An example of a Japanese comic or "Manga". The character on the right is a "catgirl", a common kind of character in manga.

Middlesbrough is turning Japanese for a special comics and cartoons convention this summer.

Hundreds of fans are expected to descend on the town when it plays host to the North East Manga & Anime Convention (Nemacon).

The convention will be devoted to animation and comics from Japan, a country known for its love of cartoons.

The Nemacon will feature screenings of Japanese animation, better known as “anime”, which will include special screenings of famous anime movies at the Cineworld off Marton Road.

There will also be masterclasses in drawing Japanese style comics, known as “manga”, which will be given by manga artists Emma Vieceli and Sonia Leong.

The two artists are best known for creating manga versions of Shakespeare. They have turned classic plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and A Midsummer Nights Dream into comics.

One of the biggest events planned is the “cosplay masquerade”. Cosplay is where anime and manga fans dress up in costume as their favourite characters, or dress as their own creations.

Nemacon first began as a meet-up of fans of manga publisher Tokyopop at the old Borders shop in Teesside Park in 2008. A similar event took place in 2009, but numbers were limited due to health and safety. The Nemacon has been created to cope with the demand.

The Town Hall and Central Library are to the host the Nemacon between 19th-20th June.

Tickets costing £15 can be brought from the Town Hall box office directly or over the phone on 01642 729729. More information can be found on the convention’s website, www.nemacon.org.

A Frustrated Gordon Strachan

MIDDLESBROUGH’S DREAMS OF a play-off place were dealt another blow after a 1-1 draw away to Watford this afternoon.

A 19th minute volley from ex-Boro striker John Eustace opened the scoring after Middlesbrough failed to clear their lines from a corner.

The introduction of Leroy Lita in the second half proved fruitful for Gordon Strachan’s side as he latched onto Julio Arca’s saved shot to head home a 55th minute equaliser and his ninth goal of the season.

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan said: “I thought we played non-risk football in the first half but we need to learn when to play it, as we found out when we took a few more risks in the second half the game came a lot easier.

“We need to play braver football.”

Boro were lucky to come away with a point as Heidar Helguson stabbed a Tom Cleverley cross wide in the closing minutes.

Boro Captain Gary O’Neil added: “We’ve had too many days like today, it’s just not good enough.”

Chances were few and far between for the visitors with Leroy Lita’s goal the only shot on target for Boro in 90 minutes.

Leroy Lita Celebrating A Goal Earlier This Season

With Cardiff winning away to Crystal Palace earlier on in the day it leaves Middlesbrough eight points adrift of the play-offs with 6 games remaining.

After last weeks win against Preston many fans hoped this would kickstart a push for promotion but with Boro still not recording a win away from home since 26th January another season in the Championship looks likely.

Alastair Brownlee, BBC Radio Tees Commentator on his radio show after the game commented: “The next 12 months are vital.”

TEAM v Watford

Jones

Hoyte

Taylor

McManus

Williams

Wheater

O’Neil

Robson

Arca (Franks,84)

Killen

Miller (Lita,50)

Next game for Middlesbrough is at home to Crystal Palace next Saturday.

Dr Ashok Kumar

Dr Kumar’s body was discovered by a workman early this morning who had been sent to his house on Canberra Road, after worried staff at his constituency office had stuggled to contact him.

A police spokesman said: “At this stage it is too early to say whether the death is being treated as suspicious and inquiries are ongoing.”

Condolences have been pouring in for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP  since staff at his office confirmed the news at two ‘o clock this afternoon.

Stockton MP Frank Cook said: “This is a sad and shocking loss for those of us who worked with him and for the people of his constituency for whom he worked tirelessly.”

The Speaker of the House Of Commons broke the news to the assembled MP’s in Westminister at the start of business today, inviting all the members of the house to join him in mourning Dr Kumar and extending symapthy to his family and friends.

Just two weeks ago, the MP recently gave his support to the TSide Make your Mark campaign. He said: “If young people care about education, health or the direction you want our country to take, it is important you Make your Mark and have your say at the general election.”

Before moving into politics Dr Kumar was a well respected research scientist at British Steel. He was also passionate about saving Teesside’s steel industry.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Things are looking up at the Riverside

Gordon Strachan’s revolution is beginning to take shape after he strengthened his squad by bringing in players he feels can be effective as Boro push for a place in the play-offs.

Australian forward Scott McDonald will be hoping to find his scoring touch playing alongside fellow new signings Chris Killen, Willo Flood and Barry Robson.  Boro also secured the loan signings of Kyle Naughton and Steven McManus.

The new signings have coincided with an upturn in form at the club – Middlesbrough are unbeaten in six games and will be hoping that a late push can propel them back up the table.

SUNDERLAND

Steve Bruce is currently going through his roughest patch as the Black Cats’ boss.  After some impressive victories earlier in the season the Black Cats were looking towards a comfortable top ten finish, however now they are in danger of being dragged in to a relegation scrap.

Spurs’ defender Alan Hutton agreed a loan move to Wearside in a bid for first team football as did Manchester City forward Benjani.  Both players will be hoping to impress at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland, who are sitting three points outside of the relegation zone, will be hoping that they can move up the league in the coming months and secure a top ten finish.

Chris Hughton

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Newcastle United had a very busy January transfer window bringing in five new players to help them sustain their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Mike Williamson, Fitz Hall, Wayne Routledge, Leon Best and Patrick Van Aanholt have been brought in by Chris Hughton during the window.  Hughton said “These players have the ability to get us out of this league and have a major impact in future seasons.”

The Magpies showed their Championship credentials with the emphatic 5-1 home victory over Cardiff.  Pressure from the chasing pack is growing though as West Brom and Nottingham Forest chase automatic promotion too.

Boss Chris Hughton will be hoping that his side can maintain the form they have already shown this season and finish the season as league champions.

HARTLEPOOL

Hartlepool are also looking over their shoulders after a poor run of results left Pool three points outside of the relegation zone.  Pool brought in Joe Gamble during the transfer window and will be hoping he can settle quickly at Victoria Park.

Hartlepool will be hoping that they can pull away from the dreaded dog fight at the bottom of League One.

DARLINGTON

The Quakers are still rooted to the foot of the football league.  Boss Steve Staunton is doing everything he can to try to save his side from dropping out the football league but the mission has quickly become mission impossible.

Congratulations to Carlisle United who secured a trip to Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final after defeating Leeds United in a dramatic penalty shootout.  Let’s hope the Cumbrians can beat Southampton in the final.

Holgate Wall now stands by Parkside Gardens green

Residents are furious over plans to demolish the last remaining wall of Ayresome Park, Boro’s old football ground.

Those living at Parkside Gardens – built on the old ground – hope Middlesbrough Council will help retain Holgate Wall,.

They argue that not only does the wall have historic value but its removal may result in an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Residents say they are already witnessing  drunken youths gathering on the green, and the removal of the wall would further expose the open space.

Greg Sharif, 30, a dad-of-two, said: “There are often groups of teenagers congregating out on the green at night, usually drunk.

“I have gone out to move them on, to prevent my children from being disturbed when they are in front of my house.”

Private homeowners are becoming increasingly frustrated by anti social behaviour in the area and fear the removal of  the wall will accelerate the problem.

Councillor Richard Elder said: “The council has agreed to explore the option of retention of Holgate Wall. Barratt Homes have been contacted and  have identified  an number of issues which need further consideration, one being who will be responsible for the future maintenance and liability of the wall? ”

Kerry Allen, 29, resident at Parkside Gardens and Boro fan since a young girl said: “I believe if the wall is to be knocked down, it will purely be a financial decsion and not one with interests of security. Not only that but this wall means a lot to people and remains iconic, with it being the only remaining feature of the old ground. ”

Ayresome Park was home to Middlesbrough Football Club for 92 years until the Riverside Stadium was built in 1995.

With the club fourth in the table –  just one point behind top of the table West Brom -the club announced that Southgate, 39, would be relieved of his duties just hours after he had guided them to a 2-0 victory at home to struggling Derby County on Tuesday night.

Southgate’s tenure as manager had been plagued with speculation and uncertainty since taking the reigns in June 2006. Many fans uncertain were uncertain of Steve Gibson’s decision to offer the job of managing a club that had just finished as runners-up in the Uefa Cup to a rookie manager.

Southgate steered the club to two mid-table finishes in his first two seasons, but in his third season in charge the club was relegated to the second tier of English football for the first time in a decade.

Chairman Gibson stood by his man though , claiming that he believed Southgate was definitely the man to take the club back to the promised land of the Premier League.

Boro’s time in the Championship has been inconsistent  but at the time of the announcement they find themselves just one point from the table’s summit, thanks largely to their impressive performances on the road.

It is inevitably the home performances that have cost the former club captain his job. Attendances have dipped to the 17,000 mark and defeats to clubs like Watford and Leicester at home were not acceptable for many Middlesbrough supporters.

Gibson, renowned for his reputation for giving managers time, appeared to be true to his word in giving Southgate the full season but with pressure mounting from fans after three consecutive home defeats, it appears the Chairman’s hand has been forced.

He said: “This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make in all the time I’ve been in football.”

“However the time is right for change and that change had to be made.”

Also leaving is Alan Smith, Southgate’s former manager at Crystal Palace whom he made “Football Consultant” at the start of this season.

No announcement has been made  yet as to who will take over the club in a caretaker capacity until a new manager is found.

The Club are aware of the increasing average age among their support and have launched initiatives to try and entice a younger crowd to the stadium. This year attendances have risen by approximately 5% and the club received praise for for offering season tickets to under 16’s for just £95.

Fans that still attend games complain that stewards are over-zealous and that the stadium is now largely soulless.

Many fans have developed a consumer attitude and attend to be entertained rather than making any attempt to create an atmosphere that will help their team and intimidate the opposition.

Other British fans have the same problem.  Even clubs like Celtic and Liverpool whose grounds have reputations for being cauldrons of passion on European nights have fans groups dedicated to improving the atmosphere.

Liverpool’s Reclaim The Kop and Celtic’s The Jungle Bhoys have lobbied club officials into organising sections in their grounds  where like -minded fans can congregate together to support their team.

Boro fans’ group The Twe12th Man have arranged similar pilot schemes in cup games at the Riverside.  These singing sections have enjoyed mixed success.

The Twe12th Man has succeeded in injecting more colour and character into the Riverside by arranging card displays and displaying the surfer banner and flags at every home game.

The Twe12th Man surfer banner at the Riverside

The main surfer which is paraded in the North stand before home games was funded by donations made on a fans website. 

The group have since funded other flags and meet once a month to discuss new ideas.

The Twe12th Man meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at the Ironopolis Club, Bright Street, Middlesbrough.

 Sign up to the forum for more information.

Improving the vocal element of the Boro support is proving more difficult. The Twe12th Man has tried printing the lyrics to new (and sometimes bizarre) chants but these song sheets have had limited effect.

Red Faction is a newer group comprising of fans who have decided to relocate to the South-East corner of the Riverside. This corner of the ground is situated next to the away fans and Red Faction hope that their banter with the visiting supporters can galnanise other Boro fans into showing their support.

Some Red Faction members have transferred their season tickets to block 53 of the South East corner while others have simply migrated on a match by match basis.

Their intention is to create a new base for like-minded fans to congregate together away from the traditional ‘home end’ of the Riverside, the North stand.

Red Faction members are frustrated by the sanitisation of modern football and aim to encourage fans to support the team for the entire 90 minutes, win, lose or draw.

Increasing numbers of fans are joining Red Faction members in the South East corner of the ground and they will hope to have more of an impact as the season reaches its tense conclusion.

Join them on their forum or buy a ticket for Block 53.

Football fans pay through the nose to to support their team only to have the fixture list ruined by the TV companies who run the game.

Modern football is a sport dominated by money, obscene greed and powerhouse clubs that pay little attention to the needs and views of their own supporters.

Football fans are increasingly viewed as customers of a product rather than the lifeblood of the club that connects it to the local area it serves.

Middlesbrough Chief Executive Keith Lamb admitted that paying customers contribute far less to the club’s finances than the lucrative TV deals offered by Sky and Setanta.

He recognises that clubs will have to subsidise ticket prices in the future if grounds are to remain reasonably full.

As someone who attends the majority of games, home and away, I can feel myself being turned away from the game as costs mount and it becomes less exciting as an experience.

I will always love the club and endeavour to fund season tickets and as many away trips as possible but in terms of how fans are treated, something has to change.

A growing number of fans are campaigning for safe standing sections to be introduced into modern stadiums.

 The Football Supporters’ Federation runs the Stand Up Sit Down campaign which calls for a change in the law to allow top flight clubs to follow the lead of German clubs and incorporate safe standing sections certain areas of stadiums.

In Germany, fans can stand in their own self contained area space at domestic games but the space can easily be converted back to an all-seated facility when European competition rules apply.

The Liberal Democrats debated the safe standing issue at their 2008 conference and the FSF welcomed their support.

If the Stand Up Sit Down campaign ever succeeds, groups like the Twe12th Man and Red Faction might stand a better chance of bringing some passion back into British football.

It is now nine games since the Boro won in the league, and it seems an age since they came away from Villa Park with the three points, in which many fans felt the club would kick on and establish themselves in the top half.

Gareth Southgate tries to get the Boro team in to line

Unfortunately not, after an impressive battling performance to hold on for a point at Goodison Park, the season has spiralled into another of at best mid-table mediocrity, or so we would think.

Boro were caught cold when Bolton came to town and found themselves two down within ten minutes, not advisable when you’re playing a team known to have an Italian-esque style of shutting up shop when going ahead.

A stalemate followed when the Geordies made the short trip down the A19, seemingly pleased to leave the Riverside with a point. The pacey attack of Owen and Martins was the subject of many fans nightmares leading up to the game, but a defence beginning to be questionned never looked liked being breached.

It was then off to the KC stadium to play surprise package Hull in an is it-isnt it derby game. Tuncay capped off a fantastic team move to put Boro head with only 10 minutes to go, but somehow we managed to come away with nothing. A rare mistake from Ross Turnbull let Hull back in it, before David Wheater was shown red for supposedly clipping Geovanni in the box. The frustration showed on Southgate’s face as the Brazilian playmaker was clearly offside when the ball was played. The frustration was even more apparent for the fans, holding on to 1-0 leads was something we became used to in the Mclaren era, giving away 1-0 leads is something we’re becoming even more used to in the Southgate era.

All faith was restored however when Boro held Arsenal to a well deserved draw at the Riverside, a well assembled and efficient 4-5-1 system seemed to do the job. Attacking flare was sparce, but the team did exactly what they set out to do and frustrated the irritatingly-skilful Gunners.

Was this the stepping stone Boro needed to dispel all rumours off a bottom of the table scrap. To put it simply, no, a nothing performance at what was becoming fortress Craven Cottage, with another debatable penalty going against us, and with the management team getting increasingly aggravated with refereeing decisions was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to Everton. Quite ironic considering it was the reverse Everton fixture that left Boro fans in the hope that the team had turned a corner from the ‘typical Boro’ tag they had picked up over the years.

Boro responded well and although they left old Trafford with a third consecutive defeat, they frustrated the world club champions for long spells, and even had a chance or two to nick it. It was Dimitar Berbatov who pounced to sink the Boro, but yet again, it was the inconsistency which was most disheartening. A performance alike to this one in the previous couple of games would surely have seen the team climb up the table.

The FA cup 3^rd round tie with non-league Barrow provided a welcome break from the league. The 2-1 victory should have been a lot more convincing but they’re in the hat, be it to face an in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molinuex. The game was seen as an opportunity to help build confidence in the camp, Afonso Alves took his chance grabbing a brace, but Marvin Emnes wasn’t so fortunate, coming off the bench, only to be taken back off as Boro held on to the one-goal winning margin.

Hopefully this is the sign of things to come, Alves capitalised on a wonderful bit of play from Stewart Downing to finish clinically and put the team in a winning position against Sunderland, but once again, the in-ability to hold on to a lead came to light when Kenwyne Jones equalised late on for the Mackems who were unlucky not to go on and win the game, leaving Boro hovering just a point above the releagtion zone.

The club hasn’t been helped by the revelation that Stewart Downing wanted a January move, with Spurs the most likely destination, but Steve Gibson has rebuffed any offer for any senior player with Gary O’ Neil and Mido having also been linked with moves away.

The remaining months could well be a slog, with every point a vital one. Letting go of such stars at such a time would quite simply have been ludicrous. The club may well have to re-asess in the summer, and most fans appreciate that, but for now, there’s only one point of focus. Stay in the Premier League.