Middlesbrough

OFFICIAL HISTORY OF MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

1986: Bruce Rioch takes over the helm as coach. A last day defeat at Shrewsbury sees Boro relegated to Division Three and the club goes into liquidation in July, suffering from massive debts. A consortium consisting of ICI, Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, Bulkhaul and Henry Moszkowicz saves the club and forms Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Company (1986) Ltd.

1987: Boro complete remarkable comeback by winning promotion at first attempt. Manager Bruce Rioch builds a side mainly consisting of local youngsters, including Tony Mowbray, Gary Pallister, Stuart Ripley and Colin Cooper.

1988: Amazing revival continues with a second successive promotion taking the club back to the First Division. Promotion is achieved with wins over Bradford City and Chelsea in the play-offs.

1989: Season ends in disappointing relegation. Gary Pallister is sold for British record fee of £2.3m to Manchester United.

1990: Rioch is sacked and assistant Colin Todd takes over. He leads Boro out in their first ever Wembley final, losing 1-0 to Chelsea in the Zenith Data Systems Cup.

1991: Boro lose in play-off semi-finals. Todd resigns and Lennie Lawrence takes over.

1992: Another promotion season, with Lennie Lawrence leading the team into the inaugural Premier League. Run to the semi-finals of the League Cup ends in 2-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United.

1993: One season after promotion, the club are again relegated.

1994: England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson replaces Lennie Lawrence as manager. Aston Villa's Neil Cox is first £1m buy.