New train station exhibition celebrates Middlesbrough football supporters
A powerful new exhibition celebrating the diversity, pride and community spirit of Middlesbrough’s football supporters has been unveiled at the town’s train station.
Installed last week, My Boro, My Shirt, features 15 striking portraits of Boro fans wearing their favourite shirts in iconic Teesside locations.
The images reflect the breadth of the club’s supporter base, from lifelong fans, new arrivals, families, people with visible and hidden disabilities to Sikh, Muslim, Black, White and LGBTQ+ supporters - all united by football and a shared sense of belonging.
The portraits, taken by photographers Tom Banks and Paul Thompson, will now be seen daily by thousands of commuters and visitors - including away fans travelling to Middlesbrough for fixtures at the Riverside Stadium.
The unveiling of the permanent exhibition brought together staff from TransPennine Express, who manage the station, the Mayor of Middlesbrough Chris Cooke, Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East as well as representatives from Middlesbrough FC, and a number of the supporters featured in the portraits.
The project was supported by funding from Middlesbrough Council’s Community Recovery Fund, with sponsorship from the Football Supporters’ Association, Borderlands, Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough Football Club and MFC Foundation.
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.”
The exhibition first launched at the Riverside in 2023 and gained added significance when its opening followed the day after riots in Middlesbrough. Since then, the portraits have toured libraries, museums and community venues across the region and even formed part of the backdrop during King Charles’ visit to Teesside.
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.”