Arriva officially unveil Middlesbrough FC buses

Arriva North East joined forces with two special guests to unveil 11 buses named after Middlesbrough Football Club legends this week.

Former Middlesbrough player, Bernie Slaven, and Jennifer Hardwick, wife of former Middlesbrough captain, the late George Hardwick, were on-hand as the names of the buses, from the past and the present, were revealed at a special ceremony at Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium on Thursday 19 April

The winning names were selected following an appeal by Arriva for local football supporters to nominate their best-ever line up. The players who received the most votes were honoured by having one of the buses named after them.

Nigel Featham, managing director of Arriva North East, said: “We are delighted to have officially unveiled the fleet of 11 buses, which will operate in the heartland of Middlesbrough.

“We know that many of our passengers are passionate about football and could not think of a more fitting way to mark their introduction to our 27 service than to honour our local legends.”

Manager Tony Mowbray said: “It is a real honour to have been named by the people of Middlesbrough in their greatest-ever XI. There are some fantastic players in the line-up, people I have the utmost respect for such as Wilf Mannion.

“Although it’s an unusual accolade, I’m proud to be associated with such illustrious players by being named on one of Arriva’s 11 legend buses.”

The 11 winning names that were selected following the appeal, which ran from November last year to January this year, are: Mark Schwarzer, George Hardwick, Gareth Southgate, Tony Mowbray, Gary Parkinson, Graeme Souness, Bryan Robson, Wilf Mannion, Craig Hignett, Brian Clough and Bernie Slaven.

The service 27 operates between Netherfields, Middlesbrough and Marton. The vehicles have low floors to enable easy access and are fitted with the latest Euro 5 engines, making them more economical and environmentally-friendly.