Boro chairman Steve Gibson is being honoured with an OBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List for services to economy, sport, and the community.





It is a major accolade for one of the most respected figures in British football who is widely celebrated for the success and stability he has brought to Middlesbrough FC since helping to rescue the club from liquidation in 1986.





Steve Gibson is a passionate supporter of Teesside and Middlesbrough Football Club and it is his energy, drive and vision that has made the club what it is today.





He became our youngest-ever director at the age of 26 and in the dark days of 1986 he formed the consortium that rescued Boro from financial ruin. In 1994, he somewhat reluctantly succeeded Colin Henderson as Chairman.





It was Mr Gibson's vision that saw Boro leave Ayresome Park for the new all-seater Riverside Stadium in 1995, and his appointment of Bryan Robson as manager helped launch the 'Riverside Revolution', which saw Boro achieve three Wembley cup final appearances within 12 months during 1997 and 1998. He also helped to bring some of the biggest names in world football to the Riverside Stadium.





Mr Gibson's generous investment was rewarded when Boro won their first major trophy, the Carling Cup, in 2004 and no-one was prouder when during the club's second season in Europe they reached the UEFA Cup final, beating heavyweights such as Roma and Steaua Bucharest along the way.





His passion and commitment burned as fiercely as ever in his successful efforts to return Middlesbrough Football Club to the Premier League.





He has always insisted that Middlesbrough Football Club should be a beacon of excellence for the local Teesside community and is immensely proud of the work we perform our charitable trust, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation.





Mr Gibson is also managing director of international tank container services company Bulkhaul, which he began in his early twenties by borrowing £1,000 from his father. The firm specialises in transporting chemicals around the world and has grown to become one of the UK's top private companies.



