FORGET Cardiff and Eindhoven. The BIGGEST game in Boro's history was the humdrum clash with Port Vale at Hartlepool 20 years ago today. There is no question about that.
Had borrassic Boro not played that unspectacular third division 2-2 draw at a borrowed ground then there would be no mould-breaking Carling Cup glory, no traipsing around mob-handed pouring dobie into the fountains in some of the most historic cities in Europe, no Riverside, no Robbo, no Ravanelli, no Juninho and no luxurious arguments over whether we should consolidate in the top flight or risk all on a mad dash for the Champions League.
Had Boro not made the fixture - a frighteningly real prospect 24 hours before - Boro would definitely have been kicked out of the league, chief exuctive Graham Kelly had made that clear. Boro Chairman Colin Henderson had prepared a fallback position of applying to join the Conference - but that would have been pointless had the consortium not agreed to every condition to prevent liquidation. Bust, with no ground and no players even the Conference would have been a pipedream. Boro would have been dead.
They were dead. It was announced on the news. I was in Newcastle at University and was gobsmacked and felt physically sick when it was mentioned on Tyne Tees teatime local bulletin, almost as an afterthought. They gates had been locked since August 2nd and hopes had been raised then dashed daily since. Why doubt Neville Wanless?
There had been an air of inevitability about it. There had been a resounding silence from the football authorities and other clubs. In fact, Football League chief executive Graham Kelly could hardly have been more hostile if he had tried. It was clear, after a string of clubs going bust and reforming as new comapnies to shed debts, there was to be no escape through a loophole for Boro. If they went into liquidation an example would be set and there would be a punitive expulsion. Boro came within ten minutes of going under.
It looked terminal when the council pulled out of the rescue package but at the last minute London businessman Henry Moszkowicz responded to a small ad in the Sunday Times and arranged a spy thriller style meeting with Steve Gibson at Heathrow to hand over a suitcase with £300,000 and buy into the consortium. He is little mentioned now and has been airbrushed from history but the Mosblat envelope millionaire was the man who saved the Boro. Without his cash the club would undoubtedly have gone under.
Sometimes I think about it. What would have happened if Boro had gone under?
If it happened today you would expect a ressurrected AFC Boro scenario to develop. You would expect a Supporters Trust and fans organised through the internet and able to quickly draw on the expert advice of lawyers and accountants and local politicians and able to tap into the massive potential latent support and good will for the team. We would have crowds of 4,000 at Billingham Synthonia and sweep through the leagues and maybe reignite the passion and comrarderie along the way.
But back then it was football's dark age. The media and the government had designated all fans as unruly hooligans and as the enemy within, crowds were collapsing, ugly fenced in terraces were crumbling and the money was running out. There were no rank and file fans' groupings, not yet even fanzines, no well placed professionals or politicians ready to put their neck on the line for a decaying sport and precious little goodwill.
No doubt a Middlesbrough team of some sort would have sprung up. A Northern League outfit starting at the bottom. But where would they play? South Bank's Normanby Road which still existed then maybe. Or maybe at a reshaped Clairville, close to the original Old Archery Ground, if they could raise the money and get council support.
Maybe it would have been a Charlton situation, boss Tony Mowbray's young side working their way up the pyramid playing at Central Avenue while diehards campaigned ceaselessly to return to Ayresome and fighting a legal guerilla war to prevent new owners developing the site while le volunteers cut the grass and kept the ground and hopes alive.
Whatever form the survival took it would have been low down the pyramid and face a long battle to return. Accrington took 40 years to get back after their collapse. AFC Wimbledon started their breakaway in far more favourable circumstances and widespread public support but after two promotions appear to have hit a plateau.
In the vacuum while Boro battled back Teesside's youth would have been lured away from the grassroots grind to the glamour of the Premiership and the area could have been a football desert with the natives looking South to Leeds or North to Newcastle and Sunderland for their fix. More likely thousands would have just walked away from football completely and the hot bed would be left stone cold. To be honest it doesn't bear thinking about.
So that epoch defining encounter with Port Vale was the most significant game in Boro's history. Even if we reach a Champions League final there can be no bigger prize.
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LEST we forget, our heroes that day included Colin Cooper, still involved in the club (and possibly set for a shock first team call up if Riggott gets knacked tonight). Two more will be commentating on the game tonight.
The team of bargain bucket signings, local lads who had come through the ranks and big money buy Bernie Slaven, a £25,000 capture from Albion fought out a creditable draw, racing into a two goal lead but fading in the second half as Port Vale's more focussed pre-season preparation started to tell.
Archei Stephen's second was a 25 yard left foot volley he described as the best of his career. Archie was also on the receiving end of an elbow in the face from. "It was definitely deliberate but he's done me a favour," said the Scouse striker. "I already had a broken nose and I think he's straightened it for me."
The team: Steve Pears, Brian Laws, Colin Cooper, Tony Mowbray, Gary Gill, Gary Parkinson, Bernie Slaven, Archie Stephens, Gary Hamilton, Alan Kernaghan (Lee Turnbull, 87). Stuart Ripley.
Goals: Boro - Stephens 11, 37; Port Vale - Richard O'Kelly 69, Paul Maguire 85
Ref: Tom Fitzharris (Bolton)
Attendance: 3,456
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