Boro icon Boam was an Ayresome Park rock

STUART Boam, a Middlesbrough hero of the 1970s, has died at the age of 77.

- By NICK LOUGHLIN

Stuart Boam with the late David Armstrong at a Boro reunion in 2014

The no-nonsense centre-half appeared 322 times for Boro from 1971-79 before moving to Newcastle where he played 69 games.

A Boro statement read: “The club is deeply saddened to hear the passing of our former captain Stuart Boam following a lengthy illness.

“A centre-back by trade, Stuart’s brave defending and work-rate earned him a place in the starting lineup right off the bat from signing for Middlesbrough. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Boam arrived at St James’ Park for £170,000 in August 1979 as a seasoned, respected and rugged defender after becoming a stalwart as captain of Boro’s ‘Charlton’s Champions’ of the 1973/4 season.

The Nottinghamshire-born stopper had made his debut for Mansfield in 1966 where he stayed for five seasons, before joining Boro for £50,000.