ONE of Middlesbrough Football Club's most well-known players is heading back to town this month (June 16) to recall his years wearing his famous number nine shirt.
Centre forward John Hickton will recall his ten years of prolific goal scoring for Middlesbrough when he links up with BBC Radio Tees presenter Paul ‘Goffy’ Gough as part of the radio presenter’s 30-year anniversary celebrations.
The event, starring the Middlesbrough hero, will take place at the North Ormesby Working Men’s Club, Westbourne Grove from 8pm
The event is being held just ahead of the Father’s Day weekend and Boro fans are already purchasing tickets as a treat for Dad’s that remember John’s all action and prolific goalscoring days Middlesbrough.
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Big John, as he was commonly known, was brought to Ayresome Park by the then boss Stan Anderson in 1966 and remained at the club until 1976 playing in almost 415 games and scoring 159 goals.
John Hickton said: “It was the greatest time of my life pulling on my Boro shirt and I so much loved my time on Teesside. The fans were incredible to me and my family during those magical times.
“My family loved living on Teesside and we often travel back to visit relations and friends, driving past the old Ayresome Park, which is now a housing estate, and going past Hutton Road where we used to train."
The event, Án Audience with John Hickton, was the idea of Goffy when John was part of group of former players that he interviewed on stage in Middlesbrough some few years ago.
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Goffy said: “I suggested to John that night that he should head back to town to front his own show and he said to me I really hope you make that happen Goffy.
“The evening will feature a compilation of John’s finest moments, footage and visual memories of the famous faces that John played alongside through the decade – with the icon talking through his personal memories of them all.”
In 2019 the football great fought a huge personal battle as he bravely recovered from skin cancer and is now back to full health.
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John, who now lives in Chesterfield, added: “Í have many stories from those memorable times and it will be lovely to share my thoughts with the Boro fans on June 16.”
Hickton still looks out for the Boro results and was disappointed to see the team fail to make the Championship play-offs this season.
John concluded: “The club and town is still very much in my blood and it was sad to see the season end the way it did. Let’s hope next season will see us back and on course for the top flight.”
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