TWE12THMAN

 New Twe12th Man Website To Be Launched. The new Twe12th Man website is almost ready for launch. We had felt for quite some time that our online presence had lagged behind our aspirations. The old Proboard was ok, but was too much of a ‘closed shop’ and had little to offer the ‘casual browser’, or indeed anyone who did not want to register.

The ‘hacking’ of the old board by the so called ‘Turkish Hacker’, who seemed to have a better grasp of the Polish language than he did Turkish (ah the wonders of online translation sites), has perhaps done us a favour in forcing the development of the new website.

 What’s the new site like?We wanted to create a clean, uncluttered easy to navigate site. There will still be a forum for those who wish to register, post and get involved. There will also be more for the fan who just likes to have a browse, or keep up to date with what the Twe12th Man is up to.

The key to the site is participation. Fans will be able to submit articles and song suggestions for inclusion on the website. They will be able to submit their pictures for what we hope will be an extensive gallery section to portray the pride and passion of Boro fans.

Fans will be able to contact us with their ideas and suggestions on what they would like to see from the Twe12th Man.

The new website once launched will continue to grow, we intend to add new content and features regularly to avoid the site becoming ‘stale’. We will be looking to constantly improve the website, by listening to the thoughts and opinions, of you the user. So if you have any ideas as to how the website can be made better then please feel free to send us your feedback using our Contact Us page.

When will the new site be launched?We hope to launch the website as soon as possible, we have been busy in the process of finalizing the host for the website, and fine tuning and populating the site with content, to ensure users aren’t faced with a barrage of ‘under construction’ pages and lack of ‘meat on the bones’.

The new website is a big step forward for the Twe12th Man, we have had to learn new skills (we’re too tight to pay a web designer!!) and we hope that it helps dismiss the hype that we are somehow ‘elite uber fans’. The truth of the matter is that we are normal run of the mill fans who feel disappointed, angry, let down just as much as any other fan when we lose, but we do feel that we can make a real impact to the team when we give them our full vocal support, and as fans we have the power to do that.

It’s a site produced by fans for the fans and hope you think the wait and work have been worth it and add us to your list of favourites.
 

Most of all, we hope the site will encourage and inspire you in whatever part you play in supporting the Boro from casual observer to Twe12th Man.  Our monthly meetings will still take place where fans can turn up in person to discuss issues.  Watch this space for details of launch date…………

Then and Now..

The last home game was embarrassing and one that players and fans alike will be eager to forget.  This week’s Man City match is the first of four home games within a month and it is crucial that the fans and players can spur each other on to ensure we aren’t at the wrong end of the table as we approach December.

Understandably, there has been a lot of reaction to the 0-5 drubbing in front of the TV cameras.  Many of the comments that I read on internet messageboards were as critical of us – the fans – as they were of the players and management. It isn’t easy to support your team when they are performing so badly but the best fans stick with their team win, lose or draw.It seems obvious, but the relationship between players and fans and vice versa should work both ways.  We should give our all to inspire the team and not just expect to be inspired to show our support.From a personal point of view I enjoy the match for one of two reasons; either the Boro have won or it has been a fantastic atmosphere and the fans have sang their hearts out for the team.  Obviously when we win the atmosphere is more or less guaranteed.  It can, and it should, work the other way though.

The recent away win at Wigan gives the perfect example.  The football wasn’t that enthralling but the travelling support were vocal for the full 90 minutes.  As Didier Digard said: “The support of the away fans was incredible it really lifted us and kept us going to the end of the match…” I accept there isn’t a great deal to sing about while your team isn’t competing on the pitch.  It does however reflect better on us as fans if we can demonstrate the commitment in the stands that we expect from the players on the pitch.

The Riverside was bouncing at the start of the season against Spurs.  A smaller crowd even generated a good atmosphere for a less important game against Yeovil.  We have got four huge home games coming up, starting with Man City this week.  Let’s stay behind the team throughout.  I find it’s more enjoyable, whatever the result!

Andrew Glover

OUR CLUB, OUR TEAM, OUR TEESSIDE    The previous home game against WBA saw the unveiling of the “Boro Legends” banner at the back of the East Stand; unfortunately for us, it was the featured Legend patrolling the visitors’ dugout that ended the game smiling..! Both Tony Mowbray and Gareth Southgate are well worthy of their place on the banner and would have formed a mean central defensive partnership. With the plan to add further Legends to the banner in the future, hopefully a player in red and white will begin their own legendary status today as we entertain Chelsea. I’m sure you’ll agree the banner is a colourful addition to the stadium. As always, the Twe12th Man welcomes any feedback and/or feasible suggestions from Boro fans on projects we could undertake to enhance the ‘matchday experience’.Contact details can be found at the end of this article.

Our recent history with “the Blues” has been inextricably linked - from the play-off victory in the “Battle of Stamford Bridge”, the despair of three Wembley Cup Final defeats, the historic first Riverside game and triumph, to the recent victories including the Juninho ‘Goal of the Season’ match in 1997 and the incredible 3-0 mauling of Mourinho’s finest in 2006. The clubs that met in 1988 are unrecognisable from the ones that meet today; Chelsea, now a ‘Top Four’ club bankrolled by Roman’s millions - and twice Premier League winners - and ourselves, inaugural PL members now consolidated as an established top flight club of 10 years standing, with the League Cup victory and European adventures behind us. But unlike Chelsea and many other clubs, we still have a local heartbeat, a Teesside heartbeat, as the banner proudly proclaims “Our Club, Our Team, Our Teesside”.  Let us fill the Riverside with the noise and passion our local pride warrants; let us show the boys from the King’s Road what Teesside steel is all about. With ‘Teesside Spirit’ on the pitch and in the stands, once again the Infant Hercules can rise against the odds and upset the big boys. Come on Boro. ERIMUS

 The Twe12th Man meets at 7:30 pm, on the 2^nd Thursday monthly in the Ironopolis Club, Bright Street; all Boro fans welcome. Email address: contactus@twe12thman.co.uk 

THE SPIRIT OF ‘86… and all that…!!  The long-awaited ‘Legends Banner’, commissioned by the Twe12th Man, fashioned by Mick Dunne and his students at Our Lady & St Bede College of Art, and voted for by Boro fans in a Gazette poll last year, should make its’ debut today to complement the two now displayed in the W. Stand corners. It is not without irony that today’s unveiling coincides with the visit of true Boro Legend, Tony “Mogga” Mowbray, the current Baggies manager. 

The summer of 1986 was a very sombre time for all Boro fans. Many of us ‘older’ fans had experienced the ignominy of relegation to Div 3 in 1966, but this time, with a caretaker manager, no money, the exodus of some players, and mounting debts compounding the situation, the seemingly inevitable liquidation threatened the very existence of our Club. The last minute reprieve with the intervention of Steve Gibson and the Consortium is now well documented; Boro was reborn, and we survive to tell the tale and acknowledge our immense debt to them.

One other catalyst in the rebirth was ‘the Chosen One’, Mogga!! His leadership on the pitch, and Boro’s consecutive promotions harnessed the enthusiasm of the Teesside public and ‘new’ fans swelled the hardcore at Ayresome. The atmosphere and noise generated in those few years is what we should be striving for now. The disappointments of our recent away results only serve to emphasise the importance of creating a “Fortress Riverside” attitude and the necessity of winning our home fixtures. We fans have our part to play too, with some of the “SPIRIT OF ‘86” unconditional backing over the 90 minutes.

While we welcome the Legend, Mogga, and the ex-Boro contingent of Jonno, Mozza, and Chris Brunt, we hope they depart pointless.

 “Sing yer hearts out for the Lads!” 

A common criticism of all Premiership grounds is the lack of atmosphere.

After two seasons of transition it is understandable that the team are expected to make progress on the pitch this season.  It should be an exciting season off the pitch as well.

The Club have been rightly congratulated for introducing £95 junior season tickets and the atmosphere at The Riverside should benefit from the increase in enthusiastic young supporters.

Hopefully The Riverside crowd will also take up the challenge thrown down by the larger contingents of away fans in the South Stand.  Many of the big teams and northern clubs with large followings will sell their full allocation and it will be up to us, the home support, to respond passionately and positively.

At the next home game against Stoke City on August 30^th, The Twe12th Man will unveil three new banners.  The Boro Legends banner is almost complete and looks fantastic.  This banner will be displayed along the back of the East stand.

Over the summer we also invited Boro fans to vote on slogans for two banners that will be displayed in the north and south west corners.  Many good suggestions were made and the two winning slogans were ‘Spirit Of ‘86’ and ‘Our Club, Our Town, Our Teesside’. All three banners will add to the colour and character of our stadium.Improving the vocal support from the crowd is our long term aim.The Twe12th Man will distribute ‘song sheets’ containing ideas for new chants at early away games this season. In days gone by it is true that fans on the terraces didn’t need any form of organisation and the traditional atmosphere in British grounds was very much spontaneous.  Unfortunately this is no longer the case.The Twe12th Man is prepared to trial any method which may have a positive impact on the atmosphere at The Riverside and on the road.  Let us hope that as fans we can be as committed to the cause as we expect the players to be in 2008/09.We Shall Overcome.

The next Twe12th Man meeting will be held at The Ironopolis Club, Bright Street, Middlesbrough on Thursday 11^th September at 19:30.

Banner 2 : General Theme

Thank you to everyone who voted in the first stage of voting.

The most popular TWO slogans go forward to the final head to head vote.
Please vote for the ONE that you want to be used.
Vote here or by email contactus@twe12thman.co.uk

Voting closes at 8pm Sunday 13th July 2008

SPIRIT OF ‘86

AYRESOME ANGELS : PAST & PRESENT

Banner 1 : Teesside Theme

Thank you to everyone who voted in the first stage of voting.

The most popular TWO slogans go forward to the final head to head vote.
Please vote for the ONE that you want to be used.

Voting closes at 8pm Sunday 13th July 2008

Vote here or by email contactus@twe12thman.co.uk

OUR CLUB, OUR TEAM, OUR TEESSIDE

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF TEESSIDE

BANNER 2: GENERAL THEME

Twelve choices on the shortlist.

Vote for you favourite THREE choices here or by emailing contactus@twe12thman.co.uk.

Voting closes Friday 4th July 12pm.

The most popular TWO will go forward to a further vote.

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29-02-2004

INFANT HERCULES b. 1876

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS, WE DO BELIEVE

SPIRIT OF ‘86

BORN IN BELIEF 1876

RED HOT IRON, WHITE HOT STEEL

AYRESOME ANGELS : PAST & PRESENT

WE ARE F.C, NOT PLC

WE ARE BORO, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY

LOCAL CLUB : LOCAL PEOPLE

BORN BORO, LIVE BORO, DIE BORO

WE SHALL OVERCOME