That is the question being asked by Boro defender David Wheater. The Times reports that Wheater, a Boro lad born and bred, is the star of a video email being sent out to every Boro fan in Christendom to try and lure supporters back to the Riverside; in it Wheaton says:
“I know you love the Boro, I know you still care about the team and you know that I do too, I have supported them all my life. I am so proud to pull on the shirt and play for this club, and I am not afraid to show it. There is still a long way to go this season and I can’t wait to take on Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea and to know that you are all behind me. You, sitting here in the ground week after week, can make all the difference, the noise, the passion and the atmosphere. I know you want it,”
So will this be enough to turn around shrinking attendances at the Riverside, against Arsenal – surely a huge game – only 26,428 of a 35,100 seats were filled – but Boro hope to increase attendances with a full scale campaign – including £9 tickets for under-11’s. Any increased attendances will hopefully have the effect of enabling Steve Gibson to give Gareth Southgate some more dosh to play with in January…