Why this influential figure sets Middlesbrough aside from their Championship rivals

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The word chairman has adopted something of a negative meaning among some football fans in this country.

A wealthy businessman who refuses to put sufficient amounts of money into their new project, and thinks they know better than the number of ex-players and fans that have been the spine of the club for decades. Sound familiar? Unfortunately for many football supporters it will.

Roland Duchâtelet at Charlton, Vicent Tan at Cardiff and Karl Oyston at Blackpool are just a couple of the men who have taken over and sucked the life out of established clubs. They’ve understandably infuriated fans, who haven’t been afraid to make their sentiments known.

The latest revolt came at the Valley a couple of weeks ago – Many Charlton fans threw beach balls on to the pitch and blew whistles throughout the match to disrupt their game against Middlesbrough, as a protest against their owner.

It was a sad sight for a club who were competing in the Premier League as early as 2007, and now they look likely to drop back down into the third tier. There is no doubt that the chairman will take most of the flack.

However, not all owners in the modern game are money grabbing millionaires who see football as just another financial market.

The unique example is Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, who is not only an owner but also a huge fan of the club he has gone on to run.

After being born and raised in the town, Gibson was a huge part of the group which helped save Boro from liquidation in 1986 and went on to become chairman eight years later.

He oversaw the  clubs most successful period in history as Boro won the Carling Cup in 2004 before reaching the Uefa Cup final two years later.

Even after 24 years at the helm, his passion for success still burns brighter than it has ever done. Few blamed him for Boro’s relegation from the top flight back in 2008.

Seven and a half championship seasons later, Gibson has dipped his hand deep into his back pockets to try and find the resources to hurl his beloved club back into the promise land.

£9 million – plus add ons – was the fee Boro reportedly paid for striker Jordan Rhodes in January.  Back in the summer they also brought in Stewart Downing and David Nugent, in an all-out attempt to reach the top flight.

Some of those funds were raised by the sales of players like Lee Tomlin, Mavin Emnes and Lukas Jutkiewitz; however it was still an enormous commitment from the man in charge.

Gibson has also been extremely loyal to his managers over his tenure at the club. He didn’t sack a manager for 15 years until he dismissed Garth Southgate in 2009.

In 2013 Gibson stayed patient with manager and with ex-Boro defender Tony Mowbray, despite Boro’s dismal run towards the end of the 2012/13 season.

Eventually there was no other choice but for the local hero to move on after Boro recorded just two wins in 12 games. Yet there was no official sacking, just a statement to say that the pair had parted company and moved on.

Just the other week the Boro chairman had a ’20 minute’ meeting with current manager Aitor Karanka to secure the Spaniard’s future at the club following a reported bust up with the players.

Karanka later went on record saying the he had a ‘fantastic relationship’ with Gibson who employed him in October 2013.

In the modern game there are few chairmen like Gibson, who arrives at the Riverside week in week out not only as an owner but also as a fan. Boro supporters are eternally grateful for all that he has done and he’s still not done yet.

Featured image: All rights reserved by john holland 1962