I'm very fond of my time at Middlesbrough and did a lot of growing up under Jack Charlton

Graeme Souness has detailed his fondness of his time at Middlesbrough - admitting he did a lot of growing up during his time on Teesside, mostly spend under the tutelage of Jack Charlton.

Souness moved to Boro from Tottenham in 1972, aged just 19. Missing out on promotion to the top flight in his first season, Boro would appoint World Cup winner Charlton as manager and he would guide the club to the Second Division title, with Souness a key player.

Souness would stay another four years before leaving for Liverpool where he would win five League Championships and three European Cups, becoming a legend at Anfield. Despite that, he remembers with fondness his time on Teesside and was back here last week as Charlton's Champions reunited to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of their league title triumph.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough legend Bill Gates' life told in new book that highlights football's biggest problem

Writing in his Daily Mail column, Souness said: "I caught up with some old friends from Middlesbrough's team of 1973-74 this week as we celebrated 50 years since earning promotion from the old second division as champions by a record 15-point margin. I'm very fond of my time at Middlesbrough.

"I did a lot of growing up there under Jack Charlton, who was manager. You had to man-up because it was Jack's way or the highway and we had a great blend of aggression and technical ability. It formed an incredible bond between us which remains to this day. There were some great old friends whom I caught up with but sadly a few have passed now and others were too poorly to make it."

That side would play a friendly with Leeds United that was billed as the Match of the Champions, with the Whites winning to the First Division title that year. The game was the testimonial game of Boro legend Bill Gates who retired after the game aged just 30 after suffering from intense migraines.

A little over 30 years later Gates would start to suffer dementia-like symptoms that was eventually diagnosed as likely CTE - a condition related to brain impact injuries which can only be officially confirmed after death. Sadly Bill was one of Charlton's champions not at last week's events after he died last year.

But wife Judith Gates continues to campaign for new measures to improve the safety of the game, as part of a promise she made to Bill on the day he was diagnosed. A new book by Mike Amos, out now, tells the story of Bill's life, but also the dangers of heading footballs on all of its participants - even in the modern game despite the lighter, cushioned balls. No-Brainer is available from Amazon and other book retailers, with all royalties going to the charity Head Safe Football, which was set up and is run by Bill's family.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have sent condolences after learning of the passing of former player William 'Bill' Povey at the age of 81. Billingham-born Povey came through the youth ranks at Boro and made six appearances in the 1962/63 season, scoring a remarkable 16 goals before his sale to York City. He would later return to the North East becoming a notable figure in the local non-league scene with clubs such as Billingham Synthonia.