Report from team manager Ray Stewart.
Due to a complicated set of circumstances Middlesbrough did not have a goalkeeper for this re-arranged Youths tournament at Moss Side. “Taking the easy way out and not travelling to the event was not an option for the club as we feel that by entering any competition we are obliged to fulfil all of our fixtures whether we win, loose or draw and forfeiting these 3 matches would have devalued the whole of the Youth league for this season” said coach Ray Stewart.
“I contacted the 5 players involved (Mikey Ableson, Johnny Argyle, Luke Bell, Andy McCullagh & Owen Stewart) to explain the situation and they were unanimous that we should select a keeper from our out players and give it our best shot” Luke Bell went in goal for all 3 matches with the other four Boro players in more familiar positions on the rink. Boro were narrowly beaten in the 1st match (Spectrum 6 – 5), drew the 2nd match (Moss Side 5 - 5) and won the 3rd match against Manchester.
“All the lads were brilliant on the day but we would all like to say a special thanks to Luke for volunteering to play in this very specialised position”.
