Middlesbrough fc

Nikita Bokserov tells the story of how the 1966 FIFA World Cup led to long-lasting connections between the North Korea and the city of Middlesbrough.

The return of the North Koreans attracted support from a number of communities, including Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough Football Club. There is no single explanation for the phenomenon of the friendship between North Korean footballers and citizens of a small town. Gordon and Bonner were the first to bring a Western camera crew to North Korea to make a film about the legendary football players back in 2001. Following this, in a wave of euphoria, North Korean heroes returned to Middlesbrough in 2002 for the first time since 1966, and Middlesbrough Speaker Ken Hall hosted a civic reception for the returning Koreans, as Mayor Boothby had done some 36 years earlier. The positive attitude of the Middlesbrough fans was reflected outside the football field as the Korean players were cheered on every time they were seen on the streets of the town. On top of that, the Koreans played in red - the same colour as Middlesbrough - so the locals felt sympathy for them.