36 The Gazette SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2019 @TeessideLive

Boro Pally’s Ayresome memories... and why Hendrie has Gary has fond memories of both as a fan and a player not forgiven him! By tosh warwick Chicken Run watching John Craggs and Terry Cochrane work It’s now 25 years since Boro in tandem down the right hand played their final season at Ayre- side. some Park. “So, I didn’t really have one par- Former , Man- ticular hero or whatever, I just chester United and England loved football and I was kind of defender played at transfixed by the whole occasion the much-missed venue at the of a football match.” start of his hugely successful career TW: How did Ayresome Park and he spoke about his memories compare to when you of Ayresome Park, Old Trafford joined Manchester United in 1989? and how new stadiums compare GP: “You have got to remember with historic old grounds. that both stadiums were probably Tosh Warwick: What are your a bit dilapidated. Both stadiums early memories of Ayresome Park? were rundown. Gary Pallister: “I have plenty of Gary Pallister “I remember the Boys’ End and memories. scores the the side where the away fans stood “I went there as a six-year-old equaliser in the was falling to pieces and when I 1-1 draw against kid for the first time, I think I got a Birmingham at went to Old Trafford they had the ‘squeeze’ through the turnstiles Ayresome Park old Stretford End which was just a with my uncle as you would do in March 1988 bit of a shed. They were both the back in them days. You paid for same, they both were maybe start- one turn of the turnstile so if you ing to feel the effects of time really, Alan Foggon was could squeeze through you man- and what professional football was that sprang to mind and David but they had character. one of the players aged to get two people in for the all about so, many happy memo- Mills came along. “The old stadiums were great to Gary Pallister price of one. ries.” “I think everybody remembers, play in because you felt the atmos- loved to watch “Those are my early memories, TW: Who was your childhood ‘Six foot two, eyes of blue, Stuey phere and tradition and you felt as watching Stuey Boam, Willie Mad- Boro hero? Boam is after you’. He was a larger though you were a part of that. You dren, , Bobby GP: “It is difficult to really say than life character. lose a little bit of that when you go Murdoch, John Hickton, Alan Fog- because I was a centre forward “I used to be in the Chicken Run, to new stadiums but obviously gon - it’s these names that come when I was a youngster so I was although I did end up in many football has got to move on. After back to mind. Most kids at that age looking at John Hickton and Alan places at Ayresome Park. I remem- what happened at Hillsborough were transfixed by the atmosphere Foggon. They were the sort of two ber in the early days being in the you have got to make football sta- facebook.com/TeessideGazette SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2019 The Gazette 37

Boro

Gary Pallister in action for Manchester United at Ayresome Park as he takes on Boro’s Paul Wilkinson diums much more safe places for people to be. Some of the ones that Ayresome Park erupts we see now that are suitable for after Boro gain promotion this day and age.” to the second division after their 0-0 draw with Wigan TW: You played for United in a two-legged League Cup semi-final tie against Boro in 1992. In the sec- ond leg at Old Trafford you cleared a shot from John Hendrie off the line to prevent a goal that might have sent the Boro to Wembley. Any regrets? GP: “Only when I’m chatting to John Hendrie and he keeps pulling me about that! A few of the lads always talk about that. “Listen, I was so happy when Middlesbrough started to get to cup finals with Robbo and what have you, you kind of hoped it would eventually come and it did. “I was playing for Manchester United and I was desperate to win trophies. We’d only won the FA Cup in 1990 and that was my first “Probably at that time I was thought the final whistle had gone trophy and I got a taste for it and probably still getting a little bit of but the referee got them all back wanted to win more. Obviously my stick off the Boro faithful for leav- off. family are Boro fans and they were ing in 1989. It was always difficult “He got the ball and he said, hurting in that respect but they for me, it did play on my mind “Right lads, I’ve got the ball now, were delighted for their son, when I played against Middles- as soon as I blow the whistle run nephew or cousin or whatever to brough and I don’t know whether for the dressing rooms’. We all go on and play in another cup other players had that kind of feel- pelted off and we found out Swin- final. ing but it was never a comfortable don hadn’t got the result. “I always remember the build- experience for me that’s for sure.” “For a team that was probably up to that and I remember being TW: If you had to pick one abid- favourites to get relegated then out with Bernie (Slaven) and Cur- ing memory of Ayresome Park with an average age of 21 lacking tis (Fleming). We were out in The what would it be? experience, to go and do what we Kirk and I was winding the two of GP: “It would probably be the did will live long in the memory, them up about it, Bernie knew I Wigan game (May ‘87). After sur- standing up in the directors’ box was trying to wind the two of them viving the liquidation of ‘86 - I and that picture of Hammy (Gary up but Curtis bit a little bit! It was remember it was Swindon playing Hamilton) stood on the fencing. It always difficult playing against in the other game and if they’d was just crazy, it was an unbeliev- Middlesbrough.” won we would have needed a able night and unbelievable expe- TW: You also scored against result against Doncaster in the last rience. That’s probably my favour- Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in game. ite Ayresome Park memory.” 1995, what do you remember “We were getting mixed mes- about that day? sages off the fans and off the side- ■■Dr Tosh Warwick is keen to hear GP: “I saw it the other day and I lines that we didn’t have to go and Ayresome Park memories of for- didn’t realise we went down to 10 win it so just settle for the draw. We mer players, managers and sup- men in that game. I’m not one of battered Wigan but we couldn’t porters as part of a project marking them guys going, ‘Oh, it’s disre- put the ball in the back of the net. 25 years since the last season at the spectful’. You score a goal, you cel- You’re thinking, ‘Oh my God’. The ground. He can be contacted on ebrate the goal. fans invaded the pitch, they [email protected]