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Boro waved off at airport for play-off final

Stuart Whincup,at Teesside International Airportand
Pamela Tickell,North East and Cumbria
News imageBBC Crowds of three deep stand behind a barrier in the airport to greet Middlesbrough players. One woman wearing a white dress is getting her red and white flag signed by player Hayden Hackney, who is wearing a black shirt and shorts. There is a sign on the wall behind them that reads: "Departures."BBC
The team stopped to greet fans on their way to the capital

Middlesbrough received a warm send-off from fans at Teesside International Airport, as the team headed to London for the Championship play-off final.

Boro are surprise competitors in Saturday's match against Hull City for a place in the Premier League, after Southampton were earlier expelled for spying on other clubs' training sessions.

Fans gathered said there had been ups and downs on the journey there, but Middlesbrough had "come out in force, they always do, that's what Teesside's all about".

Manager Kim Hellberg also praised the "amazing" fans, thousands of whom were embarking on their own journeys to the capital, and said he knew they would "run to the game if it was possible".

The club announced all 35,984 of its allocated tickets had sold out.

News imageA crowd of people, three or four deep, stand behind a barrier in the airport to greet Middlesbrough players. Dael Fry, who is wearing a grey jumper and black short, is slightly bent over to pose for a photo with a person in a wheelchair who has mid-length dark purple hair.
Middlesbrough travelled to London on Friday afternoon
News imageRussell Willis is wearing a red and white Middlesbrough top and has both thumbs up while smiling at the camera. He is bald and has tattoos up the length of his forearms. There is a line of people waiting in the airport behind hi, but they are out of focus.
Russell Willis said it felt like Boro's year

One of the fans waving the team off said: "It's amazing, isn't it?

"The journey that they've been on, and the ups and downs, it's just great for the whole region."

Fan Russell Willis said: "The chances we've had, I feel we've had nine lives and I just think this time, is it meant to be?

"We could win, you know. I think this season, it could be our year."

Another fan added : "I lost sleep to be honest with you, I just can't wait to get it all over with.

"I just hope they can get the result done."

News imageA dozen Middlesbrough players and team members stand at the check-in desks at the airport. The desks are numbered one to six, and a display underneath has the club's crest and the words: "We shall be." The team are wearing a mix of grey and black uniforms.
Middlesbrough were last-minute competitors in the play-off finals
News imageA team member is crouched in front of a deep crowd at the airport and is signing a red flag for a young fan, while other youngsters in both blue and red Middlesbrough kits look on. The player has short, curly dark hair and is wearing a grey shirt.
Boro's allocated tickets for the match at Wembley had sold out, the club said

Meanwhile, former Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick said he would love to see the team promoted.

Carrick, who now manages Manchester United, said the players "gave everything for me when I was there, the ones that were there".

"So to see them have success and end up in the Premier League, I would take a lot of pride in that."

Kick-off is at 15:30 BST on Saturday.

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