Boro legends return for 150th anniversary match

Almost 100 former Middlesbrough players and managers returned to Teesside for a legacy game celebrating 150 years of the club.

A sold-out crowd of more than 30,000 filled the Riverside Stadium to watch club legends including Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Yakubu and Aitor Karanka.

The game saw two squads of former Boro players go head-to-head, with others featuring in a non-playing capacity including a lap of honour and a presentation of legacy numbers.

Speaking shortly before the match, Juninho said Teesside always "felt like home" but warned his running would be "much slower than before".

Midfielder Geremi said he had been training for the spectacle, adding: "I've not seen a lot of the guys for many years, so it will be very exciting to see them and do what we used to do together - play football."

Defender Daniel Ayala said: "I always say that this is the club where I played my best football and where I felt part of something the most.

"It will be great to see some old faces again and catch up."

The game was 4-4 at half time and finished 8-7, including goals from Danny Graham, Mikkel Beck and Juninho.

Team Erimus, managed by Tony Mowbray and Lennie Lawrence, edged Team Ironopolis, managed by Aitor Karanka and Leo Percovich.

But the club said "Football is the winner.

"What a game, what a day, what a club."

Craig Hignett told Radio Tees it was "heart-warming" to be part of Middlesbrough's history.

"That was fabulous, to be here in front of a full house was just amazing," he said.

"What a day it's been."

Ex-Boro midfielder Neil Maddison said it was a "fantastic day" and that he "loved every minute of it".

He thanked the fans, saying: "They make it, coming out and that, making it such a special day for us players."

The club was formed in 1876.

Ahead of the game, head of commercial Liam McGuinness said it was going to be a "fantastic spectacle".

"Some haven't been on the pitch for 40, 50, 60 years, so celebrating all of those memories on the pitch, we think that it's going to be an unbelievable day," he said.

A moment was held to remember those who have passed away.

"It's massively important for us to recognise those players that are sadly no longer with us so we can pay our respects as a football club, as a team of staff and as a town to them," McGuinness said.

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