New station exhibition celebrates the people behind Middlesbrough FC

A new exhibition celebrating the identity and diversity of Middlesbrough’s football supporters has gone on display at the town’s railway station, giving thousands of daily passengers a striking introduction to the community behind the club.

Installed last week, My Boro, My Shirt features 15 large-scale portraits of Middlesbrough fans wearing their favourite shirts at well-known locations around Teesside. The display has been permanently mounted at the station, which is managed by TransPennine Express.

The photographs highlight the wide range of people who make up the club’s support, including lifelong followers, newer fans, families, and people with both visible and hidden disabilities. The exhibition also reflects Middlesbrough’s cultural mix, featuring Sikh, Muslim, Black, White and LGBTQ+ supporters, all connected by football and a shared sense of belonging.

Captured by photographers Tom Banks and Paul Thompson, the portraits will now be seen by commuters, visitors and away supporters travelling to matches at the Riverside Stadium. Organisers say the location was chosen to ensure the message of inclusion reaches as wide an audience as possible.

The unveiling brought together representatives from TransPennine Express, Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough FC, alongside Mayor of Middlesbrough Chris Cooke and Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East. Several of the supporters featured in the exhibition were also present at the launch.

The project received funding from Middlesbrough Council’s Community Recovery Fund and additional backing from the Football Supporters’ Association, Borderlands, Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough Football Club and the MFC Foundation.

My Boro, My Shirt was first shown at the Riverside Stadium in 2023 and took on added significance when it opened the day after riots in Middlesbrough. Since then, the portraits have toured libraries, museums and community spaces across the region, and were later displayed during King Charles’ visit to Teesside.

Andy Watkins, Community & Development Manager at TransPennine Express, said:

“We were delighted to help bring such a meaningful exhibition to our station. My Boro My Shirt celebrates everything that is special about Teesside, its people, its passion and its sense of community. We’re proud that our customers will be among the first to see it as they arrive at Middlesbrough.”

Organiser Robert Nichols, chair of the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum and editor of the MFC fanzine Fly Me To The Moon, said:

“These portraits will let every football fan know that they are welcome here in Middlesbrough. The project has had a great response from fans and I’m looking forward to more people getting to see it in its new location.”

Image: TransPennine Express