Flying the flags: Celebrating Teesside’s global connections
Walk through Middlesbrough Football Club’s Fan Zone this season and you’ll notice something new.
A series of flags now line the space, each representing a country with a connection to both Middlesbrough Football Club and the Tees Valley’s maritime industry.
At first glance, it might seem an unusual combination.
But spend a few moments looking a little closer and the connection becomes obvious.
For generations, the River Tees has connected this region with the rest of the world. From steel and chemicals to renewable energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing, the products made on Teesside have travelled far beyond our shores, supporting industries, economies and communities across the globe.
Today, those connections are as important as ever.
The ports on the River Tees handle millions of tonnes of cargo every year, linking businesses across the region with international markets and supporting thousands of jobs throughout the wider supply chain. Maritime is one of the foundations of the Tees Valley economy, even if much of what it does happens behind the scenes.
Middlesbrough Football Club tells a similar story.
Throughout its history, the club has welcomed players from around the world. They arrive from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, but all become part of the same team, united by a shared purpose and a shared community.
That parallel inspired this project.
Each flag celebrates a country that has played a part in both stories, representing nations we trade with through our ports and nations whose players have worn the famous red shirt.
Together, they create a visual reminder that Teesside has always been outward-looking. Ours is a region built on connections, whether through trade, industry, sport or the people who choose to make this place their home.
The project was delivered in partnership with Middlesbrough FC Foundation, with special thanks to Paul Shepherd and, of course, Roary for their enthusiasm and support throughout. We’d also like to thank our members and Middlesbrough Council, whose backing helped bring the idea to life.
For Tees Maritime, the flags are only the beginning.
Working with Andrew Stogdale and the team at Spark Tees Valley, we are now developing an education programme that will take this project into schools across the region.
Using the flags as a starting point, young people will explore how football, global trade and the maritime industry are connected. They’ll learn about the countries represented, the goods moving through our ports, the industries that power our local economy and, most importantly, the career opportunities available here on Teesside.
It is another example of what Tees Maritime is here to do.
By bringing together industry, education, local government and community partners, we can create projects that encourage people to see the region in a different way. Projects that celebrate our heritage while inspiring the next generation to be part of its future.
The flags may brighten the Fan Zone on matchdays, but their purpose reaches much further than football.
They are a reminder that Teesside has always been connected to the world, and that the opportunities created by those connections continue to shape our future today.
https://www.magzter.com/stories/newspaper/The-Gazette/BANNERS-CELEBRATE-TOWNS-GLOBAL-REACH
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/flag-project-near-riverside-stadium-153637418.html