After their previous last few seasons that saw the club narrowly missing out on promotion to the top flight, the 1970-71 campaign proved to be a frustrating one for Boro as they started the season off slowly and gradually improved as the term dragged on. They finished the season off in seventh place in the second division. Stan Anderson took his side to the forth round of the FA Cup, however they suffered defeat against Everton losing 3-0.
The 1972-73 season saw Boro surge their way up the division and finished the campaign off in forth place, narrowly missing out on promotion. They crashed out of the cup competitions in the third round, losing against Tottenham in a replay in the League Cup and suffering defeat against Plymouth in the FA Cup.
Jack Charlton had been installed as the new manager of Middlesbrough in time for the 1973-74 season and the response was immediate. Boro finished the season off in glory, a fabulous first place finish, being crowned a second division champions. Their new superstar, Graeme Souness was in blistering form and so to was Bobby Murdoch and Jim Platt. Willie Maddren was a rock in the heart of the Boro defence through out the season. Jack Charlton took the club to new heights as the glory days at the club seemed to be resurrected as Boro finished off an incredible league campaign in seventh place in the top flight. It was the first time they were in the top flight for 21 years and seemed adamant of a permanent stay there. They enjoyed exciting domestic cup campaigns that saw the club reach the quarter finals of the league cup, losing 3-0 against Manchester united. They were most unfortunate to be knocked out of the FA Cup in the quarter finals as they narrowly lost 1-0 against Birmingham City.