APRIL & THE BORO

My monthly Railway Poster takes us to Lincolnshire . . . and shows Somersby Rectory . . . the birthplace of Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1809. A BR Eastern Region poster, the artwork was by Jack Merriott.

I have added some extra reading below . . . and an extra image . . . read on if you have time . . . inspired by the wonderful work Blipper Kwchas for his beloved Chester FC.

This is a grand week historically for The Boro. Yesterday the 125th anniversary of our First National Cup triumph . . . 27 April 1885. I say first . . . there have not been many at all. See extra . . .

The triumph was one of battling Teesside spirit, northern pride and bewilderment both on and off the football field.

The final against holders Old Carthusians, at Headingley, was billed as a clash between North and South.

In a typical Boro experience, the path to glory was everything but straightforward. With the game goalless at half-time, Captain Bach missed a glorious chance to put the Teessiders ahead. Boro then went 1-0 down, before levelling at 1-1. However, spurred on by the merry crowd of hearty, strong-lunged northerners a Nelmes scored the winner with two minutes remaining. A Grand Victory.

There was a major problem however . . .there was no trophy. The FA Southerners were so confident of winning that they had not brought it to the Final.

Newspaper Headlines read . . . ‘THE NORTH VICTORIOUS’  . . . there is still sufficient stamina and skill in the frames of the young men of the North to overcome the representatives of the South.