Teesside beamed with pride on this day in 2005 as Boro-born wing wizard Stewart Downing made his England debut.
Young, gifted, exciting and playing for the national team. And he belonged to Boro!
When the 20-year-old flanker was brought off the bench in the 61st minute of the friendly against Holland, he became the first Middlesbrough-born player to be capped while still playing for Boro since Alan Peacock 43 years earlier.
If anyone deserved to put an end to that long wait it was Downing.
The fearless winger had burst on to the Premier League scene, frightening the life out of defences up and down the country.
England had been crying out for a natural left-sided midfield player. It was only a matter of time until Downing got the call.
The butterflies were undoubtedly fluttering around Downing’s stomach but the youngster put in an assured display as he made his bow on the international stage.
Now it was a case of building on that and making sure he became a regular in the England set-up.
Asked if he’s ready for another run-out at that level, Downing replied: “Definitely, why not?
“But I have to keep working hard and doing the business in the Premiership.
“You’ve got to make that adjustment but I thought I did OK.
“I’m not just a one-cap wonder, I hope there’s some more to come and hopefully I’ll keep playing well for Boro.”
If Downing needed any injection of confidence after his debut, he will have got it in the form of David Beckham’s post-match comments.
“Andy Johnson and Stewart Downing - what they are doing for their clubs is very good and I’m sure they will get another chance,” said the skipper.
“The manager won’t just give them one chance, but as many chances as it takes.”
Downing took those chances and went on to establish himself as a regular in Sven’s squads.
Even the best efforts of the national press who quickly installed Boro’s flanker as the new scapegoat wouldn’t dislodge him from Sven’s party of players.
A decade on and Downing is an experienced campaigner on the international stage - even if he did have a two year hiatus during a tough spell at Liverpool.
He’s since added 34 more caps to the one he picked up 10 years ago today.
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