Boro defender stars in video push to woo fans

The 20-year-old local boy is spearheading a recruitment drive as Boro try to fill the stadium once again following Sunday's superb victory over Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Watch the video

In a video message e-mailed to 25,000 current and former supporters, Redcar-born Wheater says: "I know you love the Boro, I know you still care about the team and you know that I do too.

"I have supported them all my life. I am so proud to pull on a shirt and play for this club, and I am not afraid to show it.

"There is still a long way to go this season and some big games.

"I can't wait to take on Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest, to show them what we are capable of.

"And when I have run my guts out for 70 minutes and I am faced with (Steven) Gerrard or (Cristiano) Ronaldo, I know there is nothing better than to get stuck in and to that you are all behind me.

"It gives me the extra push to tear right through them and win the ball.

"You, sitting here in the ground week after week, can make all the difference, the noise, the passion and the atmosphere. I have even saved you a seat.

"I know you want to."

The video is part of a major push to address dwindling attendances at the Riverside, which in turn affect chairman Steve Gibson's ability to back manager Gareth Southgate's attempts to strengthen his squad with hard cash.

In addition, Boro are trying to woo a new generation of supporters by introducing tickets for just £9 for under-11s accompanied by an adult, a reduction of as much as £13 in some areas of the stadium.

The new charges will come into effect for Everton's trip to Teesside on New Year's Day.

A crowd of just 26,428 - around 8,000 under capacity - witnessed the morale-boosting victory over the Gunners last weekend, and the 30,000-mark has been broken just once during the current campaign, for the derby clash with Sunderland on September 22.

Gibson said: "Middlesbrough FC exists for the people of Teesside, not just on matchday, but also through the largest community-based football scheme in the UK.

"Last year, our community work in such areas as health, lifestyle and entry to employment touched the lives of more than 30,000 of the region's young people.

"We want everyone, especially our youngest fans, to feel they can be part of this football club and what we are trying to achieve.

"We believe our new pricing structure will make Middlesbrough FC more accessible to many more of our young supporters."

The initiative will come as good news to Southgate, who knows only too well the importance of filling the stadium, not only because of the atmosphere that brings, but also how it could help him in the transfer market.

He said: "A full ground helps the team, and it helps the club if we want to bring better players to the club, both in terms of them wanting to play in front of a full house and giving us the revenue to go and buy better players.

"Even if you cannot fill the ground, you need the atmosphere within the ground to be as intimidating for the opposition as possible and totally with the home side.

"That's what we want to create. No matter who is the manager or who the players are, the club is the most important thing and creating a good atmosphere in the ground is something any club need to be successful."