Heroes & Villains – Middlesbrough
Hero – Steve Gibson
Steve Gibson has to be Middlesbrough’s ‘hero’. He has been instrumental in the progress of the club since the mid-80’s, helping the club progress with their move to the Riverside Stadium and ending the 128 year wait for a major trophy in 2004.
When Gibson joined the board in 1986, he was only 26 years old. He formed a consortium that saved the club from liquidation and became club chairman in 1994 after buying up roughly 90% of the club’s shares.
With the Taylor Report ruling that all club’s in the top two divisions having to have all-seater grounds, Middlesbrough needed to move out of their Ayresome Park home. Gibson was instrumental in the move and helped to fund the move to their new Riverside Stadium. He was also able to entice big name players to the club such as Juninho, Emerson and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
Middlesbrough won their first trophy with Gibson at the helm, lifting the League Cup in 2004 after beating Bolton Wanderers. Two years later, the club reached the UEFA Cup Final but lost 4-0 to Spanish side Sevilla.
Gibson was awarded an OBE in 2004 and has since been given the Freedom of the town of Middlesbrough.
Villain – Afonso Alves
The signing of Brailian striker Afonso Alves in January 2008 was greeted with joy from the Boro fans. He had signed for a club record fee of £14.45 million and had netted 48 goals in just 50 games for former club Heerenveen.
Sadly the joy was short-lived as he turned into an expensive flop, scoring just four times in 31 league games the following season. This tied in with Middlesbrough’s relegation from the Premier League and Alves has been singled out by many Boro fans as the worst signing made by the club.
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