Contributions to New Publications about Middlesbrough FC

 

Two new publications about Middlesbrough Football Club include contributions from Soccer Mad Boffins.

Firstly, 'My Boro Debut' (Sixth Element Publishing) includes contributions from fans, former players, and even a few celebrities, all writing about their first Boro game in the stands or on the field.

Dr Alex G. Gillett writes about his first Boro game, a pre-season friendly versus FC Seattle Storm, and also about the first competitive game he watched from the stands; a top tier clash against a Tottenham Hotspur side including Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne, and also memorable for a long-range goal from Boro favourite Colin Cooper.

The project was initiated and pulled together by Robert Nichols, a passionate expert on all things 'Boro' who is also the editor of Boro fanzine 'Fly Me To the Moon'.  The whole book is an interesting read for fans of the Boro, but may also be a useful resource for anyone now or in years to come who is studying the history of football fandom.

The publisher's website appears to have already sold-out of its stock, but you can still purchase from the Middlesbrough FC Club Shop website: https://www.mfcofficialdirect.co.uk/christmas-c169/gifts-for-her-c173/my-boro-debut-p1754

Secondly, 'Boro Mag' has reached its third volume, and is another great resource featuring short articles
about different eras of club history. 

As usual its a professional looking publication jam-packed with attractive graphics and fantastic photos.  The themes of the volume are inspiration, passion, turbulence and resurrection.  

Our article 'Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Company (1986) Ltd: Resuscitating a 'Sleeping Giant'  focuses on the Boro's escape from financial administration in the mid-80s, but also contextualises this by tracing key events before and after. Based on our academic publications on the same subject (Gillett et al, 2016; Gillett and Tennent, 2018) the article provides a good overview of the story in a reader-friendly format.

Proceeds/donations of the magazine go towards charity, so you can help a good cause too. Hard copies seem to have already sold-out but electronic downloads seem to be available, contact the publisher via the website to find out more: https://boromag.bigcartel.com/category/boro. 

References:

Gillett, A., Tennent, K. and Hutchinson, F., 2016. Beer and the Boro—A Perfect Match!. In Brewing, Beer and Pubs (pp. 303-320). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Gillett, A.G. and Tennent, K.D., 2018. Shadow hybridity and the institutional logic of professional sport. Journal of Management History.