An unmissable new exhibition charting the history of Middlesbrough Football Club is open now at the Dorman Museum.
The popular Boro Shirt Museum takes visitors on a journey from the earliest days of the game in Victorian Middlesbrough, through Ayresome Park and on to the glorious highs of the Riverside era.
From Brian Clough to Juninho, Charlton's Champions to League Cup heroes, the display is a must both for football fans and anyone interested in the social history of the town.
The exhibition is held in the upstairs exhibition space in the Linthorpe Road museum and will host a range of interactive activities over the summer.
Exhibits include a shirt from the late 1890s – potentially the oldest football shirt in the UK – a turnstile and other memorabilia from the club’s first home at Ayresome Park, alongside kits worn by legendary Boro footballers.
Visitors will be taken on a journey through the club’s most difficult days, as it faced extinction in the mid-1980s, as well as its greatest successes - the road to the League Cup in 2004 and the Uefa Cup final in 2006.
Museums Manager at Middlesbrough Council, JR Bowes, said: “The story of Middlesbrough Football Club is closely intertwined with the history of our town, so it’s fantastic that we can represent the rollercoaster journey of highs and lows at the Dorman Museum.
“The exhibition appeals both to football fans and anyone who has an interest in the social history of Middlesbrough, and we’re looking forward to welcoming a diverse range of audiences over the summer.”
The Boro Shirt Museum, supported by Tees Valley Museums Group, follows on from the huge success of recent exhibitions held at the Dorman.
The Titanic exhibition was the museum’s most successful in years, while a look at the history of Lego and a partnership with the British Museum to display Ancient Egyptian artefacts also drew huge audiences to the Linthorpe Road venue.
Deputy Mayor Philippa Storey, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture, said: “This is fantastic for the Dorman Museum. We know how much the football club means to Middlesbrough and we can’t wait to welcome people from across Teesside and further afield.
“We’re looking forward to building on the museum’s recent success and we look forward to a summer of fantastic cultural events across Middlesbrough.”
The Dorman Museum has recently reopened following a refurbishment which saw future-proofing and improvements to the roof, stairs, disabled toilet, lift and CCTV system, thanks to grant support from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
You can book your ticket by visiting the Dorman Museum booking website or in person at the museum.