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Three famous faces have clear evidence of supporting Middlesbrough: comedian Bob Mortimer, singer-songwriter James Arthur and Maximo Park front man Paul Smith. Chris Rea is strongly associated with Boro through the 1997 FA Cup final song, but that alone does not confirm his personal allegiance; a forum mention is not enough to confirm Roy “Chubby” Brown. The distinction matters: being from the area, playing for the club or collaborating on a song is not the same as being a supporter.
Three famous people with clear evidence of supporting Boro
Bob Mortimer
Mortimer’s support is backed by his own words and a long-standing connection to the club. In a 2012 OneBoro Q&A, he said he went to away matches “but only up to and including the Midlands,” and praised the travelling supporters: “Boro away fans are brilliant and the atmosphere they create reminds me of why i fell in love with football in the first place”. The lowercase “i” is as it appears in the source.
A FourFourTwo retrospective also describes Mortimer as a regular at Ayresome Park and recalls his involvement in recording Boro’s song for the 1997 FA Cup final. A 2026 supporter interview says he still attends many home and away games, but that is a contributor’s report, not a recent statement from Mortimer himself.
James Arthur
FourFourTwo’s 2025 profile identifies the former X Factor winner as having grown up a massive Middlesbrough fan. Arthur recalled the Riverside as his “happy place” growing up and said of performing there: “It couldn’t have meant more – growing up, the Riverside was my happy place”. His account links the club to his childhood, rather than merely to a later performance at the stadium.
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The same profile notes that Middlesbrough gave Arthur and Nicole Scherzinger club shirts when she joined him for a gig in town. That gift and visit do not establish Scherzinger as a Boro supporter. Read FourFourTwo’s profile of Arthur.
Paul Smith
Sky Sports described Maximo Park front man and solo artist Paul Smith as a “’Boro die-hard” in a 2010 profile. Smith spoke about family members who supported Boro, recalled winning tickets to a match at Ayresome Park, and described wearing a Middlesbrough shirt to a university meeting. On football as a family tradition, he said: “I think that’s one of the beautiful things about football – being able to pass things down.”
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This is strong evidence of Smith’s supporter identity at the time of the interview, not proof of his current matchgoing habits. Read the Sky Sports interview.
Why two other names need qualification
Chris Rea: a Boro connection, not proof of allegiance
Rea collaborated with Mortimer on “Let’s Dance” for Middlesbrough’s 1997 FA Cup final campaign, a concrete connection to the club. But contributing to a club song does not, by itself, establish that Rea personally supports Boro. A 2026 supporter interview calls him a celebrity fan, but that is the contributor’s characterization rather than a direct statement from Rea.
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Roy “Chubby” Brown: a forum mention is not confirmation
Brown appears in a 2013 OneBoro discussion listing famous Boro fans. The mention is not supported there by a direct interview, a first-person statement or an official source confirming his allegiance. His connection to Middlesbrough as a local figure should not be treated as proof that he supports the club. See the OneBoro discussion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Local and football ties do not automatically make someone a Boro fan
Beth Mead illustrates the difference between a personal connection and confirmed support. The FA reports that she developed in Boro’s centre of excellence for six years and attended Riverside matches with an uncle who was a “massive Boro fan.” That establishes her football-development history and a family connection to matchgoing, but not that Mead herself supports the men’s team. The FA’s 2019 account of Mead’s return to Middlesbrough does not make that claim.
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How strong is the evidence?
| Name | What the evidence establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Mortimer | First-person account of away matches and Boro memories; retrospective account of his Ayresome Park support. | Recent attendance is reported by a supporter, not confirmed by a recent first-person statement. |
| James Arthur | Described as a massive Middlesbrough fan; he recalled the Riverside as his childhood “happy place.” | The evidence does not establish Nicole Scherzinger as a supporter. |
| Paul Smith | Sky Sports called him a Boro die-hard; he shared personal memories of following the club. | The 2010 profile does not establish current matchgoing. |
| Chris Rea | Collaborated on a song for Boro’s 1997 FA Cup final campaign. | The material cited here does not directly confirm personal allegiance. |
| Roy “Chubby” Brown | Named in a 2013 OneBoro fan discussion. | The forum mention alone does not confirm support. |
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