List of Middlesbrough F.C. players

This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Middlesbrough. Generally, this means players that have played 100 or more first-class matches for the club, or been an officially designated captain.

Players are listed according to the date of their first-team debut for the club. Appearances are for first-team competitive matches only; wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances included. Statistics correct as of 5 May 2008.

Notable players

  Middlesbrough Legend (as voted for by fans in the Evening Gazette in 2007)
  Club captains who have won a major senior competition (competitions noted in notes section)
  Club record holder
  Played their full career at Middlesbrough (professional teams only, including loans)
(n/a) = Information not available

Name	Nationality	Position[1]	Boro career	Captaincy	Appearances	Goals	Notes
McCracken, PeterPeter McCracken	Scotland	Left-half Left-back	1899–1900	1899–1900	34	0	[2]
Ramsey, AndrewAndrew Ramsey	Scotland	Left-back	1899–1904	–	136	1	–
Higgins, WilliamWilliam Higgins	England	Centre-half	1900–1901	1900–1901	29	4	–
Smith, DavidDavid Smith	England	Right-half	1900–1905	1901–1903	114	12	–
Davidson, AndyAndy Davidson	Scotland	Left-half Centre-half	1900–1906	–	201	8	–
Cassidy, JosephJoseph Cassidy	Scotland	Inside-left Centre-forward	1901–1906	–	135	34	–
Jones, AbrahamAbraham Jones	England	Centre-half	1901–1906	–	149	9	–
Friend, GeorgeGeorge Friend	England	Left-back	2012–	–	100	3	–
Williamson, TimTim Williamson	England	Goalkeeper	1901–1923	19??–1914	602	2	[3]
Hogg, JohnJohn Hogg	England	Right-back	1902–1906	–	100	0	–
Aitken, SamSam Aitken	Scotland	Right-half Centre-half	1903–1910	1907–19??	242	6	–
Common, AlfAlf Common	England	Forward	1905–1910	1905–1907	178	65	[4]
Bloomer, SteveSteve Bloomer	England	Inside-right	1905–1910	–	130	62	–
Barker, William CharlesWilliam Charles Barker	England	Wing-half	1905–1913	–	113	2	–
Cail, SammySammy Cail	England	Inside-left Centre-forward	1906–1913	–	143	55	–
McLeod, DonaldDonald McLeod	Scotland	Right-back	1908–1913	–	148	0	–
Elliott, GeorgeGeorge Elliott	England	Centre-forward Inside-forward	1909–1925	1913–1921	365	213	[5]
Jackson, AndyAndy Jackson	Scotland	Centre-half	1910–1915	1914–1915	137	3	–
Carr, WilliamWilliam Carr	England	Centre-half	1910–1924	–	118	4	–
Carr, JackyJacky Carr	England	Inside-forward Outside-right	1910–1930	–	449	81	–
Stirling, JohnJohn Stirling	Scotland	Outside-right	1911–1914	–	112	8	–
Malcolm, GeorgeGeorge Malcolm	England	Right-half	1912–1915	–	101	1	–
Davidson, StewartStewart Davidson	Scotland	Right-half	1913–1923	–	216	4	–
Holmes, WalterWalter Holmes	England	Full-back	1914–1928	–	174	1	–
Marshall, JackJack Marshall	Scotland	Right-back	1919–1923	–	121	0	–
Pender, RobertRobert Pender	Scotland	Left-half Inside-left	1919–1924	–	110	10	–
Ellerginton, WilliamWilliam Ellerginton	England	Centre-half Left-half	1919–1924	–	131	0	–
Fox, William VictorWilliam Victor Fox	England	Full-back Left-half	1919–1924	–	112	1	–
Birrell, BillyBilly Birrell	Scotland	Inside-right Outside-right	1920–1927	1926–1927	235	63	[6]
Clough, JackJack Clough	England	Goalkeeper	1922–1926	–	128	0	–
Freeman, ReginaldReginald Freeman	England	Full-back	1923–1930	1924–1926	187	0	–
Furguson, RobertRobert Furguson	Scotland	Centre-half Right-back	1924–1931	–	159	2	–
Ashman, DonaldDonald Ashman	England	Full-back Half-back	1924–1932	–	174	2	–
Camsell, GeorgeGeorge Camsell	England	Centre-forward	1925–1939	–	453	345	[7][8]
Miller, JosephJoseph Miller	Northern Ireland	Right-half	1926–1930	–	153	0	–
Smith, JohnJohn Smith	Scotland	Full-back	1926–1930	–	123	0	–
Pease, BillyBilly Pease	England	Outside-right	1926–1933	–	238	102	–
Mathieson, JamesJames Mathieson	Scotland	Goalkeeper	1926–1934	–	264	0	–
McKay, John ReidJohn Reid McKay	Scotland	Inside-forward	1926–1934	–	109	20	–
Peacock, JosephJoseph Peacock	England	Wing-half	1927–1930	1929–1930	85	4	–
Bruce, BobbieBobbie Bruce	Scotland	Inside-forward	1927–1935	–	253	71	[4]
Elkes, JackJack Elkes	England	Inside-left Centre-half	1929–1933	–	113	4	–
McFarlane, JohnJohn McFarlane	Scotland	Wing-half Inside-forward	1929–1933	–	101	0	–
Jennings, JohnJohn Jennings	England	Full-back Right-half	1929–1937	1930–1932	205	10	–
Forrest, BillBill Forrest	Scotland	Left-half	1929–1939	–	333	8	–
Brown, WilliamWilliam Brown	England	Right-half Right-back	1931–1946	–	274	2	–
Griffiths, TomTom Griffiths	Wales	Centre-half Right-back	1932–1935	1932–1935	92	1	[4]
Gibson, FrederickFrederick Gibson	England	Goalkeeper	1932–1936	–	120	0	–
Baxter, BobbyBobby Baxter	Scotland	Centre-half Inside-left	1932–1939	193?–193?	266	20	–
Martin, JohnJohn Martin	England	Wing-half	1932–1939	–	137	3	–
Fenton, MickyMicky Fenton	England	Centre-forward	1932–1950	–	269	162	–
Birkett, RalphRalph Birkett	England	Outside-right	1934–1938	–	101	36	[4]
Cumming, DavidDavid Cumming	Scotland	Goalkeeper	1936–1949	–	157	0	–
Mannion, WilfWilf Mannion	England	Inside-forward	1936–1954	–	368	110	[9]
Hardwick, GeorgeGeorge Hardwick	England	Full-back	1937–1950	19??–19??	166	7	–
Spuhler, JohnnyJohnny Spuhler	England	Centre-forward	1945–1954	–	241	81	–
Gordon, JimmyJimmy Gordon	Scotland	Wing-half	1946–1954	1951–1952	253	4	–
Bell, HenryHenry Bell	England	Wing-half	1946–1955	–	315	10	–
Robinson, Richard (Dickie)Richard (Dickie) Robinson	England	Full-back	1946–1959	–	416	1	–
Dicks, RonaldRonald Dicks	England	Wing-half	1947–1958	1956–1958	334	10	–
Blenkinsopp, TommyTommy Blenkinsopp	England	Defender	1948–1952	–	100	0	–
McCrae, AlexAlex McCrae	Scotland	Defender	1948–1953	–	130	49	–
Delapenha, LindyLindy Delapenha	Jamaica	Forward	1949–1958	–	270	93	[10]
Fitzsimons, ArthurArthur Fitzsimons	Ireland	Inside-forward	1949–1959	–	231	51	–
Barnard, RaymondRaymond Barnard	England	Full-back	1951–1961	–	118	0	–
Bilcliff, RaymondRaymond Bilcliff	England	Full-back	1951–1961	–	190	0	[11]
Phillips, John BrianJohn Brian Phillips	England	Centre-half	1954–1960	–	124	2	–
Peacock, AlanAlan Peacock	England	Centre-forward	1954–1964	–	238	141	–
Harris, BillBill Harris	Wales	Inside-forward Wing-half	1954–1965	19??–19??	378	72	[4][12]
Clough, BrianBrian Clough	England	Centre-forward	1955–1961	19??–19??	222	204	[8]
McLean, DerekDerek McLean	England	Inside-forward	1952–1961	–	123	30	–
Day, WilliamWilliam Day	England	Outside-right	1955–1962	–	131	21	–
Holliday, EdwinEdwin Holliday	England	Outside-left	1956–1962 1965-1966	–	169	25	–
Burbeck, RonaldRonald Burbeck	England	Winger	1956–1963	–	152	29	–
McNeil, MichaelMichael McNeil	England	Left-back	1958–1964	–	193	3	–
Appleby, RobertRobert Appleby	England	Goalkeeper	1959–1967	–	110	0	–
Kaye, ArthurArthur Kaye	England	Outside-right	1960–1965	–	185	44	–
Horner, BillyBilly Horner	England	Defender	1960–1969	–	217	12	–
Jones, GordonGordon Jones	England	Full-back	1960–1973	1966–1973[13]	532	5	[14][15]
Smith, AlexAlex Smith	England	Defender	1961–1972	–	137	1	–
Gates, William LazenbyWilliam Lazenby Gates	England	Centre-half	1961–1974	–	333	13	–
Nurse, MelMel Nurse	Wales	Centre-half	1962–1965	1962–1965	124	9	[4]
Gibson, IanIan Gibson	Scotland	Midfield	1962–1966	1965–1966	184	47	[4]
Orritt, BryanBryan Orritt	Wales	Inside-forward	1962–1966	–	128	23	[16]
Spraggon, FrankFrank Spraggon	England	Defender	1962–1975	–	331	3	–
Connachan, EdwardEdward Connachan	Scotland	Goalkeeper	1963–1966	–	105	0	–
Horsfield, ArthurArthur Horsfield	England	Forward	1963–1969	–	127	56	[17]
Irvine, JimJim Irvine	Scotland	Centre-forward	1964–1967	–	100	43	–
Anderson, StanStan Anderson	England	Wing-half	1965–1966	196?–196?	22	2	–
Rooks, RichardRichard Rooks	England	Centre-half	1965–1969	–	150	14	[18]
Downing, DerrickDerrick Downing	England	Winger	1965–1972	–	204	49	–
McMordie, EricEric McMordie	Northern Ireland	Midfield	1965–1974	–	277	26	[19]
Chadwick, DavidDavid Chadwick	India	Winger	1966–1970	–	115	4	–
Hickton, JohnJohn Hickton	England	Forward Utility	1966–1977	–	499	187	[20]
Laidlaw, JoeJoe Laidlaw	England	Midfield Forward	1967–1972	–	128	23	–
Maddren, WillieWillie Maddren	England	Central defender	1969–1978	–	354	21	[21]
Mills, DavidDavid Mills	England	Forward	1968–1979 1984–1985	–	398	111	[22]
Armstrong, DavidDavid Armstrong	England	Midfielder	1970–1981	–	431	77	[23]
Platt, JimJim Platt	Northern Ireland	Goalkeeper	1970–1982	????–????	481	0	[24]
Stiles, NobbyNobby Stiles	England	Wing-half	1971–1973	1971–197?	69	2	–
Boam, StuartStuart Boam	England	Central defender	1971–1979	–	393	16	–
Craggs, JohnJohn Craggs	England	Right-back	1971–1982	1981	488	14	[4]
Foggon, AlanAlan Foggon	England	Winger	1972–1976	–	141	50	–
Brine, PeterPeter Brine	England	Midfielder	1972–1977	–	101	8	–
Murdoch, BobbyBobby Murdoch	Scotland	Midfield	1973–1976	–	125	9	–
Souness, GraemeGraeme Souness	Scotland	Midfield	1973–1978	–	216	27	[25]
McAndrew, TonyTony McAndrew	Scotland	Central defender	1973–1982	1979–1981	358	18	–
Cooper, TerryTerry Cooper	England	Left-back	1974–1978	–	133	1	–
Bailey, IanIan Bailey	England	Left-back	1975–1982	–	175	3	–
Ashcroft, BillyBilly Ashcroft	England	Forward	1977–1982	–	179	25	[4]
Proctor, MarkMark Proctor	England	Midfield	1978–1981 1989–1993	–	273	20	–
Hodgson, DavidDavid Hodgson	England	Forward	1978–1982 1987	–	143	20	–
Cochrane, TerryTerry Cochrane	Northern Ireland	Winger	1978–1983	–	128	12	[4]
Shearer, DavidDavid Shearer	England	Forward	1978–1983	–	115	30	–
Nattrass, IrvingIrving Nattrass	England	Right-back	1979–1986	1983–1985	221	2	[4]
Baxter, MickMick Baxter	England	Central defender	1981–1984	–	138	8	–
Otto, HeineHeine Otto	Netherlands	Midfield	1981–1985	–	187	28	–
Currie, DavidDavid Currie	England	Forward	1982–1986	–	127	31	–
Mowbray, TonyTony Mowbray	England	Central defender	1982–1991	1987–1991	425	29	[26]
Pears, StephenStephen Pears	England	Goalkeeper	1983 1985–1995	–	424	0	[27]
Hamilton, GaryGary Hamilton	Scotland	Midfield	1983–1989	–	268	28	–
Pallister, GaryGary Pallister	England	Central defender	1984–1989 1998–2000	–	250	7	[28]
Cooper, ColinColin Cooper	England	Defender	1984–1991 1998–2006	–	423	14	–
Stephens, ArchieArchie Stephens	England	Forward	1985–1987	–	107	27	–
Laws, BrianBrian Laws	England	Right-back	1985–1988	1985–1986	129	14	–
Ripley, StuartStuart Ripley	England	Right-winger	1985–1992	–	311	31	–
Kernaghan, AlanAlan Kernaghan	Ireland	Central defender	1985–1993	1991–1993	268	22	[29]
Slaven, BernieBernie Slaven	Ireland	Forward	1985–1993	–	381	146	[30]
Parkinson, GaryGary Parkinson	England	Right-back	1986–1993	–	258	7	–
Kerr, PaulPaul Kerr	England	Midfield	1987–1991	–	162	18	–
Mohan, NickyNicky Mohan	England	Central defender	1987–1994	–	131	4	–
Davenport, PeterPeter Davenport	England	Forward	1988–1990	–	28	5	[4]
Phillips, JimmyJimmy Phillips	England	Left-back	1990–1993	–	172	6	–
Hendrie, JohnJohn Hendrie	Scotland	Winger Forward	1990–1996	1993–1994	234	55	[31]
Mustoe, RobbieRobbie Mustoe	England	Midfield	1990–2002	–	367	34	–
Peake, AndyAndy Peake	England	Midfield	1991–1994	–	100	1	[32]
Pollock, JamieJamie Pollock	England	Midfield	1991–1996	–	193	19	[33]
Fleming, CurtisCurtis Fleming	Ireland	Defender	1991–2001	–	317	4	[34]
Moore, AlanAlan Moore	Ireland	Left-winger	1991–2001	–	142	17	–
Hignett, CraigCraig Hignett	England	Winger	1992–1997	–	195	48	–
Morris, ChrisChris Morris	Ireland	Full-back	1992–1997	–	104	4	–
Stamp, PhilPhil Stamp	England	Midfield	1993–2001	–	154	8	–
Cox, NeilNeil Cox	England	Defender	1994–1996	–	120	4	[4]
Robson, BryanBryan Robson	England	Midfield	1994–1997	–	27	1	[35]
Pearson, NigelNigel Pearson	England	Central defender	1994–1998	1994–1998	139	5	[36]
Juninho Paulista, JuninhoJuninho Juninho Paulista	Brazil	Midfield	1995–1997 1999 2002–2004	–	155	34	[37][38]
Ravanelli, FabrizioFabrizio Ravanelli	Italy	Forward	1996–1997	–	50	32	[4]
Beck, MikkelMikkel Beck	Denmark	Striker	1996–1998	–	115	31	–
Townsend, AndyAndy Townsend	Ireland	Midfield	1997–1999	1998–1999	88	4	–
Festa, GianlucaGianluca Festa	Italy	Central defender	1997–2002	–	171	12	[39]
Schwarzer, MarkMark Schwarzer	Australia	Goalkeeper	1997–2008	–	446	0	[40]
Ricard, HamiltonHamilton Ricard	Colombia	Forward	1998–2002	–	134	43	–
Ince, PaulPaul Ince	England	Midfield	1999–2002	1999–2002	106	9	–
Job, Joseph-DésiréJoseph-Désiré Job	Cameroon	Forward	2000–2006	–	111	21	–
Parnaby, StuartStuart Parnaby	England	Defender/Midfield	2000–2007	–	128	4	–
Ehiogu, UgoUgo Ehiogu	England	Defender	2000–2007	–	150	8	[4]
Greening, JonathanJonathan Greening	England	Midfield	2001–2004	–	109	4	[41]
Nemeth, SzilardSzilárd Németh	Slovakia	Forward	2001–2006	–	146	29	–
Queudrue, FranckFranck Queudrue	France	Left-back	2001–2006	–	199	12	[42]
Southgate, GarethGareth Southgate	England	Defender	2001–2006	2002–2006	204	4	[43]
Downing, StewartStewart Downing	England	Midfield	2001–2009	–	190	18	[44]
Boateng, GeorgeGeorge Boateng	Netherlands	Midfield	2002–2008	2006–2008	222	9	–
Maccarone, MassimoMassimo Maccarone	Italy	Forward	2002–2007	–	102	24	[4]
Doriva, Doriva	Brazil	Midfield	2003–2006	–	110	1	–
Riggott, ChrisChris Riggott	England	Defender	2003–2009;	–	121	8	[45]
Pogatetz, EmanuelEmanuel Pogatetz	Austria	Defender	2005–2010	2008–2010	112	3	[46]
Arca, JulioJulio Arca	Argentina	Midfield	2006–2013	2013	181	9	–
Alves, AfonsoAfonso Alves	Brazil	Forward	2008–2009	–	14	6	[47]

Key to positions

• GK — Goalkeeper
• RB — Right back
• LB — Left back
• CB — Centre back
• MF — Midfielder
• RW — Right Winger
• LW — Left Winger
• FW — Forward

See also

• Middlesbrough F.C.
• Middlesbrough F.C. Player of the Year
• List of Middlesbrough F.C. records and statistics

Notes and references

• Middlesbrough FC. The Who's Who of Middlesbrough. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-569-2.

• ^E End of contract
• ^A Initial fee £2.5 million, rising to just over £5 million based on appearances.^[48]
• Glasper, Harry. Middlesbrough, A Complete Record, 1876-1989. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 0-907969-53-4.
• "Squad Profiles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
• "Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2007-09-17.

1. For a full description of positions see Football Positions.
2. Peter McCracken was the first player to captain Middlesbrough in the Football League.
3. Tim Williamson is the all time appearance record holder.
4. Was record signing at the time of his purchase.
5. George Elliott is second in the all time goalscoring tables with 213. Elliott also holds the record for most goals scored in a competitive Middlesbrough game, scoring eleven in a 14–1 reserve team victory over Houghton Rovers. He was the first Middlesbrough player to be top goalscorer in the Football League, during the 1913-14 season.
6. Billy Birrell won the Football League Second Division as captain.
7. George Camsell is Middlesbrough's all-time top goalscorer with 345 goals. Camsell also holds the Middlesbrough record for most goals in the season, with 59 league goals and 63 in all competitions during 1926-27. 59 league goals in one season is a Second Division record. His nine hat-tricks that season is an English football record, and his 24 hat-tricks during his time at Middlesbrough is a club record.
8. Joint holder of Middlesbrough record for most goals in a single competitive first team game, with five goals. J.Wilkie, A.N.Wilson, J.McClelland and B.H.Clough each achieved this feat once, while G.H.Camsell achieved it in two games.
9. Wilf Mannion is Middlesbrough's most capped England player.
10. Lindy Delapenha was Middlesbrough's first black player.
11. Raymond Bilcliff made more appearances than any other outfield player without scoring a goal.
12. Bill Harris is the holder of the Middlesbrough record for fastest recorded goal, with a goal 11 seconds into an FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury.
13. FIX ME:May be to 1971,72,73.
14. Gordon Jones is second in the all-time Middlesbrough appearance records.
15. Player of the year 1965–66 and 1971.
16. Bryan Orritt was the first substitute ever used by Middlesbrough.
17. Arthur Horsfield is the club's youngest senior goalscorer.
18. Player of the year 1967–68, 1968–69.
19. Evening Gazette player of the year 1969.
20. John Hickton is third in the all-time Middlesbrough appearance records.
21. Player of the year 1972–1973.
22. David Mills' sale to West Bromwich Albion was a British football record transfer fee at the time, with a fee of approximately £500,000.
23. David Armstrong holds the record for most consecutive appearances with 305 consecutive league games and 358 consecutive games in all competitions between March 1972 and August 1980.
24. Player of the year 1972, 1981. North East Player of the Year 1981.
25. Player of the year 1973–74.
26. Player of the year 1985, 1986.
27. North East Player of the Year 1992.
28. Gary Pallister's sale to Manchester United was a British football record transfer fee at the time, with a fee of £2.3 million.
29. Alan Kernaghan holds the record for most substitute appearances for Middlesbrough, with 53.
30. North East Player of the Year 1989.
31. Supporters' club player of the year 1992–93.
32. Players' Player of the Year 1992–93.
33. Young player of the year 1991–92.
34. Supporters' club player of the year 1993–94.
35. Bryan Robson is Middlesbrough's oldest-ever goalscorer, aged 38 years and 2 months old, with his goal versus Port Vale on 26 March 1995. Robson is also the oldest player to appear for Middlesbrough, aged 38 years and 355 days old with his appearances versus Arsenal on 1 January 1997.
36. Nigel Pearson won the Football League Division One as captain.
37. Juninho holds the record for Middlesbrough's highest transfer fee received, at £12 million in 1997.
38. Supporters' club player of the year 1996–97.
39. Supporters' club player of the year 1998.
40. Mark Schwarzer holds the record for earning the most international caps while a Middlesbrough player.
41. Supporters' club player of the year 2002–03.
42. Community player of the year 2003–04.
43. Gareth Southgate won the Football League Cup as captain. Player of the year 2001–02.
44. Supporters' club player of the year 2007–08. Players' Player of the Year 2007–08.
45. Players' Player of the Year 2005–06.
46. Supporters' club player of the year 2006–07. Players' Player of the Year 2006–07.
47. Afonso Alves is Middlesbrough's record signing. The club paid a fee of approximately £12.7 million for him in 2008.
48. "Pompey will have to wait for half of O'Neil's fee". Portsmouth News. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2007-09-07.