An enterprising beginning to Middlesbrough’s second season since their formation suggests that the club was becoming much more organised in its recruitment of players.
Two official practice matches were held in Albert Park on 10 and 17 November. Both games featured teams chosen by Jackson Ewbank and James Windross. Honours were shared, with the former winning the first encounter 1-0, while the latter was victorious 3-1 in the second meeting.
Middlesbrough’s second bona fide game, following on from their initial fixture against Tees Wanderers in February was an away match played on the ground of near neighbours South Bank on 8 December. After a “most exciting and well-contested encounter,” the match ended in a draw. Unfortunately, the report fails to give a score and only records the final outcome as a stalemate.
A week later, Boro were on their travels to play their first ever away game at the Demesnes Ground situated next to the River Tees against Barnard Castle. Watched by a “large attendance of spectators, who repeatedly applauded the play of both sides,” Middlesbrough lost to the only goal of the game scored in the first half.
Their next contest was a return game against South Bank in Albert Park on 5 January, 1878. Although a report of the time states that this was the fourth match played by the club, as yet no record of a “mystery” game in the 1877-78 season has been found. We can only assume, therefore, that the initial Tees Wanderers match from February 1877 is this fourth fixture. The South Bank local derby consisted of two 25-minute halves and it was noted of the team that “in their passing and dribbling there was a marked improvement.” Boro ran out easy winners 4-0 with two goals in each half.
The Tyne Association travelled down from Newcastle to be the Boro’s next opponents on 19 January. A “closely contested game” resulted in a 0-0 draw with Jackson Ewbank and Fred Hardisty singled out and praised for their contributions.
On 2 February, a team from Loftus in North Yorkshire contested the next game and found themselves “on the defensive throughout” eventually losing 1-0.
Weather was the main issue when Middlesbrough played South Bank for a third time on 9 February as “heavy fog prevented the players from seeing one goal to the other.” Despite the poor conditions, a 1-0 win was registered.
A journey up to Newcastle to face old adversaries Tyne Association in an absorbing 2-2 draw was undertaken on 16 February, with the Boro equalising “just before time was called.” Afterwards the home club entertained their visitors at the Turks Head hostelry thus setting a hospitality precedent which would be followed by most opposition clubs in the future.
The season was concluded on 2 March when Eston were the visitors and were dispatched 2-0.
So concluded Middlesbrough Football Club’s very satisfactory first full season. Apart from the reverse against Barnard Castle, they were unbeaten, finishing with a record of P8 W4 D3 L1 F10 A3.
1877-78 Fixtures
| Date | Match | Status | Result |
| 10/11/1877 | Ewbank v Windross | Practice match | 1-0 |
| 17/11/1877 | Ewbank v Windross | Practice match | 1-3 |
| 8/12/1877 | South Bank (a) | Friendly | ‘Draw’ |
| 15/12/1877 | Barnard Castle (a) | Friendly | 1-0 |
| 5/1/1878 | South Bank (h) | Friendly | 4-0 |
| 19/1/1878 | Tyne (h) | Friendly | 0-0 |
| 2/2/1878 | Loftus (h) | Friendly | 1-0 |
| 9/2/1878 | South Bank (a) | Friendly | 0-1 |
| 16/2/1878 | Tyne (a) | Friendly | 2-2 |
| 2/3/1878 | Eston (h) | Friendly | 2-0 |
