9th tier club Boro Rangers faces uncertain times with the devastating prospect of folding, as chairman and secretary Mark Curtis steps down.
The Northern League Division One side, who lost to Shildon in the playoff semi final in April, confirmed Curtis was leaving from roles with the men’s first team, but will stay on with the club’s junior sides.
He said the decision came down to personal factors and said they are facing a potential closure of the senior team unless they can receive support, including new sponsors and financial investment (see more at towards the bottom of the article).
😔 Boro Rangers have enjoyed a remarkable rise over the course of the last decade – but now the men’s first team, who play in the Northern League, face a fight for survival and the very real and ‘devastating’ prospect of having to fold | @bororangers pic.twitter.com/JArUr4VZXx
— Dominic Shaw (@DomShawEcho) June 21, 2026
A club statement on social media read: We can confirm that Chairman and Secretary Mark Curtis has decided to step down from both roles with our Men’s First team only, with immediate effect. Mark will continue in both roles for the 86 Boro Rangers Juniors sides as normal.
Mark stated, “A culmination of many different factors, which I’d respectfully prefer not to share, have ultimately resulted in me making such a difficult decision – a decision that most certainly has not been made lightly.
I wish to place on record my thanks to Ben Wheatley and all of his management team for their hard work and dedication over 12 years – we’ve all become friends for life.
I also want to thank all players (past and present), sponsors, volunteers and supporters, without whom we wouldn’t have shared such an incredible journey together; from the bottom Division of the old Teesside League, to back-to-back play-off semi-finalists in Northern League Division One.
I wish everybody involved with our Men’s First team every success in the future, as they now operate with a model that most other Clubs already have in place – with a separate Committee that simply concentrates on one team only.”
As we now look to remain and move forward as the only Northern League team in Middlesbrough, we are now in the process of seeking new sponsors and financial investment for the upcoming season(s).
Without this key investment, there is a danger that our Men’s First Team will not be able to continue.
We are also looking to recruit new volunteers to help us fill the void Mark is leaving, including helping to manage Phoenix Park on a matchday.
If this is something you are interested in, please get in touch with us as soon as possible by messaging us on our social media platforms or emailing us at brmensinfo@gmail.com.
Thank you.
Manager Ben Wheatley said, as per the Northern Echo: “It’s a really difficult and uncertain time.
“One minute you’re planning for the season coming, we’ve spoken to players and lined up our targets, and then the next thing we’re told the team might fold.
“As a club, we’ve been heading in the right direction. Obviously we’ve done well on the pitch and our attendances have been improving. We always knew we’d have to build patiently but it was going in the right direction, with more and more people coming down and hopefully that was going to continue this year.
“Now the statement is out there and we’re trying to generate some interest and support, it’s just the waiting game. In an ideal world, we’re planning for next season now and signing players, but that’s the last thing on our mind now. The focus is obviously all on trying to keep the team going.
“We’ve come so far over the course of the last 12 years, and there are still plenty of lads involved who were there right at the start. We’ve had setbacks along the way, obviously, but we’ve done so well to get to where we are now. We’re just all desperate to keep the side going.”
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Here’s how fans reacted as the 9th tier club faces uncertain times with the “devastating” prospect of folding…
Nikki Hetherington: This is a Northern League team, the running costs that come into play at this level are unbelievable. The players are paid to play football! Refs and linesmen/women. Hospitality for away team committee. Players from both teams plus officials have to have food provided after the game. Away games need a coach providing for the players. The amounts seem high but the cost of running a team at Northern League is also really high
Stuart Myers: Wow, shocked at that.
Darren Roulston: Stuart Myers ye big surprise mate especially for the lads who have put so much effort in
Ste Loughran: Thanks Mark for everything we have achieved as a club and memories on and off the park. If you are a local company and would like to be involved please get in touch , or would like to volunteer UTBR ♥️⚽️
David Leopard: Great set up for the right person to get involved and help a great set of lads utbr
@JayLad1923: Rising bills and players wanting silly wages when they aren’t professionals. It’s killing the only working mens football we have left. Been through this with Synners and it’s not nice. I wish the best for Boro Rangers.
@NEFootballHub: The season has not yet started, and already there is a fear that we could lose one of our sides. Investment is urgently needed for Boro Rangers. Without it, there is a very real prospect of the club folding. I hate having to write tweets like this. We lost two teams just last season ☹️
