A survey by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research, based at the University of Leicester, revealed that 74% of Boro fans live within ten miles of the stadium.
But is that good for the club? In some respects I would suggest not. OK, Man. United fans take the stick for not living in Manchester but do the club really care, as long as the money is coming through the turnstiles, I think not.
You only had to look at the convoy of coaches from Leeds last week, Doncaster Whites, Grimsby Whites, Derby Whites, Milton Keynes Whites, they came from far a field. And what do we see at away games Derbyshire Reds and MSS, if they can get enough to fill a bus, for a match outside of London.
Don't get me wrong I think it's great that we have got such a good local fan base, but to become a national and international force Boro need to expand beyond Peterlee and Northallerton.
Take merchandising for instance, walk into any sports shop around the country and what do you see, Arsenal shirts, Liverpool shirts, Newcastle shirts, Sunderland shirts, Leeds shirts, Chelsea shirts, everyones shirts, except Boro.
Boro say that it allows them to plough more of the profits back into the club by cutting out the middle-man, but at the end of the day I think the club will be losing out.
How many shirts could Boro sell around the country, even if they just allowed one sports chain to sell their merchandise?
On a more personal note I am disappointed at the way Boro treat websites such as this one, in particular the use of the MFC logo. In an email from the Publications Officer he stated:
In response to your e-mail I am sorry to tell you that we will not be able to give you permission to use the Middlesbrough Football Club logo, stats or pictures for your website.
We own the copyright for all of these things as it says in all of our publications and as you will appreciate, it does not make sense to let projects that conflict with what we are trying to do i.e. our official site and publications, use them for their purposes.
How can a non-profit making website, such as this, conflict with what they are trying to do. After all this website is promoting Middlesbrough Football Club around the world, and for no charge!
On a more positive note, other findings from the survey included:
Roary the Lion is the fourth most popular mascot in the Premier League, with 96% of Boro fans giving him the thumbs up.
Boro's run-out music, 'Pig Bag (Reach Up)' by the Perfecto Allstarz, is the fifth most popular team theme with 92% of fans giving it a favourable response.
The toilet facilities at the Riverside were given the fourth most favourable response in the Premier League.