Ten years ago Tom Ellison promised his Mackem-supporting mate he would wear a Sunderland top if the team ever got to a Wembley cup final
View gallery Boro fan Tom Ellison wears Sunderland top
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A lifelong Boro fan swapped his team’s colours for the red and white of Sunderland after the Wearsiders reached the Capital One cup final this month.
In 2004 Tom Ellison had promised his Mackem-supporting mate Bob Welsh that he would wear a Sunderland top if the team ever got to a Wembley cup final.
It was a pledge that Tom, from Billingham, thought he would never have to honour.
But when the Wearsiders reached this season’s Capital One cup final against Manchester City on 2nd March, he swallowed his pride and donned red and white for the entire weekend.
Tom, who went to his first Boro match in 1968, said: “Ten years ago, when Boro won the league cup final, Bob wore a Middlesbrough shirt to honour the occasion.
“Back then I said I’d wear a Sunderland shirt if his team ever got to Wembley, thinking it would never happen.
“When Sunderland beat Manchester United in the semi-final, I thought I’d better honour my pledge and I decided to raise some money for charity in the process. We received good support from friends and members of the Billingham Constitutional Club, where Bob and I drink, and altogether we raised £1,200 for Butterwick children’s hospice in Stockton.
“Bob also made sure he got plenty of photographic evidence to record the event!”
Despite their different footballing allegiances, Tom and Bob have forged a firm friendship.
Originally from Glasgow, Bob came to the North-east in 1969 and now lives in Billingham.
The 63 year-old runs the furniture department of the Boyes retail store in the town - a job that sees him work most Saturdays and restricts the number of Sunderland matches he can attend.
Tom, 61, regularly attends games at the Riverside but had to give up his season ticket after retiring from work.
“I used to be a carpet fitter but I don’t work now as I’ve had a hip replacement,” he said.
“Going to the matches was getting expensive. I still follow the Boro though - I’ve been a fan since the day I could walk.
“I won’t be wearing a Sunderland shirt again though. Two days was quite enough!”
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