he had sat on the Topping with many a Bard... and where the loved landscape here unfurled to view, where the picture is ever new, the watchet ocean, we may roam far and wide before we see a finer sight than here from Rosebury. he wrote that in 1870.

     

    The view from there today toward the ocean would of course take in the Riverside Stadium. One of the first to be built following the Taylor Report. Long gone is Ayresome Park in the middle of town where I visited many years ago; a decrepit ground if ever there was one but loved by all those Teesiders I will wager. 

     

    One lower position than City is the highest Boro have ever finished; 3rd in 1915. Only 2 seasons have been spent outside the top two divisions mind, quite a record. In 1986 they almost folded and from whence Steve Gibson and his consortium came along and the rest, is history. Relegated in 1997 for failing to fulfill a fixture against Blackburn they bounced back the following season and spent 11 years in the top flight before succumbing again to relegation in 2009 where they remain of course. Although they did win the League Cup in 2004 their only major trophy. 

     

    After a poor run of 2 wins in 12 Tony Mowbray left the club ushering in a new 'Spanish' era with Aitor Karanka de la Hoz being appointed in 2013. Previously assistant to Jose M at Real he comes with some relative pedigree and not a little expectation. Last season was a near miss for Boro so lets see if his close season signings will take them a step closer this term.

     

    Today they must get past City! I think our resolve will have been greatly assisted by our come back on Tuesday night against a rather petulant Leeds side. Yet the niggling failure to bolster our squad perhaps will play on the minds of all. I still feel we have enough in the locker to avoid defeat today and we may even come away with a surprise win. 1-1 or 0-1 to City. I am allowed two choices!

     

    UTC

     

     

    Good as always Havana, although you might want to get some tips from Tone about editing :)

    • Like 1

  13. The Official Champions V Brentford Match Day Thread

    in The Havanatopia Match Day Archive

    Posted

    Miss those Brentford Nylon bedsheets, bit snaggy on the nails but can't deny they used to put a spark into the old love life.. It was like thunder and lightning in the bedroom at times - just farts snores grunts and itchy bollocks nowadays I'm afraid.. :)

     

    No wonder the love life is struggling if your missus  farts, snores and grunts.

     

    If she also has itchy bollocks, then it might already be too late!

    • Like 2
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