1959–60 Middlesbrough F.C. season

Middlesbrough
1959–60 season
Chairman	Eric Thomas
Manager	Bob Dennison
Stadium	Ayresome Park
Division Two	5th
FA Cup	3rd round
Top goalscorer	League: Brian Clough (39); All: Clough (40)
Home colours	Away colours
	← 1958–59 1960–61 →

The 1959–60 season was Middlesbrough's 77th year in existence and 6th consecutive season in the Division Two. Also the club competed in the FA Cup.

Summary

In his fifth season as manager Bob Dennison took off Boro to the 5th place just 10 points below promotion to Division One. Forward Brian Clough scored 40 goals with another brilliant partnership among Alan Peacock and aimed by assists from Scottish Forward Fernie. Clough was the Division Two topscorer again for the second consecutive season. ^[1] The midfield was hit by injuries with Harris and Hilliday delivered a decent performance, meanwhile Day and Burbeck were out for several rounds. ^[2] McNeil clinched the left back position as starter. ^[3] In spite of a premier class offensive line, Boro again collapsed due to a weak defensive hit by injuries of Stonehouse and Phillips ^[4] not being regular starters among Bilcliff and McNeil ^[5] allowing a lot of goals against both Goalkeepers Taylor and Million. ^[6] Also, the squad reached the FA Cup third round being eliminated by Sheffield Wednesday.^[7]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ENG	Peter Taylor
—	GK	ENG	Esmond Million
—	GK	ENG	Bob Appleby
—	DF	ENG	Ray Bilcliff
—	DF	ENG	Brian Phillips
—	DF	ENG	Derek Stonehouse
—	DF	ENG	Ray Barnard
—	DF	ENG	Mick McNeil
—	DF	SCO	Ken Thomson
—	DF	ENG	Derrick Wilkie
—	DF	ENG	Norman Liggitt
—	DF	ENG	Len Walker
—	MF	ENG	Carl Taylor


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	WAL	Bill Harris
—	MF	SCO	Ray Yeoman
—	MF	SCO	Don Walker
—	MF	ENG	Dennis Windross
—	FW	ENG	Ron Burbeck
—	FW	ENG	Eddie Holliday
—	FW	SCO	Willie Fernie
—	FW	ENG	Brian Clough (c)
—	FW	ENG	Alan Peacock
—	FW	ENG	Alan Rodgerson
—	FW	ENG	Derek McLean
—	FW	ENG	Ronnie Waldock
—	MF	ENG	Billy Day

Transfers

In
Pos.	Name	from	Type
GK	Bob Appleby
DF	Ken Thomson	Stoke City
MF	Don Walker	Leicester City
FW	Ronnie Waldock	Plymouth Argyle
DF	Derrick Wilkie
MF	Dennis Windross
DF	Norman Liggitt
DF	Len Walker

Out
Pos.	Name	To	Type
DF	Dicky Robinson	Barrow A.F.C.
MF	Ronnie Dicks
DF	Ernie Walley	Tottenham Hotspur
DF	Brian Jordan	York City
FW	Joe Scott	Hartlepools United
DF	Joe Birbeck	Grimsby Town F.C.
FW	George Crook
MF	Billy Wilkinson

Results

Second Division

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
3	Liverpool	42	20	10	12	90	66	1.364	50
4	Sheffield United	42	19	12	11	68	51	1.333	50
5	Middlesbrough	42	19	10	13	90	64	1.406	48
6	Huddersfield Town	42	19	9	14	73	52	1.404	47
7	Charlton Athletic	42	17	13	12	90	87	1.034	47

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H
Result	D	L	W	D	W	W	W	D	W	L	W	D	L	W	L	W	L	W	L	W	W	L	W	W	W	D	D	L	W	D	D	L	L	W	L	W	W	W	L	D	L	D
Position	14	20	11	7	6	5	4	2	2	4	3	3	4	4	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	3	3	4	4	6	4	3	3	3	3	6	5

Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1960/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Champions, Promoted to 1959-60 Division One; = Promoted to 1959–60 Division One; = Relegated to 1959–60 Division Three

Matches

.- Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/matches/season/1960/

22 August 1959 1	Middlesbrough	0–0	Portsmouth	Middlesbrough
		14		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 26,122 Referee: K Dagnall

26 August 1959 2	Cardiff City	2–0	Middlesbrough	Cardiff
	Johnny Watkins 52' Graham Moore 62'	20		Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,052 Referee: W Clements

29 August 1959 3	Derby County	1–7	Middlesbrough	Derby
	Jack Parry 28'	11	15', 44', 56', 63' Peacock 48' Billy Day 75' Eddie Holliday 80' Bill Harris	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,537 Referee: FV Stringer

2 September 1959 4	Middlesbrough	1–1	Cardiff City	Middlesbrough
	Bill Harris 82' (pen.)	7	60' Johnny Watkins	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 29,122 Referee: L Howarth

5 September 1959 5	Middlesbrough	6–2	Plymouth Argyle	Middlesbrough
	Clough 50', 59', 63', 66' Peacock 80', 89'	6	Wilf Carter 58' Wally Bellett 84'	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 22,562 Referee: LN Peake

9 September 1959 6	Middlesbrough	4–0	Hull City	Middlesbrough
	Ray Yeoman 22' Clough 28' Billy Day 46' Bill Harris 70' (pen.)	5		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 28,368

12 September 1959 7	Liverpool	1–2	Middlesbrough	Liverpool
	Billy Liddell 7'	4	74' Brian Phillips 85' Bill Harris	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,000 Referee: RJ Leafe

14 September 1959 8	Hull City	3–3	Middlesbrough	Kingston-upon-Hull
	Bill Bradbury 7', 27' Mike Bowering 48'	2	6', 86' Peacock 43' Clough	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 22,024

19 September 1959 9	Middlesbrough	3–0	Charlton Athletic	Middlesbrough
	Clough 27', 38', 70'	2		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 30,918 Referee: TH Cooper

26 September 1959 10	Bristol City	2–0	Middlesbrough	Bristol
	Jimmy Rogers 5' Alan Williams 57'	4		Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 21,640 Referee: JS Pickles

3 October 1959 11	Middlesbrough	3–1	Scunthorpe United	Middlesbrough
	Willie Fernie 18' Clough 50', 63'	3	67' Barrie Thomas	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 27,979 Referee: F Cowen

10 October 1959 12	Middlesbrough	1–1	Sunderland	Middlesbrough
	Eddie Holliday 19'	3	59' Amby Fogarty	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 47,297 Referee: J Cook

17 October 1959 13	Aston Villa	1–0	Middlesbrough	Birmingham
	Stan Lynn 66'	4		Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 35,362

24 October 1959 14	Middlesbrough	3–2	Lincoln City	Middlesbrough
	Derek McLean 34', 54' Clough 79'	4	26', 70' Andy Graver	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,007 Referee: R Ryalls

31 October 1959 15	Leyton Orient	5–0	Middlesbrough	Leyton (East London)
	Eddie Brown 15', 43', 80' Ken Facey 41' (pen.) Tommy Johnston 82'	5		Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 15,600

7 November 1959 16	Middlesbrough	1–0	Huddersfield Town	Middlesbrough
	Eddie Holliday 1'	4		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,077 Referee: W Crossley

14 November 1959 17	Ipswich Town	1–0	Middlesbrough	Ipswich
	Ray Crawford 69'	4		Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 12,975 Referee: JH Brooks

21 November 1959 18	Middlesbrough	5–1	Bristol Rovers	Middlesbrough
	Clough 14', 44', 48' Billy Day 64' Bill Harris 75'	4	80' Alfie Biggs	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,357 Referee: A Holland

28 November 1959 19	Swansea Town	3–1	Middlesbrough	Swansea
	Graham Williams 47' Herbie Williams 51' Colin Webster 68'	4	44' Eddie Holliday	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 13,889 Referee: KA Collinge

5 December 1959 20	Middlesbrough	4–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Middlesbrough
	Brian Clough 7', 68' Eddie Holliday 46' Bill Harris 53' (pen.)	4	13' Denis Foreman	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,677 Referee: E Crawford

12 December 1959 21	Stoke City	2–5	Middlesbrough	Stoke-on-Trent
	Bobby Howitt 50' Frank Bowyer 80'	4	60', 67', 73' Clough 35' Eddie Holliday 37' Billy Day	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 15,195 Referee: K Dagnall

19 December 1959 22	Portsmouth	6–3	Middlesbrough	Portsmouth
	Mick McNeil 1' (o.g.) Ron Saunders 41', 89' Basil Hayward 67', 83' Harry Harris 78'	5	10' Clough 50' (pen.) Bill Harris 63' Billy Day	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 9,912

26 December 1959 23	Rotherham United	0–2	Middlesbrough	Rotherham
	Alan Peacock 33' Derek McLean 51'	4		Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 19,980 Referee: L Howarth

28 December 1959 24	Middlesbrough	3–0	Rotherham United	Middlesbrough
	Eddie Holliday 79' Bill Harris 84' (pen.) Brian Clough 85'	4		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 36,184 Referee: P Rhodes

2 December 1960 25	Middlesbrough	3–0	Derby County	Middlesbrough
	Derek McLean 11' Brian Clough 81', 86'	4		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 32,575

16 January 1960 26	Plymouth Argyle	2–2	Middlesbrough	Plymouth
	Jim McAnearney 31' Johnny Williams 89'	4	Alan Peacock 21' Brian Clough 71'	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 20,854 Referee: RE Smith

23 January 1960 27	Middlesbrough	3–3	Liverpool	Middlesbrough
	Brian Clough 6', 48' Bill Harris 83' (pen.) Roger Hunt 41'	4	12' (o.g.) Ken Thomson 35' Dave Hickson	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 28,800 Referee: RH Windle

6 February 1960 28	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Middlesbrough	Charlton (London)
	Billy Kiernan 8'	4		Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 16,487 Referee: H Horner

13 February 1960 29	Middlesbrough	6–3	Bristol City	Middlesbrough
	Brian Clough 6', 68', 89' Bill Harris 27' (pen.) Derek McLean 32', 70'	4	40' Jimmy Rogers 54' Malcolm Graham 85' (pen.) Tommy Cavanagh	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,871 Referee: LJ Tirebuck

20 February 1960 30	Scunthorpe United	1–1	Middlesbrough	Scunthorpe
	Barrie Thomas 5'	3	44' (o.g) Jack Haigh	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 10,817 Referee: JS McLoughlin

27 February 1960 31	Sunderland	2–2	Middlesbrough	Sunderland
	Ernie Taylor 11' Alan O'Neill 48'	3	16' Ronnie Waldock 54' (pen.) Bill Harris	Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 37,059 Referee: J Kelly

5 March 1960 32	Middlesbrough	0–1	Aston Villa	Middlesbrough
		3	14' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 39,432

12 March 1960 33	Lincoln City	5–2	Middlesbrough	Lincoln
	John McClelland 20' Derek Hawksworth 24', 85' Bert Linnecor 26' Roy Chapman 39'	4	21', 64' Brian Clough	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 9,780

19 March 1960 34	Middlesbrough	2–0	Swansea Town	Middlesbrough
	Ronnie Waldock 75' Brian Clough 85'	4		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,719 Referee: AW Sparling

26 March 1960 35	Huddersfield Town	2–0	Middlesbrough	Huddersfield
	Kevin McHale 2' Les Massie 46'	6		Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 13,887 Referee: D Martin
Note: Last match of Goalkeeper Peter Taylor with Middlesbrough as starter.

2 April 1960 36	Middlesbrough	4–1	Ipswich Town	Middlesbrough
	Alan Peacock 25' Eddie Holliday 40' Brian Clough 83', 84'	4	3' Jimmy Leadbetter	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 13,336 Referee: KA Collinge

9 April 1960 37	Bristol Rovers	0–2	Middlesbrough	Bristol
		3	25' Eddie Holliday 41' Brian Clough	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 15,847 Referee: J Finney

16 April 1960 38	Middlesbrough	1–0	Stoke City	Middlesbrough
	Brian Clough 34'	3		Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,394 Referee: E Crawford

18 April 1960 39	Middlesbrough	1–2	Sheffield United	Middlesbrough
	Brian Clough 89' Derek 'Doc' Pace 65'	3	61' Ron Simpson	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 18,113 Referee: H Webb

19 April 1960 40	Sheffield United	0–0	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
		3		Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 13,667 Referee: SB Stoakes

23 April 1960 41	Brighton & Hove Albion	3–2	Middlesbrough	Brighton
	Keith Abbis 7', 48' Ian McNeill 46'	6	54' (o.g.) Roy Jennings 67' Brian Clough	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 17,526 Referee: IR Rosekilly

30 April 1960 42	Middlesbrough	2–2	Leyton Orient F.C.	Middlesbrough
	Alan Peacock 18', 38' Tommy Johnston 83'	5	50' Eddie Brown	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 13,044

FA Cup

9 January 1960 3	Sheffield Wednesday	2–1	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
	Tom McAnearney 35' (pen.) Keith Ellis 46'		89' Brian Clough	Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 49,580 Referee: KJ Seddon

Statistics

Squad statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Football League Division Two		FA Cup		Other
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Peter Taylor	35	0	34	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Bilcliff	22	0	22	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Phillips	19	1	19	1	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Mick McNeil	43	0	42	0	1	0	0	0
	MF	WAL	Bill Harris	36	11	35	11	1	0	0	0
	MF	SCO	Ray Yeoman	43	1	42	1	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Day	19	5	19	5	0	0	0	0
	FW	SCO	Willie Fernie	40	1	39	1	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Brian Clough	42	40	41	39	1	1	0	0
	FW	ENG	Alan Peacock	36	13	35	13	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Eddie Holliday	42	9	41	9	1	0	0	0
	GK	ENG	Bob Appleby	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	SCO	Ken Thomson	19	0	18	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Derek McLean	17	6	16	6	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Derek Stonehouse	15	0	14	0	1	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Ron Burbeck	9	0	9	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	SCO	Don Walker	9	0	9	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Ronnie Waldock	8	2	8	2	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ray Barnard	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0
	GK	ENG	Esmond Million	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Derrick Wilkie	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Alan Rodgerson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Carl Taylor	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Windross	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Norman Liggitt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Len Walker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/players/season/1960/

References

^ Warren, Dan (14 July 2006). "The worst scandal of them all". BBC Sport.
^ Willie Fernie: Footballer whose beguiling skills earned him the sobriquet 'Scotland's Stanley Matthews', The Independent, 16 July 2011
^ "Ronald Burbeck: International stats". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
^ "Darlington ace Yeoman dies". 17 March 2004.
^ England statistics for Mick McNeil at englandstats.com
^ 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

[1] Warren, Dan (14 July 2006). "The worst scandal of them all". BBC Sport.

[indobit-2] Willie Fernie: Footballer whose beguiling skills earned him the sobriquet 'Scotland's Stanley Matthews', The Independent, 16 July 2011

[3] "Ronald Burbeck: International stats". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 17 December 2014.

[4] "Darlington ace Yeoman dies". 17 March 2004.

[5] England statistics for Mick McNeil at englandstats.com

[robstewart-6] 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.

[7] BBC Four – Timeshift, Series 7, A Game of Two Eras: 1957 v 2007

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