11 Years Ago..

Remember this from 11 years ago..

#OnThisBoroDay 2003: Luke Wilkshire opens talks with Bristol City over move after two clubs agree £250,000 fee.

At 21, Wilkshire made the decision to drop to Division Two but went on to play Champions League football and earn 80 international caps.

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Luke Wilkshire

Many a promising Boro youngster has dropped down a couple of divisions in the search for first team football only to continue to tumble out of league football all together.

Not Luke Wilkshire.

Having knocked on the door of the Boro first team and started at Old Trafford as Boro fell just short in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, the Australian 21-year-old made the brave move to drop to the Second Division and sign for Bristol City.

A £250,000 deal was agreed on this day in 2003. All that was left was for Wilkshire to discuss personal terms and give the move the green light.

And it was a move City boss at the time Danny Wilson was desperate to complete.

“We’ve had a lot of positive vibes but I will only believe it when he puts pen to paper,” said Wilson.

“If he wants a bit more time to think about it then I will give it to him because he is a good player.

“He can have six months as far as I’m concerned.

“I’m prepared to wait because I want the player.”

Wilson got his man; the hard-working midfield player signed on the dotted line the week later.

“At 21 I am at the stage in my career where I need to play week-in, week-out and I simply wasn’t going to get that at Middlesbrough,” Wilkshire honestly admitted.

“The gaffer was honest with me and said he was looking to get more midfielders in and that I was some way down the pecking order.”

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Luke Wilkshire

Wilkshire and McClaren’s paths would cross again - be it only for a very brief period.

The Australian international impressed at Bristol City and following a fine 2006 World Cup campaign earned himself a trial and subsequent three-year deal at Twente.

But just three months after McClaren took charge at the Dutch club following his ill-fated England campaign, Wilkshire was on the move again, continuing his journey around the continent and signing for Dynamo Moscow.

There he remains although now 32, Wilkshire plays most of his football at right-back and not in the middle of the park.

With 80 Australia caps to his name and European football a regular occurrence, the brave move to drop down the divisions and join Bristol City undoubtedly worked in his favour.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/onthisboroday-2003-luke-wilkshire-opens-7502308