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Middlesbrough F.C.

They were founded in 1876 during a formal meeting at the Talbot Hotel, thus making them one of the oldest clubs in the North East. A local rumou abounds that the idea of a football club was first mooted during a tripe summer a year before. The club has spent long periods in both the first and second divisions of English football, and have generally struggled to compete against their North East rivals on the Tyne and Wear.

Once of their best sides was forged just before WW2, featuring Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick they managed a four place finish, and were tipped as potential title challengers. Unfortunately for Boro the war intervened. After the war the club spent over twenty consecutive years in the second division. The only highlight for Boro was the emergence of Brian Clough, the most prolific striker in their history he scored an amazing 204 goals in 222 games.

Clough did later claim that certain team mates were taking bribes to fix the games, and the club most likely would have returned to the first division if it wasn't for the cheats. Jack Charlton did manage to guide Boro back to the top flight in the 1970's, but the stay was short lived. During the 1980's the club went into meltdown, they filed for liquidation and looked certain they would fold permanently. Steve Gibson managed to save the club, and went on to finance one of the most successful spells in the clubs history.

Financing the development of the Riverside Stadium, he has also generated funds to allow managers like Bryan Robson to sign world class players. In the mid nineties the team contained high-profile players like Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli. And were one of the most star studded teams in the Premier League. They also came very close to winning the club's first major trophy. Reaching the final of both the League and FA Cup in the same year, losing both.

In 2004 under Steve McClaren they won the League Cup, their first major trophy ever. In 2006 they also reached the UEFA Cup final, out classed they lost 4-0 to an impressive Sevilla side. The reign of chairman Steve Gibson has created much needed stability for the club. A main stay of the Premiership, they continue to sign big name players.