SEVEN decades of supporting the Boro through thick and thin was rewarded when the club rolled out the red carpet for superfan Richard Morgan.

West Stand season ticket holder and Boro World subscriber Richard, 85, was given the all-star VIP treatment after being chosen as Boro's greatest fan through the Premier League's flagship community programme, Creating Chances.

The incredible prize for the winner of Boro's Your Shot challenge included meeting chairman Steve Gibson, manager Gareth Southgate, players and club legends.

"I didn't know what to expect really, I knew I was going to enjoy it but it was absolutely fantastic," said former works manager Richard, from Thornaby.

"I've never met so many wonderful people at any one time, from the chairman to the girls in the restaurant, everyone went to every effort to make it a very special day for me."

Meeting the chairman was a special moment for Richard, who travelled to Europe, often alone, to see no fewer than 11 of Boro's UEFA Cup ties in recent seasons.

"It was wonderful to meet Mr Gibson and I told him it was great, all the work he had done for the club. He congratulated me and thanked me for all my support. He's certainly the best chairman we've had in my lifetime."

But that was only the start of the introductions on a truly amazing day for Richard.

"Gareth Southgate was wonderful, then I went in to the dressing room and Stewart Downing jumped up straight away and shook my hand."

The prize in included the chance to keep the match shirt worn by his favourite player during the game and Richard chose skipper for the day Jonathan Woodgate.

"I said to Woody, 'You're going to wear my shirt today so make sure you don't get it torn!' and he just laughed. "I'd already been told by people within the club what a wonderful man he is and it's true. He's very unassuming.

"He's one of the best centre-halves I've ever seen and I've seen some good ones, right back to Tom Griffiths.

"I was also fortunate enough to accompany Alan Peacock and John Hendrie to lunch and I found out that as well as being true legends they are true gentlemen."

He then took his seat in the directors' box, something he had experienced once before when a friend who used to play for West Ham invited him to join the Hammers' directors at Ayresome Park. That day he got himself into trouble with his hosts - for jumping out of his seat and cheering when Boro scored!

Richard's first ever Boro game was as an 11-year-old 73 years ago, also against Sunderland, in a 2-1 FA Cup third round replay defeat in January 1934.

He recalls attending pre-war games with his father that included a 6-0 home win over Sunderland, who were then the champions and league leaders, and a 5-5 home draw with the Black Cats.

He said: "When I first got interested in Middlesbrough my father said, 'Well son, I'm not going to stop you but I know you're going to have many, many disappointments'. But then he started to take me."

Richard was also at Ayresome Park when Boro's Golden Boy Wilf Mannion took centre-stage with a four-goal blast in a 9-2 thrashing of Blackpool in 1938.

And he was there for The Mannion Match, a 4-0 demolition of Blackpool in November 1947 when the England legend turned on the style in front of his fiance.

"It was the most memorable match in the history of Ayresome Park," he said. "What a pity it wasn't recorded."

Mannion - "the best player that has ever been" - George Camsell, Juninho and Paul Merson are Richard's all-time favourites.

He says it "meant everything" when Boro finally broke their silverware duck with victory at the Millennium Stadium three years ago

Now he is dreaming of seeing Boro back in Europe after enjoying some fantastic trips abroad watching Boro in UEFA Cup action.

"If we can stick the goals away from the chances we will create then I think we can get into Europe this season," he predicts.

Richard's VIP day began when a limo collected him and his 10-year-old grandson, Lewis, from his home and took them to the Riverside Stadium for the big match.

He was also given his own squad number for the day on the back of the matchday programme.

The biggest treat for Lewis was the chance to be Boro's mascot, while his grandfather joined him, the captains and match officials on the centre spot seconds before kick-off for official photographs.

Afterwards they received a kit bag of Boro goodies before catching their limo back home and they are also being given an inscribed brick on the Boro Brick Road.

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