Middlesbrough are one of the biggest clubs in the Sky Bet Championship with a proud history and good fan base.
Like many upon their discovery in 1876, they started in their own regional leagues, battling with the likes of Gainsborough and Thornby, and a famous rivalry with Ironopolis in the Northern League which they both dominated.
Middlesbrough were playing at Albert Park and Linthorpe Road until their move to Ayresome in 1905 and gained access to the Football League in 1899, getting backing from Newcastle United and Sunderland narrowly ahead of Blackpool.
Middlesbrough were regulars in the first division and rarely dropped below it and have only ever played one season in the third division.
The only thing lacking from Middlesbrough's history is the silverware, but they have won three Division Two crowns, as well as the League Cup, and some other minor silverware such as the FA Amateur Cup.
But they have appeared in FA Cup finals as well as their heroic trip to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 where they were soundly beaten by Spanish side Sevilla.
Middlesbrough were in major financial trouble in 1984, but they were saved by local businessman and Boro fan Steve Gibson who has remained chairman ever since and is adored by fans.
Most of our success is down to the man and he deserves a lot of credit for the club's survival.
Middlesbrough were founder members of the Premier League and stayed in it for around 13 seasons with the odd relegation thrown in, including the controversial 1996/97 season.
Middlesbrough have now been in the Championship since 2009 and have never looked like getting back under Gordon Strachan and, despite improvement under Tony Mowbray, it is Aitor Karanka that is taking Middlesbrough forward.
He took Middlesbrough to the play-off final last season but they lost, yet are now one of the favourites to go up this year.
FootballLeagueWorld writer Michael Hasan identifies five interesting facts you probably didn't know about Middlesbrough...
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 FACTS!
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World record fee
Middlesbrough once held the world record for the highest fee ever paid for a player, and they were the first team to pay £1000 for a player when they signed Alf Common from arch-rivals Sunderland in 1905.
Strange when today £1000 is absolutely nothing in the world of football. How times have changed. £1000 today would not cover an average Championship player's weekly wages, let alone the transfer fee.
At this time though, Middlesbrough were accused of buying success.
George Hardwick
George Hardwick is a former Middlesbrough player who currently has as statue outside the Riverside Stadium.
He appeared over 140 times for Middlesbrough between 1937 and 1950, before moving onto Oldham Athletic, where he spent the rest of his career before retirement in 1956.
He is currently the only man in history to captain the England National Team and the Great Britain Olympic squad as well. He only made 12 appearances for England before a knee injury cut short his career.
George Camsell
George Camsell is Middlesbrough's all time top goalscorer with an incredible 325 goals in 419 games, and he cost the Boro a mere £500.
He also holds the record for the highest goals to game ratio in the England National Team's history, with an incredible 18 goals in 9 games.
He once scored 59 goals in a league season, including nine hat-tricks, breaking a record set by Everton's Dixie Dean for most goals in a league season, and was awarded a watch by the Football Association.
But the next season Dean scored 60 goals, so Camsell gave him the watch.
How they got into the Football League
Middlesbrough were in dire financial trouble in the 1880's when they were in the Northern League which rivals Ironopolis were dominating.
So the two teams formed a merger called Middlesbrough Ironopolis Athletic Football Club, but their attempt to get into the Football League was rejected, so they split up.
Middlesbrough reverted back to amateur status and won the FA Cup Amateur Cup against Uxbridge in 1898, which eventually convinced the Football League to let them into the Football League.
Brian Clough
Brian Clough is best known as the manager of Nottingham Forest who led them to the European Cup, but he was also a very special player who was born in Middlesbrough.
He scored an impressive 197 goals in 213 games for Middlesbrough between 1955 and 1961, before moving a few miles away to Sunderland, where he spent four years and appeared 61 times.
Boro fans... did you know these facts about Middlesbrough? What other great facts do you know about your club? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!