1986 and all that

FMTTM, v. Ipswich Town, 24th September 2011

 

 

*Shamelessly corny and unoriginal title for yet another article about 1986

The story of Boro’s amazing fight back from the brink twenty-five years ago has been much discussed lately, not least in these hallowed pages of FMTTM.  And that’s no bad thing, given the long-term significance of the events that summer and indeed the many parallels between then and now.

To say that 1986 is an important milestone in the history of the club and its fans is an understatement.  The story of Bruce Rioch inheriting a beleaguered gaggle of local youths, making them wade through layers of dog sh** in local parks in the absence of a proper training ground, and of literally whipping them into shape and transforming them into a ruthless crackpot battalion of hungry, fearless, blond-haired assassins, is a story that should be part of the school curriculum on Teesside.  Not only should it be taught in schools, but it should also be taught in compulsory re-education camps, where the youth of today are habitually sent and subjected to a dose of Rioch-style discipline and the compulsory viewing of old Boro videos from the days when we really were bad.    And not only that, for the story of 1986 should also be transformed into a Beamish-style museum attraction where Ayresome Park is fully rebuilt and occupied entirely by life-sized manikin replicas of all the key personalities of the era – including Peter Beagrie, whose figure would form the centrepiece of an exhibition in which visiting schoolchildren are invited to participate in a foul-mouthed 2-minute hate against the blank-faced replica of the reviled Judas, with a prize awarded to the most bitterly abusive child.

I think I’m getting into the realms of fantasy now, so enough of all that.  Rather than commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of 1986 with any of these outlandish schemes, Middlesbrough Football Club have instead produced a documentary DVD entitled ‘Spirit of ‘86’, featuring interviews with the main protagonists and some lovely footage of the key moments of the saga between 1985 and 1987.

As with most of the tat which fills the club shop these days, at twenty quid the DVD is probably a little overpriced, but is nevertheless a very good effort which is well worth a viewing (or ten).  Furthermore, its bonus feature is the inclusion of highlights from Mowbray’s first season in charge as Boro boss, and although this doesn’t make up for the absence of full season compilations (which seemed to mysteriously cease production in 2009, to the heartbreak of seasoned collectors/obsessives like me), it is certainly a welcome addition to the DVD and brings the 1986 story nicely up to date.

A number of things stand out about ‘Spirit of 86’. The interviews, in which the likes of Bruce Rioch, Tony Mowbray, Steve Gibson and many former players reflect upon their experiences of twenty-five years ago, are both moving and funny – as is Colin Henderson’s current haircut.  Bernie Slaven and Gary Pallister, for example, are interviewed here as a duo, and have a few funny tales to share which are testament to the legendary team spirit that saw the young side win two consecutive promotions.  (Such is the merriment of their double act, it is now rumoured that the pair have been approached by BoroTV to star in a sit-com written by Mike McGeary, provisional title ‘Bernie and Pals’ Mad Shenanigans’.)

The only downside is that that there isn’t enough extended footage of matches from the era.  One of the highlights of the DVD, for example, is Tony Mowbray fondly (if incredulously) recalling the final game of the season at Doncaster in May 1987, where thousands of Boro fans lined the edge of the pitch in anticipation of the final whistle.  Similar memories surround the final home of the same season against Wigan at Ayresome Park, which saw about three separate pitch invasions by jubilant Boro fans.  Footage of both games (and many more from 1986-7) is available on YouTube, yet we only see brief snippets on ‘Spirit of 86’ which is a real shame.

Nevertheless, it remains a very good addition to the Boro DVD collection – an important, timely reminder of how far the club has travelled in such a short space of time.  [Cue dramatic play-out music…]  Get yourself it for Christmas.