The people of Middlesbrough turned out in numbers to welcome the second Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiments, The Green Howards, back to Middlesbrough in a Freedom Parade earlier this month.
The troops have recently served in Afghanistan during a six month tour and were invited to parade their new colours, as they received a hero's welcome from their hometown.
The parade began at the Albert Park gates near the Dorman Museum at 10.30am on Tuesday the 22nd June. People lined the streets as the troops were lead by the band of the King's Divsion, and marched down Linthorpe Road into Grange Road, left onto Albert Road before arriving in Centre Square outside Middlesbrough's historic Town Hall to be inspected by Mayor Ray Mallon.
On arrival in the square, the troops were noisily greeted by local school children who were invited, clapping and cheering and waving banners reading 'Welcome Home'.
The Bishop of Whitby and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire John Foster were also in attendance.
Mr Mallon made a speech before reading some of the messages written by the soldiers' children.
Speaking prior to the event, Mr Mallon said: "Middlesbrough has many proud and historic links with our Armed Forces and many of the troops serving with the Yorkshire Regiment and especially the 2nd Battalion come from the Middlesbrough area.
"We're delighted and proud to welcome them back as a Battalion and a regiment to Middlesbrough for the Freedom Parade.
"They have shown considerable bravery and professionalism in seeing through a very tough and risky task.
"I'd like the whole town to turn out along the route or in Centre Square on Tuesday and give our troops a real Middlesbrough welcome"
Following the parade, the troops were treated to a five star buffet in the Town Hall and the chance to mingle with Middlesbrough dignitaries.
Mr Mallon added: "These men and women do some of the toughest jobs imaginable in some of the most dangerous and inhospitable environments on the planet.
"It's only right that we should welcome them back as a town and show our genuine appreciation of the work they are doing to make the world a safer place for all of us.
"That's why I want Middlesbrough to be a Forces Friendly Town, and one that is proud of our servicemen and women.
"Everyone can play their part, from men, women and children turning out to show their support, to employers having the flexibility to allow people to attend.
"It might be that shops and restaurants in the town could offer a discount to Battalion members - I look forward to hearing the ideas that individuals and businesses put forward."
Battalion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel David Colthup said: "The 2 YORKS are a light role infantry unit who have traditionally recruited from the Middlesbrough area.
"The Battalion recently returned from Afghanistan having completed an arduous six-month operational tour where its role was to train and mentor the Afghan National Army throughout Helmand province.
"The Parade is an opportunity to show an appreciation to the public of Middlesbrough who have so wholeheartedly supported the battalion whilst it was deployed."
Many of the troops are Middlesbrough born and bred, and, as such, support their local team.
But what is it like to be a Boro fan in the forces? Pretty much exactly the same as it is for the civilian Boro fans. Occasional highs, rose tinted spectacles at the beginning of a new campaign and, last season and the season before, excruciating, crushing disappointment!
ComeOnBoro.Com's Elle Brunton reports:
One of the sergeants (a Leeds fan!) rounded up a couple of 'Boro boys' for me and instructed them to answer my questions. "They are yours until you choose to release them!" he told me.
All the troops I spoke to agreed that there was 'no point' in having a season ticket, as they are simply not home for enough of the season to make it worthwhile, but they try to keep up with all the latest transfer news, as well as the scores of course and credited messageboards and football sites, like ComeOnBoro.com, with keeping them up to date with all the latest Boro news.
One of the troops, Ross Willis said: "I go to most games, when I'm home.
"I'm a member of the Red Faction, so I go to as many games as I can.
"I was away but managed to catch the last games of the season."
Speaking about the World Cup and England's recent performances he remarked "I think they are worse than Middlesbrough!"
However Willis is optimistic about Middlesbrough's chances of promotion this season, "As long as we can keep McManus its looking like we'll do well." he said.
Predicably the boys were very excited by the prospect of renewing old rivalries with Leeds United, who Boro play at Elland Road on New Years' Day.
"That'll be a great game!"
Willis' family live in Redcar and like all good Boro fans, he has a tenuous link to 'Big Davey Wheater'.
"My sister always sees Wheater driving around Redcar!" he said.
The soldiers all had their favourite players, both past present, with Tony Mowbray, Gary O'Neil and David Wheater all getting a vote each.
Craig Johnson told me that the best match he went to last season was Boro's FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, even though he had taken his young son who was cold and started crying 46 minutes into the match!
Sadly he was not being ironic, as he was on a tour during the beginning of the season and therefore missed our early triumphs such as the 3-1 win over Ipswich.
So he's inflicting the same suffering of supporting the Boro onto his son then?
"Yes, I'm training him early!"
Johnson usually sits in the front row, but "moves about" the stadium and feels that although the players need some more support, such as that show by the town towards the troops in the parade, the players have to understand that they need to earn it.
When I asked if following his local team gave him something else to think about on his tours he said wistfully "Yeah, and my dad sends the Gazette as often as he can, so I know what's going on."
Liam Lawlor, added: "I'm looking forward to next season, I've been reading the papers and it looks like we have a bit of money, so we should be alright.
Lawlor's favourite player is Wheater because "He's a good Redcar lad!"
Another soldier, Simon Coulton, had the old Boro badge tattooed on his right arm and was disgruntled that "The useless bastards changed it!"
"Oi, your'e a Boro fan aren't ya?" he enquired of a soldier who was passing on route to the food. The soldier, later named as Reginald Gill, looked vaguely disgusted, laughed and wandered off.
"He was in training with me, explained Coulton, "he's from Belize, so I gave him my Boro top and told him we were a really good side. But now he knows better he won't support us!"
It's good to see the lads are doing their bit to recruit new fans!
Other than cheekily asking if I could organise free tickets (no chance, sorry guys!) , the troops were unanimous in the view that they are Boro supporters for life, wherever their jobs take them.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 30/6/2010
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