Middlesbrough delivered an innovative array of engaging Creating Chances appearances that truly engaged with the local Middlesbrough community:

  • The MFC Enterprise Academy promotes business skills to local school children and Club captain George Boateng, ex-player/BBC Tees commentator Gary Gill and TV presenter and Boro fan Kirsten O'Brien judged presentations from school children on the design of a new football boot in an "Apprentice" style event.
  • Gareth Southgate took part in a game of wheelchair football with the children of Abbey Hill Special School. Gareth had his hands tied to show how even a small disability can affect such things as balance. He also took part in some artwork for the school's fund-raising cards.

  • The Safer Middlesbrough Partnership addresses the issue of anti-social behaviour and Stewart Downing sat on a panel with DJ Banksy to judge a rap and MC competition in which participants included the slogan "You can manage without criminal damage". Stewart, who is known as a bit of a DJ, even performed at the event.

  • To help promote the work of Teesside Hospice Jonathan Woodgate took part in 25 tasks that the Hospice relies on volunteers for e.g. making tea, helping out in the garden, working in the shop, etc.

    For further information on the club's every day community work please click here

    While the Creating Chances Launch was attended by Tony McMahon, here follows a breakdown of Middlesbrough's Creating Chances beneficiaries:

    PLACES FOR PLAYERS WINNERS

    Each of the following received a £2,000 donation and a player appearance:

    Abbey Hill - Gareth Southgate
    Carers' Resource, Harrogate - Mark Schwarzer
    Safer Middlesbrough Partnership - Stewart Downing

    CLUB COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES HIGHLIGHTED

    The following received a £2,000 donation and player appearances:

    The Enterprise Academy - George Boateng
    Football First - Luke Young and Andrew Taylor
    Heading for Health - Jeremie Aliadiere and Matthew Bates

    CLUB CHARITIES HIGHLIGHTED

    The following received a £2,000 donation and player appearances:

    Butterwick House Children's Hospice - David Wheater and Lee Cattermole
    Teesside Hospice Care Foundation - Jonathan Woodgate

    PROMOTIONAL

    The following promotion work to support Creating Chances was undertaken:

    Woodgate BBC Trail - Jonathan Woodgate

    MIDDLESBROUGH PLACES FOR PLAYERS RUNNERS UP

    Each of the following received a £2,000 donation:

    Barnardo's SECOS
    Clarke Lister Appeal
    CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young)
    Daisy Chain Project
    Eston Labour Club (donation to be handed on to their charity, Great North Air Ambulance)
    Grangetown Netball
    Holistic Cancer Care
    Macmillan
    Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters Association
    Middlesbrough Live at Home Scheme
    Mike Findley MND Fund
    Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre
    North Yorkshire Crimebeat
    Samaritans
    Sea Cadets
    St Michael's School (donation to be handed on to their charity, Help the Aged)
    The Twe12th Man
    Whale Hill Community Association
    York & District MIND
    Zoe's Place

    MIDDLESBROUGH 'YOUR SHOT' COMPETITION WINNER

    Richard Morgan, aged 86 from Stockton on Tees, won the Middlesbrough Your Shot Experience and was able to:

  • Enjoy a limo transfer from home to the Riverside
  • Take a personal stadium tour
  • Experience behind the scenes broadcast experience
  • Have a pre-match interview on local radio
  • Meet and chat with Gareth Southgate & his coaching staff in the dressing room
  • Meet and have his photograph taken with his favourite Boro player and other players
  • Assist/spend time with the ground staff and kit man
  • Spend a free £100 bet on the day's game
  • Follow the teams out of the tunnel, then join the captains and match officials for photographs on the centre spot seconds before kick-off
  • Meet the Chairman Steve Gibson & Chief Executive Keith Lamb in the boardroom and enjoy a 3-course dinner and drinks in executive lounge with a Boro legend
  • Sit in the directors box for the match
  • Ask a question during a post match media interview
  • Have his own post-match interview in the tunnel with a broadcaster
  • Take home a photographic package of the day
  • Star in a feature in the matchday programme and on official website
  • Be interviewed by official website
  • Receive two passes for the players' lounge post-match and a chance to spend more time with the players
  • Take home the match-worn shirt of your favourite player from the day's game and a kit bag of Boro retail items
  • Have his own inscribed brick on the Boro Brick Road
  • Have a squad number for day on back of matchday programme

     You can return to the Creating Chances index by clicking here