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Tony Mowbray gives emotional speech after standing ovation on return at Middlesbrough

Tony Mowbray gives an emotional speech after a standing ovation from fans on his return at Middlesbrough on the opening weekend.

The much loved 60 year old made one of his first public appearances following medical treatment having recently been ill.

Earlier this year Birmingham City announced he was temporarily withdrawn from his role as manager until the end of the season due to the need for medical treatment, but he ended up confirming that he was permanently stepping down at the end of the season.

Tony: “Thank you very much.”

Interviewer: “How does that make you feel?”

Tony: “Well, it’s really emotional, to be honest. I’ve had the toughest six months of my life. So many people have been in touch. The football world. I saw the pictures of the stadium wishing me well when I was really, really ill. It’s been as I say, it’s been a tough six months. I thank everybody in the stadium for the support that I’ve had. It makes me emotional that people care. At the end of the day, I’m just a lad from Redcar who tried his best for the red and white shirts for, I don’t know, 400 games. And that people care. People come up to me in the street and give me bags of sweets and Revels and it’s embarrassing. And it’s really humbling for me that people care about my life, really. My wife and my kids are up there. They’ve been amazing for six months. My wife’s turned into Florence Nightingale here. So. Yeah, for everybody In the stadium. Thank you very much for your help, for your support. And I’m feeling good. Thank you.”

Interviewer: “Unique number 542. Can you remember the first game you pulled that shirt on?”

Tony: “Oh, my first game was a massive game, to be honest. I remember the build up to the wake of it. We played Newcastle United away. Alan trying to think. Kevin Keegan up front, Mike Shannon. That was like the England. It was the England strike force, basically. And I was thrown in to play at the back. We got a 1-1 draw that Darren Wood scored a brilliant goal and we drew 1-1 at St. James. It was an amazing way to start my career. And as I say for, I think twelve years really the support of the people of Teesside. It’s very humbling for me to still live in the area and to still bump into people who really care about the team, will care about the players who’ve helped the team over the years. And its great to see Proc [Mark Proctor] and Bernie [Slaven]. And I’m talking to Frankie Spraggon up there. I used to watch as a kid with my dad. A legend in my mind. And I see as I’m getting from my car today little kids who were less than ten year olds wanting pictures and autographs. And its passed on from their dads and their dad’s dads really of, oh, there’s Tony Mowbray. Their kids don’t know you are, but they happy to have pictures. It’s really humbling to have played a part in the history of this great football club.”

Interviewer: “Well, we love you to bits. We love you very, very much. And with friends like Slaven, who needs enemies? That’s all I got to say. Thank you very much. Legacy numbers, absolutely brilliant. Three fine human beings, three fine footballers and three of our own, even though he’s an adopted one is Slaven.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Tony Mowbray gives an emotional speech after receiving a standing ovation on his return at Middlesbrough…

@VFinnishProbs: Such a legend, and so humble too. So happy to see him bounce back. 🚜❤️

@eeeyore28: Legend down here too #itfc 💪🏻🙏

@mattholland8: A class act 👏

@GraemeBandeira: Absolutely magic that!

@paulwallsend: Absolutely brilliant, what a lovely man he is 🖤🤍

@DavidStrachan85: It’s great to see Tony on the mend and back at a football ground. He did a fantastic job for us. 👍🔵⚪️

@smiturt: I took a group of folk from our rehab to Rockwell a few years ago. Tony couldn’t have been more generous with his time. Hugged every single one of us and wished us well. He didn’t even know we were coming. Stopped everything.

@AVFC821: Met him once in Birmingham whilst Cov manager (I think), lovely bloke, didn’t talk football just happened to hold a door open for us and had a brief chat along a street whilst he was with his family. Really pleased to see him looking well!!

@rokerroarontour: Tony, youre a top bloke and hopefully you can make a game at SoL soon so we can show our gratitude and respect. Hopefully health worries are behind you and can move forward now.

@BcfcMichael: Get him back at St Andrews soon @BCFC

@lukestokes84: An absolute gent and a baggies legend. Couldn’t wish to meet a nicer more professional dedicated man 👏

@seventiesmod: Fantastic and no surprise to see the love and respect for TM. The legend tag is banded a lot but TM is the definition of one.

@grorty_dickos: Class act

@SteveyLou: This is by far the best footballing moment of the weekend. It’s so great to see Mowbray looking so well. I absolutely loved the guy at Birmingham. Football needs him back in a dugout somewhere soon.

@Darrell15952414: A gang of us from Teesside Poly went to see his Celtic debut. We waited for him afterwards and bumped into his mam. She cried and hugged us all for coming up from boro

@RussJordan10: A wonderful player who I was lucky to follow and watch throughout his Boro career but more importantly, a wonderful humble human being. Stay healthy, Mogga !! UTB

@ladeside5277: What a legend Mogga is, great player and a very humble man.

@Wessiewhite: All the best, quality manager who’s hopefully still got lots to offer to the game (Leeds fan)

@Petersu98288152: He was great up here at Hibs.. good on him 💚

@DY1Baggies: So happy to see Tony looking well. Hope he looks after himself first before he thinks about management ❤️

@covjim: Great bloke..was well liked at cov..all the best Tony..

@ColeColey39: I may not go to many games anymore but growing up those guys were heroes of mine. But Mogga is and always will be one of the greatest captains and players the Boro have ever had. A true legend so glad he’s on the mend 🙌🏻🙌🏻

@BuddyTheBoroFan: Lovely that. Makes your hairs stand on end

@richthebrum71: Glad to see you well Tony!!! Keep right on!

@Yiproy1: A TRUE LEGEND FOR ALL THE CLUBS YOU’VE PLAYED FOR! 🫵🏾💪🏿💙🚜🙏🏿

@SamBolton26: What a top bloke

@shez_dictates: Leeds fan here, all I can say is that Tony Mowbray is a top bloke and wish him all the best in his continued recovery 👍

@abell0509: As a Newcastle fan talking about an ex boro players amd ex Sunderland manager I shouldn’t like the bloke, but in fairness it’s hard not too. All the best mogga.

@Addison1978G: Love this bloke such a privilege it was to have him at Sunderland good to see you well x

@artlowy8: Mogga is the modern day Bobby Robson. Loved by many from a lot of different clubs. Great to see him healthy and happy.

@steveg137: Loved him at Hibs! Clearly a great guy,

@EnvelopeWorks: Absolutely love the guy, proud to have got to know Tony and Veno so well in their time at Blackburn. Great to see him looking so well again 💙🤍

@SC008Y: Over the moon he is feeling better what a bloke 🔴⚪️

@davbrno: Humbling indeed – a lovely lovely man who I had the pleasure of spending some time with a few years ago ❤️🙏🏻.

@ActionNUFC: Great to see Tony looking so well. A top man.

@frankfitz1961: Top Fella And A Decent Man…Good Luck Tony…From A Pne Fan….

@RichardDownes67: Good news and good luck with your continued recovery 👍

@AndrewMozley: Always liked Tony . Will keep my fingers crossed he’s soon back in the game.

@AlBooth: He’s just a great man. It’s so good to see him back on the Boro pitch again and smiling. (I cried when Mogga left Boro. He got me again.) ❤️🤍

@mitchellinman16: It doesn’t matter who you support Tony Mowbray is a legend for football world and a person I’ve admired for along long time. Top man. Best wishes Tony!!!!

@MichaelLaverton: Absolutely brilliantly done. What an amazing, modest man he is.

@willieo2018: He certainly is. A lovely bloke who I wish nothing but the best for. Always comes across as a genuine guy and very likeable. From a Coventry City fan

@kmorrisuk: He should have got a manager’s legacy number as well, a true local legend!

@tailspin10: Proper bloke loved him at town and used to look for Boro results when Mogg and Pallister were at the back together. Glad you’re on the road to recovery ♥️🤍 💙🤍

@benistondave: the football world recognises class, those who value more than money

@fpl_tractor: A great man. Loved at every club he’s been to.

@WhatTheFalkPod: Mogga ❤️🤍

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