A Love Letter To Football: From The Terraces To A Transplant And Back Again is a book written by Boro fan Mark Davies. It’s a uniquely personal story of one man’s struggle for life, supported by his love of an connection to MFC, as Mark explains here…
I fell in love with Middlesbrough Football Club the moment I first set foot in Ayresome Park aged six in 1973. It’s a passion and connection which has never been more important to me than when I was diagnosed with myeloma, a rare and incurable type of blood cancer.
It was 2016 when I first got the news. So, as I celebrated with my sons as Boro won promotion, it almost felt like the football gods were smiling on me, trying to smooth a difficult journey.
Throughout the challenges I have faced – months of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, plus a long recovery – football, and Boro in particular, has been such a source of support and happiness: a distraction from difficult days.
Of course, it’s not enough to take away the physical and mental challenges something like this can cause. And the love of my family and friends has been the greatest source of support. But football can’t half make a difference when you are looking for something else to focus on.
The club itself – from the chairman to many others – has been amazing in supporting me. Hundreds of Boro fans have come forward with good wishes: and every single one makes a massive difference.
I’ve now written a book about how much it all means to me. I realised as I was recovering from treatment and coming to terms with the uncertainty I face living with an incurable cancer just how much Boro has helped keep me going in difficult times all my life.
It was when I was celebrating Josh Coburn’s goal against Spurs in 2022 that I decided to write about it. My son Alec and I were running around our living room in south-east London. He jumped up into my arms and I felt such an overpowering sense of joy. It made me think: what is it about this game and my love for Boro which can create such joy even in really hard times?
I felt the same way when Josh scored the other week at Watford. We were in the stands that day and it was just utter delirious delight. Just as it has been all my life through goals from Hickton, Slaven, Juninho, Maccarone and all the others. What a feeling.
Of course there are downs but, in a weird way, that helps too. Facing cancer needs balance – some of it is incredibly grim, of course. I try to be positive but it’s not always possible. I need to somehow balance hope with reality. That’s true of supporting Boro, too!
I am so honoured that Steve Gibson has written a foreword to my book: we will never be able to thank him enough for what he’s done for our club and his support for me and my family has been incredible. And the wonderful Juninho has also contributed a few words – apparently I made him cry, hopefully with happiness in reflecting on his Boro days. In addition, Neil Warnock, a man who many dislike like Marmite, who I think we owe a lot has also written about my journey.
Mainly, though, my book is about just how much I love our football club. It’s called A Love Letter To Football: From The Terraces To A Transplant And Back Again. It could be called A Letter To Middlesbrough Football Club because that’s what it is.
My mum took me to my first match in 1973. I can’t thank her enough for bringing the club into my life. I sometimes sigh and say how hard it is to follow the Boro. But the truth is I love the club to the very core of my being, and whatever happens in the future I have memories I can draw from to help me through whatever life throws at me.
I hope you enjoy the book and I hope it helps others facing similar challenges to mine. I’m always up for a chat with anyone facing difficult days like these.
Up the Boro!
Mark’s book is available in the club shop and on our online store. He will be signing copies in-store on Saturday between 1.30pm and 2.15pm before joining Gary Phillipson on stage in the FanZone.
You can find him on X at @markdavies67 or email mark.davies67@gmail.com