Series 3, Episode 5 - They Brought Him Back (with Adrian Bevington)

FANS

Middlesbrough may not feel like a club that has a rich and interesting history but it absolutely does, and few people have a better grasp of that than the Football Association’s former director of communications, Adrian Bevington.

After a quick chat about Sven-Göran Eriksson (naturally), Adrian speaks with clarity and passion about what it’s been like to support Middlesbrough, his hometown club, for over 45 years, a period of great highs, great lows and pretty much everything in between, including the joy of watching Juninho week in, week out.

The 1980s were very important for Adrian given it was when he watched an exciting and successful Middlesbrough side home and away, but it was also a time when the club nearly went out of existence. Adrian does an excellent job of putting that into context, as well as speaking about the trauma that came with being a match-going supporter during the height of hooliganism.

It’s then onto the 1990s and, specifically, the Bryan Robson Years. Adrian well and truly lived this period given he was working for Middlesbrough when Juninho arrived and spread his magic across the newly-build Riverside Stadium, as well as when Fabrizio Ravanelli and Emerson joined. He provides insight into all three superstar signings, and speaks with understandable regret about the 1996-97 season, one in which Boro played free-flowing football but which will ultimately be remembered for them losing two finals and getting relegated.

From Adrian also comes a wonderful tribute to Steve Gibson, the fellow boyhood Middlesbrough fan who having helped save the club in the 80s has provided the platform for everything that has come since in his role as owner and chairman, including the team’s historic League Cup success and run to the Uefa Cup final in the early 2000s. For Adrian there is no doubt - Gibson is a truly unique figure in the history of English football.

Adrian also talks through his all-time Middlesbrough XI before providing an Emile Heskey-related answer to the final question.

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Cheers!