Hellberg: disappointment has forged togetherness at the Riverside
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg says the turbulence of last season’s play-off saga could have broken the spirit at the Riverside but, instead, has left the club more united and better placed to challenge for promotion again.
Speaking to BBC Radio Tees ahead of the new Championship campaign, Hellberg described a season of extremes. The club missed out on automatic promotion by four points, won only two of their last 10 league games, and endured the controversy that followed the play-offs — a 0-0 draw with Southampton at the Riverside and a 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s which was then followed by Southampton’s removal from the competition.
The sequence sent Middlesbrough back to Wembley for a second chance, only for the club to lose the final 1-0 to Hull City. Hellberg accepted the campaign’s emotional strain but argued the experience had galvanised players and supporters alike.
"It is through difficult times that you grow; it's a cliche but it's true. It can break you if you don't use it in the right way but I see players and supporters growing together through it."
He added that the memories the group created would be motivating rather than damaging: "It was memories that I will never forget, that we created together and those memories drive you to be in that situation again. I think everyone feels it is possible for us to do something good."
Looking ahead to a new campaign
Middlesbrough begin the new season at a sold-out Riverside on Saturday against newly-promoted Lincoln City. The manager set out the aim plainly: to return to the tussles at the top of the Championship and, with the lessons learned, to do better when the stakes are highest.
Hellberg reflected on the fine margins that separated promotion from the rest of the pack. He said the team were aware of the work needed, but that the shared passion and increasing togetherness between the squad, staff and supporters had left the club in "a good place" to mount another challenge.
Facts from last season
The period that shaped the close of Middlesbrough’s campaign can be summarised in a few key outcomes, which underline the narrowness of the margins at this level of football.
- Missed automatic promotion by four points.
- Won two of the final 10 league matches.
- Play-off sequence: 0-0 draw at the Riverside with Southampton; 2-1 loss at St Mary’s; reinstated due to Southampton’s removal; 1-0 defeat to Hull City at Wembley.
| Key moment | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Final 10 league games | 2 wins |
| Automatic promotion | Missed by 4 points |
| Play-off final | 1-0 defeat to Hull City |
Local consequences and context
For Middlesbrough, promotion to the Premier League would have brought significant economic and social impacts for the town — increased national exposure, matchday revenue and the ripple effects for local businesses. While those benefits were not realised last season, the club’s rapid return to a sold-out Riverside for the new campaign shows continued appetite among supporters.
Hellberg’s message to the locality is one of resilience. He acknowledged the disappointment but emphasised that the shared experience had strengthened the relationship between the team and its supporters, a bond he believes can be channelled into a fresh bid for top-flight football.
As the season begins, attention in Middlesbrough will be focused on whether the unity the manager describes can be translated into consistency on the pitch. The initial test is Lincoln City at the Riverside, and supporters will be hoping the lessons of last season help their side avoid the late wobble that cost them previously.
Whatever the results, Hellberg’s assessment makes clear that, in his view, the club has emerged from its play-off rollercoaster more robust — and that the experience could be the foundation for another serious push for promotion.
