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Middlesbrough Football Club was founded in 1876 by members of the town's cricket club.

In its early years the club was firmly committed to amateurism and as a result, a faction broke away to form Middlesbrough Ironopolis in 1889.

Ironopolis joined the Football League in 1893, but they resigned at the end of the season, and the club was wound up, leaving Boro as the dominant football club in the area.

Election to the Football League

In 1899, having turned professional, the club, were elected to the Second Division of the Football League.

Move to Ayresome Park

In 1902, Boro won promotion to the First Division and a year later moved into Ayresome Park, which would be their home for the next 93 years.

In 1914 they club achieved its best ever League position, finishing third in Division One.

Boro were perennial strugglers in the First Division, so it was no surprise when they were relegated in 1924.

1927 saw them return as Second Division champions, but they were relegated again at the end of that season.

They were Division Two champions again in 1929, and the club remained in the First Division until 1954, after which they started a 12 year spell in Division Two.

Relegation to Division 3

In 1966, Boro were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history, but won promotion back to the Second Division at the first attempt.

In 1973, Jack Charlton was appointed manager and at the end of the 1973-74 season, led the club back to Division One as Second Division Champions.

Their stay in the top flight lasted until 1982, when they were relegated again.

Close to the Edge

Four years later, and with mounting debts, Middlesbrough Football Club dropped into Division Three and went into liquidation.

On August 23rd the receivers locked the gates of Ayresome Park and the club faced expulsion from the league if they failed to fulfill their fixture against Port Vale.

The match was played at Victoria Park, Hartlepool.

Steve Gibson saves Boro

Shortly after, a consortium led by Steve Gibson stepped in to save the club.

A year later, Middlesbrough were promoted back to Division Two, and in 1988 they achieved promotion to Division One through the play-offs.

In the early 1990s Boro were the proverbial yo-yo team, being promoted and relegated on a regular basis.

Move to The Riverside

In 1995, former England captain Bryan Robson took over as manager and with their return to the Premiership, the club started to attract some high calibre international players, including Brazilian international Juninho and Italian star Fabrizio Ravanelli.

The club also moved to a new home - the 30,000 seater Riverside Stadium.

FA Cup Defeat and League Cup Triumph

In 1997 they were beaten finalists in both the FA and League Cups, and lost in the League Cup final again in 1998.

Steve McClaren was appointed manager in 2001, and in 2004, Middlesbrough beat Bolton 2-1 in the League Cup final, to win their first major trophy in 128 years of existence.

UEFA Cup Finalists

Two years later they were UEFA Cup finalists, but were convincingly beaten by Sevilla.

In 2008/09 Middlesbrough finished second bottom and were relegated to the Championship.

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