Aussie Fans Meet For Derby Action
BORO fans will be gathering in Australia's three biggest cities to watch their team take on Sunderland in today's Tees-Wear derby.
A growing network of Boro supporters has spread across the country in recent months as part of Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club's Boro Fans United scheme, which celebrates its fourth birthday this month.
This weekend fans will meet up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane hoping to see Boro make sure of Premier League safety with three points at the Stadium of Light.
Kick-off is midnight Australian time but supporters will be gathering early to make the most of the occasion.
Sydney Branch
A function room has been booked on the first floor of the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, which has two screens, a balcony, pool table and seating for 25 to 30 fans.
Fans are asked to gather from 10pm onwards for a screening of the 2004 Carling Cup final.
"Please try and make the time to come along for a good night out," said Ian Brown, one of the organisers.
"Bring the hubby or wife along and if you know any other Boro fans in the Sydney area, please pass on these details.
"The lads in Sydney have put a lot of hard work into this event, so it would be great to give them your support."
Please contact the organisers if you plan to attend so they have an idea of numbers.
Melbourne Branch
Pictured above at a previous meeting, this branch is really taking off and will be meeting once again at the Celtic Club, from 11pm.
"This is probably the last Boro night out this season, so let's make it a night to remember," said organiser Paul Conlin.
Brisbane Branch
Meet as usual at the Pig and Whistle in Eagle Street, Riverside, from 11pm.
"This is going to be a big game and may decide who is top dog, or who gets the wooden spoon in the North East," say the organisers.
"Come and join in the family fun."
The branch is also celebrating St George's Day with a party on Sunday April 27 at the same venue from 12.30pm onwards, with Morris Dancers and old time music hall singers, Sunday roasts, pork pies and parmos.
Again, please let the organisers know if you'll be coming along to either event to help the pub with catering arrangement.
Any Boro Fans in Australia wishing to join in the fun can log onto the Australian Boro Supporters Club Fans forum http://borodownunder.aceboard.com/ for full information of Boro nights out and your local contacts.
The club started four years ago with the help of MOSC chair Sue Gardener and mfc.co.uk.
It's all part of the Boro Fans United Scheme, helping Boro fans around the world get together.
If you want to take part, wherever you are in the world, contact Sue at suem_g@sky.com.
This photo shows fans gathering in Middlesbrough's Ironopolis Club ahead of the Bolton game.
Sue was hosting BFU contacts including Graham Paterson, who is based in Boston, USA, Steve Lambert, now based in Cramlington, and Alan Liversedge, visiting from Edinburgh.
It shows, from left to right, Sheila Richardson, Steve Lambert, Geoff Richardson (MOSC Secretary), Donna James, Dawn, Alan Liversedge and Graham Paterson, with Joseph Elstob at the front.
CANADIAN Boro fan Paul Robson and his newborn son are sleeping soundly after winning a competition to select the best ever Riverside squad.
The Northern Ireland Middlesbrough Supporters' Club held a competition to name the best Boro starting 16 since the move to the new stadium, opening up entries to Boro Fans United branches worldwide.
And Paul's choice came closest to that of NIMSC website editor Simon Fallaha, earning him £20 to spend in the club shop.
Having already converted his girlfriend to football, he wisely chose to start early on his firstborn son, buying twin Boro sleepsuits for his prize.
"Competition entries came in from Boro fans all around the world who are part of the Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club and the Boro Fans United scheme," said Simon.
"Because the entries had to be strictly Riverside-based teams, the likes of Wilf Mannion, Brian Clough and cult heroes like Uwe Fuchs couldn't feature.
"Still, a wide variety of players featured in the selections that were submitted. In fact, only Mark Schwarzer, Gareth Southgate and Juninho were agreed on by everyone for a starting place."
You can visit the NIMSC website at http://www.myspace.com/nimsc.
THEY can't all be there for every game, but Boro exiles and fans around the world are making their presence felt on matchdays by bringing some colour to the Riverside.
Teessiders have populated distant corners of the globe since the days of Marton-born explorer Captain Cook and many still travel for work and leisure, while an increasing number of football fans with no connection to the area are adopting Boro as their team.
But the fortunes of the team are never far from their thoughts.
Now, as part of the Twe12th Man's ongoing drive to get the fans at the Riverside working together, supporters clubs from far and wide are leaving a permanent stamp on the stadium in the form of their own banners.
The idea came from Boro fans based in Newcastle, the group behind the imaginatively-titled Smog on the Tyne banner.
They contacted Sue Gardener, chair of Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club and coordinator of the Boro Fans United scheme in conjunction with mfc.co.uk, which has helped establish 27 worldwide Boro fan branches.
She in turn got in touch with Mick Dunne, of the School of Art and Design at Our Lady of St Bede's School in Stockton, to help with designing and making some of the banners.
Along with the main MOSC banner, which bears the legend Angels All Over The World, flags from Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and Newcastle have already been put up and Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Nigeria should follow soon.
A special MOSC banner was put up as a centrepiece for the individual flags and banners from around the world.
Sue says the scheme has come to fruition thanks to the club, MOSC, the Twe12th Man group and the school all working together.
"A lot of hard work by individuals and groups has gone into establishing these new branches of our supporters club," she explained.
"The flags and banners around the stadium are a way of acknowledging this work, as well as making it known that Boro have fans on every continent and not just around the Teesside region.
"As one branch member said to me, 'Even though we aren't big in numbers and can't attend live games at the Riverside, we give huge and excellent support to the Boro from around the world'."
Branches in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Nigeria, Northern Ireland and New York are among groups run by locals rather than Teesside exiles.
MOSC chair Sue Gardener has been helping Boro fans throughout the world get together to form branches of the supporters club.
If you are interested in forming a branch where you live, contact Sue at suem_g@sky.com.
See our Supporters Club page for contact details of all the branches formed so far.
