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Former Boro boss Steve McClaren was among the guests at a dinner marking 10 years since the club’s Carling Cup triumph.

McClaren, who led Boro to the only major silverware in the club’s history, returned to the Riverside Stadium last night for the sell-out gala occasion.

Interviewed by Riverside matchday announcer Mark Page, the Derby County boss described how he built a cup team, how he missed the first goal while he was getting his tracksuit on, wishing the players had had more time to enjoy the moment, and the subsequent European campaigns.

He also mentioned the moment he became aware of chairman Steve Gibson's focus on cup competitions.

"I made a fatal error in putting a weakened side out against Ipswich and we got beat," he recalled last night.

"It was the first time I saw Steve Gibson get angry because cups were very important to him."

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McClaren wasn’t the only Cardiff “veteran” to talk in the Legends Lounge last night.

From the playing staff, Dutch midfielder George Boateng turned out and French full-back Franck Queudrue travelled over from France to be involved.

Queudrue talked about the strength of the Boro cup-winning defence, among other things, while Boateng recalled the impact of a pre-match viewing of a section of the Al Pacino film Any Given Sunday and the importance of Doriva and Bolo Zenden to the side.

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Also in attendance, from the 2004 coaching staff that McClaren paid tribute to, were goalkeeping coach Paul Barron, assistant manager Steve Harrison and sports psychologist Bill Beswick.

For McClaren, who is currently managing Derby County’s promotion charge, it was great to be back.

And in a special moment, he got his hands on the replica of the Carling Cup the club keeps on display at the stadium.

McClaren said: “It’s incredible to think it’s already a decade since that great day in Cardiff. The years have flown by.

“I retain very special memories of the cup final, the post-match celebrations and of course the wonderful victory parade.

"It’s been great to see everybody again, to relive not just the day but the years too.

“I loved my time at Middlesbrough and am proud to have played my part in their history, as I’m sure are all the others.”

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The sell-out dinner, organised by the Middlesbrough Former Players Association in conjunction with Middlesbrough FC, drew 200 fans to the Legends Lounge.

But it could have sold out several times over, such was the eagerness of Boro fans to remember surely the greatest day in the club’s history.

Paddy Cronesberry, of the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters Association, was there.

And among those representing the former players were Jim Platt, Alan Peacock, Steve Vickers, Bernie Slaven and association chairman Gordon Jones.

The night was hosted by radio presenter Mark and included a raffle and auction.

Proceeds will go to the former players association, which keeps ex-players in contact with each other and helps those who may have fallen on difficult times, and its two main charities - the Zoe’s Place baby hospice in Normanby and the Butterwick Hospice in Stockton.

Read all of the Gazette's Boro Carling Cup Win 10th anniversary coverage