THE writing is on the wall for a housing estate with football links.

For decades Ayresome Park was the home of Middlesbrough Football Club.

Soccer icons such as the late Wilf Mannion, "Gentleman George" Hardwick and Willie Maddren scored their legends in the turf.

The ground is now covered by housing, but artist Neville Gabie has ensured echoes of the club's golden age remain.

The sites of the old stands and the players' tunnel have been sandblasted into boundary and garden walls.

The word "away" on a wall marks the area used by visiting fans, "Chicken run", the flank of the pitch.

The words of the Joan Baez civil rights song "Deep in my heart I do believe", adopted by Middlesbrough fans, is etched in another wall.

Neville is marking the penalty spot with a bronze football cast in a front garden. The centre spot, now at the entrance to a house, is going to be marked with a pair of bronze football boots.

The project has been commissioned by house builders Wimpey Homes and Cleveland Arts.