gallery - Portraits

Items 1 to 12 of 21

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Alan Peacock, forward, 238 appearances, 141 goals between 1955-64

We weren't good enough to go up. We always fell down after Christmas; In that respect the club hasn't altered.

Alex Smith, right back131 appearances, 1 goal between 1966-71.

I’m all for players getting big wages, it was about time. Fans come to watch players, not the directors puffing cigars and drinking champagne. Directors and chairmen raked it in for years, and nobody mentioned it. Now the players are getting it, they’re accused of greed. If they are doing the business, give them a 100k a week. It's just a pity I'm not part of it.

Bernie Slaven, forward, 349 appearances, 147 goals between 1985-93.

When John Hendrie, Wilko (Paul Wilkinson), and Jan (Fjortoft) went the only strikers were Ravanelli, Mikkel Beck and me. Ravanelli and Beck don't tackle, the only way they're going to get injured is falling down the stairs at home. It killed me watching them pulling out of tackles.

Chris Freestone, forward, 3 full apps, 9 subs, 2 goals between 1996-97

My first pay packet was £24; £20 signing on fee; £3 a week; and £1 for a win in the reserves. I gave it to my mother; she opened it and said: 'What are we going to do with all this money?'

Derek McLean, midfielder, 123 appearances, 30 goals between 1956-61.

It was very physical in the fourth division. Full backs in the top two divisions can play. In the third and fourth divisions; they're very strong; but they haven't got the skill; so they make a living by kicking you up the arse.

Don Burluraux, winger, 4 appearances between March and October 1971.

I was the first Scotsman to miss a penalty. (at a World Cup Finals, Argentina 1978) It’s made me a better person, I’ve become a christian. But at the time it destroyed me, and it must have been terrible for my wife and the kids. I still think about it every day. People tend to forget about the penalty I scored at Anfield against Wales, to get to the world cup.

Don Masson, midfielder, 61 games, 7 goals between 1964-68.

My Mother didnít believe you could earn reasonable money playing football. She used to say: 'I don't know who you've stolen that car off, but you will go to prison for it.' She had a wonderful opinion of me.

Eric McMordie, midfielder, 262 appearances, 25 goals between 1965-74.

Sunderland were always the real enemy; I used to love those games.

Frank Spraggon, full back, 318 appearances, 3 goals between 1964-76.

I always dreamed when I played. I dreamed of organising a team that had no numbers on their backs, no defined place in team; they were just footballers. I went to Holland (as a coach) and did that.

George Hardwick, 166 appearances, 7 goals 1937-50. 13 England caps, Captain of GB v Rest of Europe

Do you remember the chicken run at Ayresome Park? Whenever I won the toss, it didn't matter where the sun was, where the wind was coming from; I would always play the opposite side to the chicken run. So if we played badly they would get at Alec Smith (Boro right back) and not me. He'd come over to me and say, 'You've sent over to those bastards again!'

Gordon Jones, left back. 523 full appearances, 5 goals between 1961-1973.

Me and Jamie Pollock had a stupid drinking game. We both had clear drinks unbeknown to me Jamies was water; I'd been stitched up. I went to bed pie eyed and woke up with one eyebrow shaved off.

John Hendrie, winger/forward, 217 appearances, 52 goals between 1990-96.