We Are Middlesbrough

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Riverside Stadium opening its doors for the very first time.

Chelsea were the visitors that day upon Boro's return to the top flight, with the hosts coming away 2-0 winners. They went on that season to finish 12th in the Premier League guided by player-manager Bryan Robson.

Jamie Pollock played for Middlesbrough at the time and recalls what a special occasion the opening of the Riverside was.

"The game was absolutely unbelievable and to win 2-0, for me as a local it really was a dream come true," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Middlesbrough moved from Ayresome Park after the Taylor Report banned standing for fans watching football in British stadiums.

Pollock said it took some adjusting for the players and fanbase alike.

"That was our home, that was everything to us - Ayresome Park was a fantastic stadium," he said.

"The Ayresome Park atmosphere was a bit more robust. There was a change. As players we knew that was the start of a new era and it was important but at the same time for me, leaving Ayresome Park was a very difficult thing to do.

"Looking back I just feel so privileged to be able to tell stories about being involved."

In 2025, Middlesbrough have made a fast start to their Championship campaign winning their opening three games and sitting second in the table.

"I think it's a great opportunity this year," said Pollock.

"I think one big investment up front and a bit more strength and depth and I think it could be a great season."

Fan Ian Smith was 10 years old when Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside Stadium.

"The thing I remember mostly is having a bit of nervous excitement. I loved Ayresome Park and even as a 10-year-old I was absolutely be gutted to be leaving," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"You got used to your surroundings at Ayresome Park. It was a ramshackle of a place but it was our place, and [the Riverside] felt otherworldly.

"There's always that cynicism to begin with thinking it won't be the same or [questioning] how are we going to fill the stadium. But it did feel like a fresh start.

"It felt like the club was always a bit of a footnote, a second-tier team, plucky underdogs.

"It was like we had arrived finally."

Listen to the full interviews with Jamie Pollock and Ian Smith and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, PA Media

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards was delighted to see his side continue their 100% start to the season after a nervy finish against Norwich at Carrow Road.

Boro came out on top 2-1, conceding their first goal of the campaign late in the game after Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway had put them in front.

"It's a really difficult place to come and win games of football - it felt like a number of games within one game," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"At the start, you could see two good teams trading blows, you could see the shape (of each) and how they could hurt each other.

"To go in 2-0 up at half-time was fantastic but you'd like to take the game away from them then or not give them any belief, and we did towards the end when we could have gone 3-0 up and 10 seconds later it's in the back of our net.

"Then the stadium starts believing and it became a little bit nervy. You just want to be able to take the sting out of it, keep the ball, manage it, make good decisions - they were charging at us from everywhere but we got over the line and won the game."

Edwards' side play their final game before the international break at home to Sheffield United next Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

"There are multiple top clubs who were in for him this summer.

"It's not an area in the squad that desperately needs addressing but... Boro felt we can't not take this opportunity when we have it."

BBC Radio Tees' Mark Drury is joined by Dom Shaw and Colin Young to discuss Middlesbrough's newest signing, defender Adilson Malanda.

Listen to the full analysis and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough's new signing, Sverre Nypan, has received high praise from a Norwegian football expert.

Sports journalist and former goalkeeper Stian André De Wahl says that Nypan has been a huge topic in Norway for quite a while prior to his move to Manchester City earlier this summer.

The 18-year-old made the move from Rosenborg to City for £12.5m and has now landed Teesside, looking to help fire Boro into the playoff places.

"First of all, Sverre Nypan has been a huge topic in Norway for quite a while; there's been a lot of speculation about his future, and then the big City transfer happened this summer after a lot of clubs were after him," De Wahl told BBC Radio Tees.

"Everyone knows about Arsenal, but also the sporting director of Aston Villa was in Norway to try to seal a deal, but after all he ended up at City and now to Middlesbrough on loan.

"He's a central offensive midfielder; he can play as an eight or as a 10. When he was younger at Rosenborg, they had a lack of strikers, and he played as a striker at 17 years old in the top league in Norway, but I would say he is more of a central offensive midfielder with a very high football IQ.

"He's very smart for his age; he takes the next level he's put at very quickly. I don't think you see that a lot in young players; he plays as a very mature player. Many people think he plays at a higher level than his age."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.