The club was saddened to learn of the passing of Derek McLean.
Industrious inside-forward McLean was in illustrious company as he broke into the first team back in the 1950s: he had come through the Boro junior ranks alongside Brian Clough and Alan Peacock.
The promising frontman, whose Boro Legacy Number is #397, made his debut at the tail end of the 1955/56 season in a 1-0 April defeat at home to Bristol Rovers. He netted for the first time in the next home game, a 4-2 win over Lincoln and finished that term with six appearances and two goals.
Popular McLean became a regular in the following campaign. He netted a useful 10 goals and with his unselfish application he helped set up a fair few of Clough’s 38 in 41 games as an adventurous Boro side finished sixth in Division Two. Reliable McLean got seven more as Boro finished seventh the year after.
After 123 games and 30 goals for Boro over nine seasons, he left for Hartlepool in 1961 and had three seasons there before retiring. He later became a bricklayer back in his native Brotton.
Derek passed away earlier this week at the age of 92. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.