Dael's debut

If this doesn't make you feel old, I don't know what will. Our latest debutant, 17-year old Dael Fry, was born the year before Ravenelli made his bow for the Boro. He wasn't born when Juninho cried tears of heartbreak on the pitch at Elland Road, but had come into the world (elegantly and without much fuss one would imagine) as we began our ultimately successful campaign to return to the top league. Dael, apparently the first ever Boro player with that name, made a wonderful start to his first team career on Sunday, the only bright point in an otherwise dreary start to the season. He carries an air of the Pallister about him, though he looks more like Simon Coleman (55 Boro appearances during a 17 year career which started at Mansfield and ended at Rochdale). Fry is from Berwick Hills, I think, making him yet another locally sourced player of huge promise. Boro have every right to be proud of their record in bringing through young players, not least because of the link it retains with the fans. He's one of our own and that does make a big difference.