'The fans were very genuine. I find northern people a lot better than southern people because you know where you stand. Everyone was the same level. Playing football doesn’t mean I’m bigger than you': Ray Parlour reveals love for Middlesbrough spell

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - August 28: Ray Parlour of Middlesbrough shouting during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on August 28, 2004 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Stewart Kendall/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Parlour in action for Middlesbrough (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ray Parlour moved to Middlesbrough from Arsenal in the summer of 2004 on a free transfer, and quickly settled in well during his time at the Riverside.

Having played his entire professional career at Arsenal and just become an Invincible under Arsene Wenger, Parlour arrived at Middlesbrough to play for Steve McClaren.

The Romford Pele made 33 appearances in the 2004/05 Premier League season to help Boro finish seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup, a competition they had competed in during Parlour's first season at the club thanks to their League Cup success prior to him joining.

Ray Parlour reflects on Middlesbrough experience fondly

Ray Parlour playing for Middlesbrough in the Premier League

Parlour made 60 appearances for Middlesbrough

He reveals that he enjoyed playing for Boro, which culminated in a UEFA Cup final against Sevilla in 2006, though he was an unused substitute in the 4-0 defeat.

"Steve was good," Parlour exclusively tells FourFourTwo. "Middlesbrough did so well: they put the money down for Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and some other really top players, and to get to a UEFA Cup final was unbelievable.

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - August 28: Ray Parlour of Middlesbrough shouting during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on August 28, 2004 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Stewart Kendall/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Parlour comes up against Henry while playing for Boro (Image credit: Getty Images)

"I came to the end, he departed, Gareth Southgate got the job and I wasn’t going to play, so I moved on. But I really enjoyed living in Middlesbrough.

"My daughter went to nursery there and had a Middlesbrough accent. We had to try to change that! My mum was going, 'What’s she saying?' She came out of it in the end! I enjoyed my time there."

For Parlour, getting to interact with "genuine" people also helped make his time on Teeside extra special.

"The fans were very genuine," he adds. "I find northern people a lot better than southern people because you know where you stand.

Ray Parlour

Parlour talks highly of northern people (Image credit: PA)

"In a bar one day, I said, 'Lads, I’ll get the drink', and they said, 'No, put your £20 in like everybody else.' Everyone was the same level. Playing football doesn’t mean I’m bigger than you. I liked that."

In total, Parlour made 60 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons at Middlesbrough, though he failed to score a goal.

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future. 

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