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The football community joined forces on Monday night to pay a moving tribute to BBC Tees commenator Ali Brownlee.

Three minutes into the second half of Boro’s Championship clash with Leeds, the visiting supporters at Elland Road began singing ‘there’s only one Ali Brownlee ’ and activated the torches on their mobile phones.

An image of Ali was displayed on the stadium’s big screen and, within moments of the tribute beginning, many Leeds supporters paid their respects by applauding loudly or switching on their own phones to shine a light.

What made the moment particularly poignant is the fact that there’s little love lost between the two sets of fans.

But, like the impromptu Christmas Day armistice in No Man’s Land during World War One, both sides set aside their mutual antipathy to celebrate the life of one of their own.

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Thanks to social media, many Leeds fans would have been aware of Ali’s passing and, even if they weren’t personally familiar with his commentaries, they recognised that an important member of the northern football family had passed away, regardless of his club loyalties.

It wasn’t the first time the two sets of supporters had come together for the common good.

Back in December 1989, there was a serious, potentially fatal, crush in the away ‘pen’ at Ayresome Park during a second tier game between Boro and Leeds.

Already full to capacity, the police decided to move visiting fans from ‘home’ areas of the stadium into a section of terracing already full to capacity.

It was just eight months after the Hillsborough tragedy so fans were alert to the danger of overcrowding. Forcing more fans into that section led to a crush and, because of the high fences topped by rotating spikes at Ayresome Park, escape was nigh on impossible.

From my vantage point in the Holgate End it was clear something was wrong because Boro fans high up in the stand behind the opposite goal were indicating to the police and stewards that many fans in the away terrace were in danger of being crushed.

Eventually, the gates were opened and supporters were able to escape. As those fans were marched to an empty section of terracing they turned to the Boro fans and applauded them. The gesture was reciprocated and, for a brief moment, the rivalry was put on hold.

The point is, when it counts, football fans put petty differences aside and join together for the greater good.

Supporters are often criticised and rarely praised, which is a surprise when you consider the vast majority peacefully attend matches week-in, week-out, spending a huge amount of cash doing so.

Without them football would be nothing.

Ali Brownlee was a football fan first and foremost and, while he certainly had no love for Leeds United, he would have greatly appreciated Monday’s tribute at Elland Road.