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Ticking Off Ground 88: Middlesbrough and the Riverside
at 20:07 11 Jan 2025

I'm on my way back to Ipswich after finally crossing Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium off my list—ground number 88 of the 92. It’s been a long time coming, as the Riverside has eluded me for far too long, but now it’s done.

This trip brought back memories of my earlier visits to Middlesbrough, the first being way back in 1974 for a 3-0 defeat at Ayresome Park. That day left a lasting impression, not just because of the result but because of the atmosphere—and not in a good way. It’s no exaggeration to say I’ve never been as terrified at a football match as I was that day. The Smoggies of the era had a certain reputation, and they certainly lived up to it.

Despite their team’s comfortable win, a group of locals decided to follow us back to the railway station. Their purpose became clear when they started dismantling part of the station wall to arm themselves with bricks. We managed to board a train, relieved to think we’d made it out unharmed. But as the train pulled out, the local constabulary, crouched behind the seats, advised us to do the same. Moments later, a hail of bricks rained down on our carriage.

That was football in the 70s—a completely different world from the one we know today. The prospect of completing the 92 is thankfully a much safer (and more enjoyable) pursuit 51 years later.

Middlesbrough may have been a tricky place to visit in the past, but ticking off the Riverside feels like a milestone, one step closer to completing the full set. Four more to go!

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[Blog] Total Football
at 12:59 18 Mar 2011

On March 4th, 1981 700 Town fans assembled at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in St Etienne, France to watch, arguably, the best performance ever by an Ipswich side. The 4-1 victory in the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-final, against a side many fancied to win the cup themselves, was hailed across the Continent.

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