I was born in Middlesbrough and most of my related family lived there, I grew up in Stockton and have lived all my life there. I played football up until I was 50 and ran a couple of successful Sunday teams. I`m a long time Boro fan seldom missed at all since 1968 only one season as a non season ticket holder. I know Stockton like the back of my hand, where I couldnt put a figure on it, Id say theres as many other club fans in the boro (Teesside Whites) is a perfect example.
This 50 50 stuff you are talking about with all due respect to you is sheer b0ll0x conjecture. The early 80s saw Middlesbrough people as a town abandoned their football team until we went bust.
There were always a few Sunderland supporters in Billingham, especially after the 73 cup win. Stockton has mostly been Boro, since the 60`s and a long time before that.
Its the same as most towns near to a town with a good football club and history. I can remember when they took the pizz out of me for going to the match when I was contracting in Middlesbrough steelworks.
Take a look at the gates we had in div 3, it took a good while before they crawled back from under their rocks back to support the Boro. Then you now always hear "I always went" like fvck they did.
Rant Over..... sorry