Acklam lad and die-hard Boro fan Adrian Bevington is to stand down after 17 years at the heart of football’s governing body.
He started in football in the Boro press office when the club was still at Ayresome Park before making the move to London and the FA.
After cutting his teeth in the media office he climbed the FA ladder to become the managing director of Club England in 2010 and also to take executive responsibility for FA Group Communications in 2011.
That effectively put him in charge of the FA’s media management and all administration of the national sides and gave him a say in the selection of the England boss among other things.
His exit will be a loss to one of the highest profile and most scrutinised organisations in the country.
But could also be a big blow to Boro. His influence inside the FA has helped deliver a string of prestigious events to Teesside.
Pushing the Riverside’s case inside an often London-centric structure paved the way for England Under-21 and full internationals being hosted by Boro.
Now he will take some time out to consider his options and with an eye-catching CV and a fantastic contacts-book he won’t be short of offers at home and abroad.
“I’ve loved every minute at the FA and proud to have been involved in the game at such a high level,” he told the Gazette.
“It has been a privilege to work within a game that is also a great passion for me.
“I’ve been present at five World Cups and three European Championships with England, I’ve worked with seven or eight managers, been at some massive international events inside and outside football... that’s not anything I ever dreamed of as being possible and obviously I’m very grateful to have had the opportunities.
“And it has also been a privilege to do so many special things in partnership with Middlebrough Football Club, which is another great passion of mine.
“I have helped take the England Under-21 to the Riverside Stadium several times with another match against Germany still to come.
“And I helped take Team GB to the Riverside before the Olympics, which was a special and unique occasion.
“But probably the thing that made me most proud of all, was to help take the senior England team to play on Teesside in 2003. That was a real stand-out moment for me.
“The chance to watch the national team play on home soil was, I hope, special and memorable for Boro fans and to have played a role in facilitating that is something I can look back on with satisfaction.”
Having a Teessider in such a prominent position in the game was always going to come in useful. But was it problematic for Bevington to be so visibly a Boro fan.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I’ve never hidden my Teesside roots of my affiliations.
“Everyone in the organisation and I think everyone in the media, knows I am a born and bred Boro fan. I’ve never shied from that.
“I don’t think anyone involved in football should shy away from that, after all we are all football fans in the FA.
“Obviously if there was ever any issue where there was even the slightest perception of a conflict of interests I would stand aside so it was never a problem within the FA.
“And I never had any problems in dealing with Middlesbrough on any issue.
“In fact it has always been a pleasure.
“Boro, the club and the people there, have always been fantastic with me and very supportive whenever we have had dealings, whether that be with Steve Gibson - one of the best chairman in the game - or Neil Bausor who is doing an excellent job for the club or with Keith Lamb, formerly as CEO and now as a club director and FA board member has been a good friend and support over the years.
“It has always been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Boro.”
Now he will take a few weeks out to recharge his batteries before weighing up his options for the future.
And that could mean a rare window of opportunity to watch his home town team in action.
“Now I hope to get to a few more Boro games,” he admitted.
“It is common knowledge that I get to as many games as a I reasonably can anyway.
“I went to Ipswich and I certainly will have the opportunity to get to a few more now.”
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