BORO'S Premiership future looked bleak when Terry Venables arrived as head coach alongside Bryan Robson at Christmas 2000.

DURHAM-BORN Robson began his career at West Bromwich Albion in 1974 before joining Manchester United in 1981 for a then record fee of £1.7m.

FORMER schoolteacher Lennie Lawrence never played league football but made his name as assistant manager at Plymouth Argyle and Lincoln City.

BORO legend Brian Clough paid a record £170,000 to bring Durham-born Todd from Sunderland to Derby in February 1971.

THE son of a Scottish Regimental Sergeant Major, the tough tackling wing-half began his career with Luton but really made his name at Aston Villa.

ONE of Boro's finest ever players, Maddren appeared in seven position for the club, although he will always be remembered and a wonderfully cultured centre-half.

ONE of football's most colourful characters, Allison was an unmistakable figure with his fedora hat, cigars and champagne.

CELTIC legend Murdoch was Jack Charlton's sole signing in summer 1973 as he built Boro's record breaking promotion team.

COUNTY Durham-born Neal won a Division Two championship medal and a League Cup winners' medal in the first ever competition.

BORN into a famous footballing family, Charlton became a towering centre half at Leeds United where he made a record 629 league and cup appearances over two decades.

TURNED down by Boro as a youngster, Horden-born Anderson instead trained as a plumber.

CARTER won every major honour in football with his hometown club Sunderland by the time he was 24.

BORN in Amble, Northumbria, Dennison represented Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Northampton in an undistinguished playing career.

THE Lancashire trend continued when Rowley succeeded Jack after 38 years as a player, coach and manager of Bolton.

ANOTHER Lancastrian, Jack began his career with Plymouth Argyle while his father, Bob, was manager at Home Park.

LANCASTRIAN Gllow played briefly for both Blackpool and Preston before World War One and resumed his career at Deepdale when hostilities ceased.

YET another Scot with Newcastle connections McWilliam played for his hometown club Inverness Thistle in 1899 before became a huge favourite with the Magpies.

BAMLETT became the youngest man ever to referee a cup final at the age of 32 in 1914 as Liverpool took on Burnley.

ANOTHER Scot and another former Newcastle player, Howie won three League championship medals and three FA Cup runners-up medals and one winners' medal, in 1910.

JOINED Boro as the club's first player-manager for £500 after and eleven-year career with Newcastle United which took in two FA Cup finals and a league championship win.

A former Aberdeen and Glasgow Association player, Mackie enjoyed a successful seven-year spell as player-manager of Sunderland.

A FORMER goalkeeper for Middlesbrough Swifts, the club's Reserve side, Gainford-born Robson accepted the role of secretary-manager on the club's election to the Football League.