The Asia Middlesbrough F.C Supporters Club not only wants to connect Boro fans in the region, but also worldwide.
In this special series "Our Pals" we feature and interview Boro fans you may have heard of and have a special affinity with the club.
Since 1968…. Started going to games at the grand old age of 4yrs old.
First and foremost, passionately support the team, also own/operate The Red Radio, a radio station that is hugely Boro biased, with former players (Higgy, Hendrie, Slaven, Campbell) and fans presenting their own shows.
The Red is also official radio partner for Middlesbrough Women where we broadcast exclusive full-match commentary as well as produce the Boro Women radio show and podcast. The Red currently produces 30 hours of Boro radio content each week. We also put on Boro themed events for fans, bringing the likes of Juninho back to Teesside in 2024. I was also one of the initial team that set up the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum.
I lived in Singapore for 8yrs where I was a TV presenter and senior executive for ESPN Star Sports and Fox Sports… a role where I would talk ‘Boro’ on-air at every possibility. I also visit Asia a dozen times every year on business - Asia is my 2nd home!
The amazing UEFA Cup comebacks, me working for ESPN in Eindhoven at Boro’s UEFA Cup Final. Commentating on Juninho, Ravanelli, etc, with my mate Ali for Century Radio…. And the Carling Cup win - I cried!
All my life, i fell in love after seeing the highlights of the Boro v Liverpool game when Ravanelli scored a hatrick in the 3:3 game
I am a season ticket holder and attend most away games and love it.
This has to be winning the Carling Cup in 2004. First ever trophy in our history, which allowed us to get to Europe, sign better players and have two amazing seasons in the UEFA Cup especially the second one in 2005/2006 season.
My dad bought season tickets for my brother and me and him in the East End at Ayresome Park to see Charlton's Champions First Division debut season.
Both my brother and me had been to see Boro many times before but this was our first full season and ironically our seats were in the same end of the ground where I live now. That is on The Turnstile on the Ayresome Park housing estate.
I was 11 years old and just entering secondary school when we got those season tickets watching players like Platt, Craggs, Spraggon, Boam, Maddren, Souness, Murdoch, Mills, Hickton, Foggon, Armstrong. I see sometime see some of these players as they often meet in the cafe of my local gym. I feel like a kid again with my first season ticke
Am editor of Boro fanzine Fly Me To The Moon – which started in 1988 – I became editor in the early 1990s.
I am also owner of fan site fmttmboro.com
And have been Chair of Middlesbrough Supporters Forum – I say have been because it is about to disband and be replaced by a new Fans Advisory Board.
I went to approx 940 Boro (competitive) games in a row, home and away, between my brother's wedding in Hong Kong in 1999 and getting covid in 2022. So, that was a strong connection at the time.
I gave away a club in the last answer – my brother has lived in Hong Kong and Japan for about four decades. So, I have visited both many times, including 9 games in the Japan World Cup where I saw all England games but also Brazil beating Germany in the final.
Also made flying visits to Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Macao and Bangkok. I was lucky enough to visit Beijing and the Great Wall of China 30 years ago.
Where would you like to go next?
I haven't been to the Far East since covid so I would love to return – one day soon – but only in the football closed season, of course. Maybe I could see something more of Thailand outside of Bangkok and visit the bar, perhaps.
My favourite memory changes all the time between cup finals and promotion parties and of course the amazing UEFA Cup quarter and semi final lightning strikes twice miracle comebacks. As a young kid I never thought we would make a cup final, other than Anglo Scottish! Then I never thought we would win one. That was magical in Cardiff beating Bolton. I remember sitting there quietly in a bar after the game. And it was quiet because after all the incredible celebration in the stadium no one could believe it. We felt numb. Totally in denial. It wasn't possible. It hadn't happened.
Then to travel into Europe watching my team in the succeeding seasons was such a privilege. Again if you had asked that 11 year old first time season ticket holder in the Bob End of Ayresome Park he would have found it hard to believe just what kind of journey awaited him with the Boro.
Since I was born
I’m the security provider to Middlesbrough football club, working with everyone from the chairman to the manager and players, also providing stewards on a match day and covering everything for the club security wise
Yes I visited Thailand for my mates wedding, Phuket, it was very good, I’d like to go again for a training holiday and box out there.
Massimo Maccarone's header against Steaua Bucharest, I was actually working with the owners of Steaua that night and couldn’t celebrate until I had dropped them back of at the jet, but wow what a night!!