As well as connecting Boro fans in Asia, the podcast offers unique insight into supporting the club while living thousands of miles from the Riverside

A new Middlesbrough podcast has recently launched - albeit based thousands of miles away from the Riverside Stadium.

The A19 to Asia Boro Podcast has been launched by members of the recently-created Asia Middlesbrough Supporters Club (AMSC).

The podcast was created and is hosted by Teesside expat and TV journalist Tommy Walker, who recently made headlines after passing through two continents and experiencing heavy delays to make it just in time to see Will Lankshear seal an opening-day Championship win with a last-minute goal.

There’s been five episodes so far, with each episode seeing Tommy joined by other members of the AMSC to discuss all things Boro, as part of their stated mission to ‘connect supporters worldwide, promote the club internationally and ensure overseas fans feel part of the wider Boro family’.

The podcast has so far featured international Boro fans from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong - highlighting just how far-reaching the club’s passionate fanbase is.

The podcast features match reactions, discussions about players and performances, club news, and interviews with supporters from different countries, who also offer their unique insight on what it’s like to follow Boro when thousands of miles away from Teesside.

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That includes the regular How I Became a Boro Fan segment, in which the guests are able to share and explore fascinating stories of supporters who have developed a passion for Middlesbrough FC, despite the geographical distance.

Tommy tells Teesside Live why he believes it’s important for international Boro voices to have a say: “We are continuing to build and grow our Asia Middlesbrough Supporters Club, which is also a network to connect Boro fans together.

“It’s important we have international Boro voices who align with our mission as the core to that. We feel our new Asia Boro podcast is a great way to get international Boro fans speaking on camera to show other Boro fans in Teesside and around the world that they are also welcome and part of supporting the club’s progress too.

“Many of the international fans in Asia and part of our community started supporting Middlesbrough during the Golden Years, between 1994 - 2006 - The Robson era, the Riverside, Ravanelli, Juninho, Carling Cup & Europe etc - and it’s clear, like all of us, we are hoping days like that are in Boro’s future soon enough once again.”

Several guests have also told Teesside Live about the importance of using the podcast to connect with fellow worldwide supporters of the club.

“The Asia Boro podcast is a great platform for us (Asian fans) to get connected and chat about the club we love,” Patrick, from the Thailand Middlesbrough Supporters Club, told us.

“It is great to hear about the journeys of Boro fans from other Asian countries and to learn that we have a lot of things in common.

“Also, for a football fan, our football club is very important for our well-being (well not so healthy being a Boro fan over the years!) and is probably the most important thing outside our family. So knowing that there is a great Boro community to share our passion with is brilliant.”

Hafiez Hamid of the Malaysia Middlesbrough Supporters Club echoed similar sentiments. He said: “It provides an opportunity for fans in Asia to be a part of a larger fan base voicing their views and ideas on the Boro.

“It will surely create a greater bond amongst us across multiple countries. Plus, it makes us feel closer to the Riverside and brings meaning to our passion from afar.”

And Muhammad Munir from the Singapore Middlesbrough Supporters Club added: “Tommy have been instrumental in all of this.

“It’s great even for us in Asia to get to know other Boro fans in the region, plus it helps expose us to people back in Middlesbrough. And in turn, they know that Boro do have passionate fans in the Far East. Hopefully the podcast will gain more exposure.”

You can listen to the weekly episodes on all podcast platforms as well as the A19 Asia Boro Podcast Youtube channel.

The podcast says it is planning to welcome former players, journalists, football experts and other special guests, offering different perspectives on the club.