Middlesbrough FC v Coventry City

The use of social media to showcase collectors’ items has seen a rise in popularity and
demand for Boro memorabilia. SHAUN WILSON delves into the archives to reveal some
choice artefacts. For today: the 1982/83 and 1983/84 seasons, the McLean Homes years...
NEW START, NEW SPONSOR
After seven years in the
top-flight, Boro were back
in the Second Division for
the 1982/83 season under
manager Bobby Murdoch.
Boro’s shirts were again
produced by Adidas but
this time a new sponsor was
brought in to replace Datsun
Cleveland after their two-year
deal expired. Housebuilding
company McLean Homes
were chosen, and the firm’s
“key” logo was emblazoned
on the front of the shirts. The
away shirts were in the same
style but in the traditional
blue of the previous seasons.
After a disastrous start
to the campaign including
three consecutive 4-1 home
hammerings, Murdoch was
relieved of his duties and
replaced with flamboyant
character Malcolm Allison.
Featured below are the
home, away and goalkeeper
shirts from the 1982/83
season, and Murdoch’s final
signing, Ray Hankin.
LOGO REDESIGNED
Allison spent £30,000 of his
limited budget on bringing
in former Manchester City
forward Paul Sugrue along
with a calculated gamble on
Colchester United’s former
England centre-half Kevin
Beattie, then 29.
Despite the defender
being made captain, he only
managed to play five games
for the club before injuring
his groin in a Tyne-Tees derby
versus Newcastle United.
FA Cup Third Round
day came around with
Boro pitted against non-
#UTB 25