‘The followers have been very real. I discover northern individuals so much higher than southern individuals as a result of the place you stand. Everybody was the identical degree. Enjoying soccer doesn’t imply I’m greater than you’: Ray Parlour reveals love for Middlesbrough spell

March 31, 2025

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Ray Parlour moved to Middlesbrough from Arsenal in the summertime of 2004 on a free switch, and shortly settled in properly throughout his time on the Riverside.

Having performed his whole skilled profession at Arsenal and simply change into an Invincible beneath Arsene Wenger, Parlour arrived at Middlesbrough to play for Steve McClaren.

The Romford Pele made 33 appearances within the 2004/05 Premier League season to assist Boro end seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup, a contest that they had competed in throughout Parlour’s first season on the membership due to their League Cup success previous to him becoming a member of.

Ray Parlour displays on Middlesbrough expertise fondly

Ray Parlour playing for Middlesbrough in the Premier League

Parlour made 60 appearances for Middlesbrough

He reveals that he loved taking part in for Boro, which culminated in a UEFA Cup ultimate in opposition to Sevilla in 2006, although he was an unused substitute within the 4-0 defeat.

“Steve was good,” Parlour solely tells FourFourTwo. “Middlesbrough did so properly: they put the cash down for Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and another actually high gamers, and to get to a UEFA Cup ultimate was unbelievable.

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - August 28: Ray Parlour of Middlesbrough shouting during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on August 28, 2004 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Stewart Kendall/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Parlour comes up in opposition to Henry whereas taking part in for Boro (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)

“I got here to the tip, he departed, Gareth Southgate bought the job and I wasn’t going to play, so I moved on. However I actually loved dwelling in Middlesbrough.

“My daughter went to nursery there and had a Middlesbrough accent. We needed to attempt to change that! My mum was going, ‘What’s she saying?’ She got here out of it ultimately! I loved my time there.”

For Parlour, attending to work together with “real” individuals additionally helped make his time on Teeside additional particular.

“The followers have been very real,” he provides. “I discover northern individuals so much higher than southern individuals as a result of the place you stand.

Ray Parlour

Parlour talks extremely of northern individuals (Picture credit score: PA)

“In a bar sooner or later, I mentioned, ‘Lads, I’ll get the drink’, they usually mentioned, ‘No, put your £20 in like all people else.’ Everybody was the identical degree. Enjoying soccer doesn’t imply I’m greater than you. I preferred that.”

In whole, Parlour made 60 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons at Middlesbrough, although he failed to attain a objective.

‘The followers have been very real. I discover northern individuals so much higher than southern individuals as a result of the place you stand. Everybody was the identical degree. Enjoying soccer doesn’t imply I’m greater than you’: Ray Parlour reveals love for Middlesbrough spell

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