The start of Mark Schwarzer’s decade-long Middlesbrough career began at the 10,000 seat Edgeley Arena in February of 1997.
Making his first appearance in Boro red after moving from Bradford for £1.5 million, the then 24-year-old kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 League Cup semi-final win over Stockport County.
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Having toppled the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle along the way, Middlesbrough would go on to finish second in the 1996-97 tournament. With no penalty shootout rule in place, a 1-1 final against Leicester City would have to be replayed, where the Foxes would emerge with the decisive 1-0 victory.
They would again finish as runners-up in the next season’s tournament, although Schwarzer was still a key part of the team that would capture League Cup glory in 2004.
The iconic Australian goalkeeper would go onto record 367 appearances for the Boro, leaving in 2008 to join Fulham.
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