May 1995
Division One champions
Boro 2-1 Luton
The final home game at Ayresome Park — Jamie Pollock and John Hendrie seal the title in front of a full house.
1994 — 2001
The Bryan Robson era.Ayresome to the Riverside.
Seven seasons of Brazilians and Italians, three Wembley finals, a brand-new stadium and the most talked-about Middlesbrough side of the modern era. Bryan Robson took Boro out of Ayresome Park and into the Premier League imagination.
Middlesbrough FC
TS3
Bryan Robson
1994–2001
Story of the seasons
Seven seasons on Teesside
- 1994/95 · 1st, Division One — promoted
Division One champions
Robson arrives as player-manager in May 1994 and delivers the title at the first attempt — the last season at Ayresome Park, sealed with promotion back to the Premier League.
Programmes from 1994/95 → - 1995/96 · 12th, Premier League
The Riverside opens
A new stadium and a new ambition. The Riverside opens with a 2-0 win over Chelsea in August 1995 (Hignett, Fjørtoft), and in October Juninho arrives from São Paulo — a Brazilian genius on Teesside.
Programmes from 1995/96 → - 1996/97 · 19th, Premier League — relegated
Ravanelli, three finals, relegated
Ravanelli, Emerson and Juninho light up the Premier League. Two cup finals reached — and lost. A three-point deduction for calling off the Blackburn fixture in December ultimately sends Boro down by two points.
Programmes from 1996/97 → - 1997/98 · 2nd, Division One — promoted
Straight back up, another Wembley loss
Merson and Townsend arrive. Boro storm back as runners-up and reach a third Wembley final in eighteen months — the Coca-Cola Cup Final, lost 0-2 to Chelsea in extra time.
Programmes from 1997/98 → - 1998/99 · 9th, Premier League
Ninth in the Premier League
A settled top-flight campaign. Deane and Ricard lead the line, Juninho returns on loan in the spring and Boro finish in the top half — the club's highest league placing at that point.
Programmes from 1998/99 → - 1999/00 · 12th, Premier League
Gazza on Teesside
Paul Gascoigne arrives from Rangers to add stardust to the squad. A steady mid-table season, with Hamilton Ricard and Juninho (now signed permanently) sharing the goals.
Programmes from 1999/00 → - 2000/01 · 14th, Premier League
Venables rides in
A grim start leaves Boro deep in trouble. Terry Venables joins as head coach in December 2000 to work alongside Robson, and Premier League survival is secured with something to spare.
Programmes from 2000/01 → - 2001 · Left the club, June 2001
The end
After seven seasons, three promotions/relegations combined and three cup finals, Bryan Robson leaves the Riverside in the summer of 2001. Steve McClaren takes charge.
Classic moments
Days you don't forget
Aug 1995
Middlesbrough 2-0 Chelsea
Hignett, Fjørtoft
The Riverside Stadium opens its doors. Craig Hignett scores the first goal at the new ground, Jan Åge Fjørtoft the second.
Oct 1995
Juninho signs
From São Paulo
The little Brazilian arrives on Teesside for around £4.75m — one of the most improbable and cherished transfers of the decade.
Aug 1996
Middlesbrough 3-3 Liverpool
Ravanelli hat-trick
Fabrizio Ravanelli's debut. A hat-trick against Liverpool on the opening day — shirt-over-the-head celebrations at the Riverside.
Apr 1997
Coca-Cola Cup Final
Leicester 1-1 Boro (0-1 replay)
Ravanelli scores at Wembley, Heskey equalises late. The replay at Hillsborough is settled by Steve Claridge in extra time.
May 1997
FA Cup Final
Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
Roberto Di Matteo scores after 43 seconds. A second Wembley defeat in five weeks — and relegation confirmed the week before.
Mar 1998
Coca-Cola Cup Final
Chelsea 2-0 Boro (aet)
A third final in eighteen months, and a third loss — Chelsea again, in extra time. But promotion back to the Premier League was already on.
Mar 2000
Paul Gascoigne, Boro shirt
Signed from Rangers
Gazza on Teesside — a spell of highlights, moments and headlines under his old England manager.
From the archive
Robson-era items
No Robson-era items catalogued yet — check back soon.