‘A Noble Game Became Degraded”: The rise and fall of professional football in Middlesbrough, 1889-1894

This article examines the brief life of Middlesbrough Ironopolis Football Company Limited between its formation in 1889 and its subsequent liquidation in 1894. It was in 1889 that the membership of Middlesbrough Football Club acrimoniously split, leading to a breakaway club, Middlesbrough Ironopolis. As a consequence of Ironopolis turning professional, the ‘mother club’ did likewise. After a disastrous short spell in the Football League, Ironopolis folded. This left Middlesbrough the remaining senior club in the town but rather than replace Ironopolis in the professional ranks, it had already reverted back to amateur status.