Lifelong Middlesborough fan Ian Pearson, 75, a resident at Ingleby Care Home in Ingleby Barwick, has urged his side to “keep calm” ahead of a crunch promotion match on Monday.

Pearson was at The Riverside on Wednesday to see Boro secure a Championship play-ff spot but now wants his team to secure automatic promotion with a win against Luton Town next week.

The 75-year-old said: “Luton Town drew their match, which was good for us, but the Boro players need to keep calm when we play Luton on Monday. Keep believing in themselves and we’ll get that promotion spot.”

Kirsty O’Connor, a fellow dyed in the wool fan, and activities coordinator at Hill Care’s Ingleby Care Home, attended the match with Pearson.

She said: “Ian told me that the last time he went to see the team play was many moons ago and we got beat one-nil. 

“He didn’t know if he was jinxed when we went one-nil down, but he jumped up and hugged me with a great big smile on his face three times in the space of six minutes as the team scored.”

The opportunity to attend the Hull match came from the Hill Care Group’s partnership with the MFC Foundation.

Pupils from the Foundation’s National Citizenship Service (NCS) have spent time at various Hill Care homes across Teesside – including Ingleby – renovating their gardens, playing games and conversing with residents, and raising money for the residents’ funds, which help pay for activities and outings.

O’Connor said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the MFC Foundation for sending us tickets to Boro v Hull. I’ve been a fan forever and it was amazing to share that with Ian. We both had an amazing time. Our fingers are crossed for another win on Monday when we play Luton.”