STARTING INTHE MIDDLE’

Another chapter of the legendary Big Jack story comes under spotlight

THAT voice, so familiar and comforting to a generation of Irish football fans.

Jack Charlton is approaching the end of an extraordinary first season in the dugout and the BBC cameras are following him around Middlesbrough.

The folksy charm that earned him the love of this nation is evident from the start of the clip, as he explains why he opted to cut his managerial teeth at Ayresome Park.

“I think you’ve got to like the people you live among,” he says. “That was one of the reasons why I came back here. I like the people, they’re nice people.

“Once they accept you they will do anything in the world for you.”

The last line will resonate with anyone here who followed Big Jack’s Ireland for almost a decade of unparalleled success.

Next week, the Teessiders will celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Charlton’s Champions’ — when he guided the club to the Second Division title with 15 points to spare.

Some of the late manager’s players — including Graeme Souness, Jim Platt and Malcolm Smith — will attend a dinner at the Riverside to mark the occasion.

In modern currency, with three points for a win, Middlesbrough’s record 65-point haul in the 1973/74 campaign would equate to 92 points and the 15-point gap between them and second-placed Luton would be as wide as 23.

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It was an article on the Boro website advertising the dinner that led this reporter down a rabbit hole onYouTube, and to some wonderful footage of a 38-year-old Charlton at the start of his magical journey in management.

He went from Middlesbrough to Sheffield Wednesday to Newcastle and then, in 1986, to these shores.

As the late John Motson reports in another clip on Boro’s historic season 50 years ago: “Charlton’s arrival marked the start of the most successful period in Middlesbrough’s modern history.

“He made an immediate impact with his personality, his cute understanding of the game and his uncomplicated playing style. Teesside soon adopted the angular Tynesider, whose first season at Ayresome Park threatened to break all Second Division records, as Boro stormed to the championship.”

Charlton led his side to the top of the table in late September, with wins over Portsmouth, Crystal Palace, Carlisle and Bristol City.

And that’s where they stayed for the remainder of the season, clinching promotion halfway through March and then the title with eight games still to play.

Jim Platt, part of that Boro side, recalled how Charlton stamped his authority on the dressing room early on.

After kicking off with the Portsmouth win, they lost their first home match of the season against Fulham.

“After the loss to Fulham, Jack did his