As Boro travel to Vale Park for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, here's a look back at a match against the same opponents which proved to be one of the most important in our history.
Summer 1986 painted a bleak picture for bankrupt Boro.
The gates to Ayresome Park were locked shut, and the club had been set an ultimatum by the football league - fulfil the opening day fixture against Port Vale or face expulsion from the Third Division.
Led by Steve Gibson, a deal to save the club was thrashed out with just minutes to spare. Neighbouring Hartlepool United agreed to host Boro's match against Vale, with kick-off shifted to shortly after their own game against Cardiff City earlier in the day.
Boro boss Bruce Rioch had just about 11 players to choose from, though the starting line-up that day - Pears, Laws, Cooper, Mowbray, Gill, Parkinson, Slaven, Stephens, Hamilton, Kernaghan, Ripley - would form the backbone of a resurgent team that rose rapidly through the divisions.
The Teessiders raced into a two-goal lead against Port Vale thanks to a brace from striker Archie Stephens, who at 32 was very much the veteran of the side. The second was a sumptuous volley which Stephens would later describe as the best of his career.
As the match wore on, Port Vale's more proper pre-season preparations started to tell against tiring Boro, with the visitors striking back to claim a 2-2 draw.
For Boro, though, the worst was over, and the stage was set for a special season.