| 1956–57 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Eric Thomas | ||
| Manager | Bob Dennison | ||
| Stadium | Ayresome Park | ||
| Division Two | 6th | ||
| FA Cup | 4th | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Brian Clough (38) All: Clough (40) | ||
|  | |||
The 1956–57 season was Middlesbrough's 74th year in existence and 3rd consecutive season in the Division Two. Also the club competed in the FA Cup.
Summary
In his third season as manager Bob Dennison took off Boro to the 6th place just 6 points below promotion. Chairman Eric Thomas transferred in Goalkeeper Esmond Million [1] and from Leicester City winger Ron Burbeck[2] being crucial with a lot of assists through the season. The offensive live was "reinforced" by a young Forward Brian Clough[3] scoring a massive 40 goals during his first campaign in form, 38 in Division Two just 6 below topscorer A. Rowley (Leicester City). Meanwhile, the squad reached the FA Cup fourth round being eliminated by Aston Villa.[4]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| 
 | 
 | 
Transfers
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type | 
| MF | Ronnie Burbeck | Leicester City | |
| GK | Esmond Million | Youth team | |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type | 
| GK | Rolando Ugolini | Wrexham A.F.C. | |
| FW | Charlie Wayman | Darlington F.C. | |
| MF | Bert Mitchell | Southport F.C. | |
| FW | Ken McPherson | Coventry City | |
| MF | Joe Birbeck | Grimsby Town | |
| FW | Doug Cooper | ||
| MF | Peter Stephenson | ||
Results
Division One
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 83 | 75 | 1.107 | 52 | 
| 5 | Stoke City | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 83 | 58 | 1.431 | 48 | 
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 84 | 60 | 1.400 | 48 | 
| 7 | Sheffield United | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 87 | 76 | 1.145 | 46 | 
| 8 | West Ham United | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 59 | 63 | 0.937 | 46 | 
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Champions, Promoted to 1956-57 Division One; = Promoted to 1956-57 Division One; = Relegated to 1956-57 Division Three
Matches
| 18 August 1956 1 | Middlesbrough | 1-1 | Stoke City | Middlesbrough | 
| Bill Harris  86' |  15' (pen) Bobby Cairns | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 13,413 Referee: K Dagnall | 
| 21 August 1956 2 | Bury F.C. | 2-3 | Middlesbrough | Bury | 
| John Willie Parker  28' Peter Tilley  58' Johnny Robinson  89' |  47',  67' Clough | Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 14,979 Referee: PF Power | 
| 25 August 1956 3 | Barnsley F.C. | 3-1 | Middlesbrough | Barnsley | 
| Lol Chappell  62' |  10',  16' Clough  33' Lindy Delapenha | Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 11,651 Referee: P Rhodes | 
| 29 August 1956 4 | Middlesbrough | 2-2 | Bury F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Lindy Delapenha 22'Brian Clough 39' | Stan Pearson 42', 57' Ref: PF Power Att: 18,344 | Stadium: Ayresome Park | 
| 01 September 1956 5 | Leicester City | 1-1 | Middlesbrough | Leicester | 
| Willie Gardiner 55' | Brian Clough 46' | Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 27,227 Referee: JH Clough | 
| 04 September 1956 6 | Grimsby Town | 2-3 | Middlesbrough | Cleethorpes | 
| Billy Evans  23' Bob Crosbie  43' Jimmy Maddison  50' |  53',  89' Brian Clough | Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 20,505 | 
| 08 September 1956 7 | Middlesbrough | 3-2 | Bristol Rovers | Middlesbrough | 
| Joe Scott  26' Brian Clough  39' Alan Peacock  85' | Alfie Biggs  37' Peter Hooper  53' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,149 Referee: W Hickson | 
| 12 September 1956 8 | Middlesbrough | 2-1 | Grimsby Town | Middlesbrough | 
| Lindy Delapenha 64' (pen) Brian Clough 74' | Bob Crosbie 69' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,999 Referee: L Howarth | 
| 15 September 1956 9 | Notts County | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Nottingham | 
| Peter Russell  35' Jimmy Jackson  54' |  83' Bill Harris | Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 10,190 Referee: J Cook | 
| 22 September 1956 10 | Middlesbrough | 1-1 | Liverpool F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough  80' | Dicky Robinson  15' (o.g.) | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 21,912 Referee: AW Luty | 
| 29 September 1956 11 | Leyton Orient | 1-1 | Middlesbrough | Leyton (London) | 
| Ken Facey  77' |  44' Brian Clough | Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 17,146 Referee: J Kelly | 
| 06 October 1956 12 | Middlesbrough | 3-1 | Port Vale F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Lindy Delapenha  11' (pen),  31' (pen) Brian Clough  23' | Len Stephenson | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 18,586 Referee: E Crawford | 
| 13 October 1956 13 | Rotherham United | 3-2 | Middlesbrough | Rotherham | 
| Roy Stephenson 8'Jack Selkirk 84'Ron Burbeck 89' | Brian Clough 24'Derek McLean 27' | Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 13,644 Referee: H Haworth | 
| 20 October 1956 14 | Middlesbrough | 4-1 | Bristol City | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough 37', 55'Lindy Delapenha 75'Bill Harris 87' | Jimmy Rogers 74' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,824 Referee: F Collinge | 
| 27 October 1956 15 | Swansea Town F.C. | 2-2 | Middlesbrough | Swansea, Wales | 
| Ivor J Allchurch 2' Mel Charles 68' | Ronnie Dicks 75' Derek McLean 78' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,552 Referee: JS Pickles | 
| 03 November 1956 16 | Middlesbrough | 3-1 | Fulham F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Derek McLean 8'Brian Clough 26'Ron Burbeck 30' | Jimmy Hill 67' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 29,201 Referee: JS McLoughlin | 
| 10 November 1956 17 | Nottingham Forest | 4-0 | Middlesbrough | Nottingham | 
| Brian Clough 44', 68', 79'Arthur Fitzsimons 81' | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 20,862 Referee: H Haworth | 
| 17 November 1956 18 | Middlesbrough | 3-1 | West Ham United | Middlesbrough | 
| Ron Burbeck 27'Arthur Fitzsimons 31', 37' | Ken Tucker 7' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 31,513 Referee: F Cowen | 
| 24 November 1956 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 0-1 | Middlesbrough | Blackburn | 
| Tommy Briggs  25' | Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 21,066 Referee: JV Sherlock | 
| 01 December 1956 20 | Middlesbrough | 3-0 | Lincoln City F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Lindy Delapenha  23',  43' (pen) Brian Clough  56' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,598 Referee: M McCoy | 
| 08 December 1956 21 | Sheffield United | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Sheffield | 
| Jack Wilkinson  68' Derek Hawksworth  83' |  89' Derek McLean | Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 20,479 Referee: JS Swain | 
| 15 December 1956 22 | Stoke City | 1-3 | Middlesbrough | Stoke-on-Trent | 
| Tim Coleman  55',  83',  88' | Arthur Fitzsimons  28' | Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 20,689 Referee: K Dagnall | 
| 22 December 1956 23 | Middlesbrough | 1-2 | Barnsley F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Ronnie Dicks  82' | Johnny McCann  6' Johnny Edgar  9' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 11,147 Referee: P Rhodes | 
| 25 December 1956 24 | Middlesbrough | 3-2 | Doncaster Rovers | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough (2) Bill Harris | Ronnie Walker Tommy Cavanagh | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,515 Referee: PF Power | 
| 26 December 1956 25 | Doncaster Rovers | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Doncaster | 
| Bert Tindill  Tommy Cavanagh  | Dicky Robinson  62' | Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 8,975 Referee: PF Power | 
| 29 December 1956 26 | Middlesbrough | 1-3 | Leicester City | Middlesbrough | 
| Arthur Fitzsimons 10' | Billy Wright 30' Colin Appleton 38' Arthur Rowley 43' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 29,704 Referee: JH Clough | 
| 12 January 1957 27 | Bristol Rovers | 2-0 | Middlesbrough | Bristol | 
| Joe Scott 66' Brian Clough 89' | Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 24,015 Referee: W Hickson | 
| 19 January 1957 28 | Middlesbrough | 0-0 | Notts County | Middlesbrough | 
| Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,085 Referee: J Cook | 
| 02 February 1957 29 | Liverpool F.C. | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Liverpool | 
| Alan A'Court  |  43' Arthur Fitzsimons  64' Ron Burbeck | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,890 Referee: AW Luty | 
| 09 February 1957 30 | Middlesbrough | 1-2 | Leyton Orient | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough 2' Tommy Johnston 41' | Phil Woosnam 20' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 27,315 Referee: J Kelly | 
| 16 February 1957 31 | Port Vale F.C. | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Burslem (Stoke-on-Trent) | 
| Cyril Done 51'Bill Spurdle 82' | Brian Clough 3' | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,064 Referee: E Crawford | 
| 23 February 1957 32 | Middlesbrough | 0-1 | Rotherham United | Middlesbrough | 
| Roy Stephenson 12' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 14,829 Referee: H Haworth | 
| 02 March 1957 33 | Bristol City | 1-2 | Middlesbrough | Bristol | 
| Bobby Etheridge  10' Johnny Watkins  43' (pen) |  21' Derek McLean | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 22,402 Referee: F Collinge | 
| 09 March 1957 34 | Middlesbrough | 6-2 | Swansea Town F.C. | Middlesbrough | 
| Arthur Fitzsimons  2' Billy Day  9' Bill Harris  11' (pen) Derek McLean  35' Brian Clough  61',  82' |  50' Bert McIntosh  89' (o.g) Derek Stonehouse | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,072 | 
| 16 March 1957 35 | Fulham F.C. | 2-1 | Middlesbrough | Fulham | 
| Trevor 'Tosh' Chamberlain  Derek McLean  29' |  7' Brian Clough | Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 20,450 Referee: JS McLoughlin | 
| 23 March 1957 36 | Middlesbrough | 2-2 | Nottingham Forest | Middlesbrough | 
| Derek McLean  70' Brian Clough  82' |  10' Peter Higham  79' Jimmy Barrett | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 25,009 Referee: H Haworth | 
| 30 March 1957 37 | West Ham United | 1-1 | Middlesbrough | Upton Park | 
| Malcolm Allison | Brian Clough  18' | Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 15,166 Referee: F Cowen | 
| 06 April 1957 38 | Middlesbrough | 2-1 | Blackburn Rovers | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough  85',  86' | Peter Dobing | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,716 Referee: JV Sherlock | 
| 13 April 1957 39 | Lincoln City | 1-1 | Middlesbrough | Lincoln | 
| Tommy Northcott  56' |  8' Derek McLean | Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 8,601 Referee: M McCoy | 
| 20 April 1957 40 | Middlesbrough | 3-1 | Sheffield United | Middlesbrough | 
| Bill Harris 34' (pen), 55' (pen)Brian Clough 74' | Alf Ringstead 83' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 21,075 Referee: JS Swain | 
| 22 April 1957 41 | Middlesbrough | 7-2 | Huddersfield Town | Middlesbrough | 
| Clough  24' Clough  49' Derek McLean  73' Arthur Fitzsimons  80' Bill Harris  82' (pen) Clough  85' Clough  87' |  8' Dave Hickson  53' Les Massie | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,651 | 
| 23 April 1957 42 | Huddersfield Town | 0-1 | Middlesbrough | |
| Arthur Fitzsimons  27' | Attendance: 13,818 | 
FA Cup
| 05 January 1957 3 | Middlesbrough | 1-1 | Charlton Athletic | Middlesbrough | 
| Joe Scott  72' |  53' Buck Ryan | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 32,863 Referee: RH Windle | 
| 10 January 1957 replay | Charlton Athletic | 2-3 | Middlesbrough | Charlton (London) | 
| Stuart Leary  21' Ray Barnard  37' (o.g.) |  20' Billy Day  44' Brian Clough  55'Arthur Fitzsimons | Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 22,613 Referee: RH Windle | 
| 26 January 1957 4 | Middlesbrough | 2-3 | Aston Villa | Middlesbrough | 
| Brian Clough  28' Bill Harris  41' |  39' Derek 'Doc' Pace  53' Les Smith  72' Johnny Dixon | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 42,396 Referee: GW Pullin | 
Statistics
Squad statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division One | FA Cup | Other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG | Peter Taylor | 41 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Ray Barnard | 33 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Dicky Robinson | 42 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Derek Stonehouse | 25 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ENG | Derek McLean | 29 | 10 | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | .svg.png.webp) WAL | Bill Harris | 45 | 9 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ENG | Ron Burbeck | 34 | 4 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ENG | Ronnie Dicks | 44 | 2 | 41 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | .svg.png.webp) JAM | Lindy Delapenha | 27 | 8 | 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  ENG | Brian Clough | 44 | 40 | 41 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  IRL | Arthur Fitzsimons | 39 | 10 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK |  ENG | Esmond Million | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Ray Bilcliff | 21 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  ENG | Joe Scott | 22 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ENG | Billy Day | 19 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Brian Phillips | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  SCO | Sam Lawrie | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  ENG | Alan Peacock | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Tom Brown | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW |  ENG | Doug Cooper | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG | Bobby Corbett | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ENG | Frank Mulholland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
References
- ↑ Warren, Dan (14 July 2006). "The worst scandal of them all". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Ronald Burbeck: International stats". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ↑ Stewart, Rob (27 March 2009). "Brian Clough: a man not afraid to make enemies". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ↑ BBC Four - Timeshift, Series 7, A Game of Two Eras: 1957 v 2007










