It's a story of 40 goalden years for hero Slaven

HE came, he saw, he conquered! Goal machine Bernie Slaven prepares to celebrate 40 years on Tees-side by hosting a magical anniversary evening which is the most eagerly awaited off the field event for the club's older fans.

- ERICPAYLOR

The event, at Middlesbrough Town Hall on October 30, brings together Slaven and many former Boro players and officials.

Stars of the past who are hoping to attend include Bruce Rioch, Tony Mowbray, Gary Pallister, Mark Proctor, Neil Maddison, David Hodgson and David Wheater, in addition to chairman Steve Gibson if work commitments allow.

It will be a night of nostalgia, hosted by Gary Phillipson of BBC Tees, which will revive great memories and stories of bygone eras revolving around the man who couldn't stop scoring goals for the Boro.

In all, Glasgow-born Bernie scored 147 goals wearing his beloved Boro shirt, which puts him sixth in the club's overall list and the only non-Englishman in the top ten.

Remarkably, his incredible journey may never have even got off the ground in the first place.

Steadfastly believing in his own ability to hit the back of the net, Bernie was with Scottish Second Division side Albion Rovers when he wrote to around 50 English league clubs asking for a trial. He had just scored 31 goals in 43 appearances and was the top scorer in the whole of Scotland.

It was Boro who responded first and Bernie came down to Middlesbrough on the train for his trial.

Even so it was not plain sailing. As the Gazette's Boro reporter I was tipped off that Bernie was on his way and went down to try to interview him.

I was banned by the club at the time, but found Bernie leaning up against the wall reading a newspaper in the tunnel underneath the station and not knowing what to do next. I was the first person to speak to him on Teesside.

I got my interview and then went to look for a club official, eventually finding chief scout Barry Geldart and alerting him of Bernie's presence in the tunnel.

When I asked Bernie what he would have done if I hadn't turned up, he said: “Panic!”