MIDDLESBROUGH are giving Stockton Town a helping hand as they bid for Wembley glory – in another sign the Championship club have formed stronger ties in non-league circles.

While Boro boss Tony Pulis concentrates his efforts on trying to lead his own team there next month via the play-offs in the push for a return to the Premier League, May is set to be a historic time for Stockton.

The Ebac Northern League Division One team are looking to end the season on a high in the North-East before heading to Wembley – six days before the Championship play-off final – to face Thatcham Town in the Buildbase FA Vase final on May 20.

And The Northern Echo can reveal Boro will be doing what they can to help by lending them a couple of scouts in the run-up to enable the Anchors to run the rule over Thatcham.

Gary Gill, Boro's head of senior recruitment, said: “One of our guys who works on recruitment is Pete Bulmer. He also plays for Marske United, who faced Stockton in the semi-final. That was where it all started, we got in touch with Marske through Pete.

“We knew Marske’s opposition was down south in the quarter-final and Stockton were in the same boat at the same stage. It’s harder for non-league clubs to look at opponents, so we wanted to help and we got one of our scouts down that way to go along.

“We have said we will do it again for the final and what we are doing for Stockton isn’t about us. I actually approached them and they were dead pleased we could help.

“We have helped both clubs in the competition, they’re nearby and we know people at both. We just hoped they would avoid each other in the semi-final. I would be really pleased if Stockton could now go on and win it and we will have done our bit to help.

“We have found ourselves closer to non-league in the last few years and this is another sign of that. Luke Armstrong was brought back from Blyth and Lewis Wing we signed from Shildon.

“We have asked Tony McAndrew, who is back in the area, to do a bit of work in the non-league circles. We have been successful with a couple who have come in and we want that to continue.”

Thatcham play seven matches before Wembley starting with tonight’s game with Brimscombe & Thrupp. They are then due to face Burnham twice, Binfield, Highworth, Tuffley and Brackley Town in the Hellenic League.

The games at Binfield and Highworth are likely to be covered by a Boro scout, who will then send detailed reports of Thatcham’s strengths and weaknesses back to Teesside for Stockton boss Michael Dunwell to mull over. Boro delivered scouting reports for them and Marske on last eight opponents Windsor and Bracknell Town.

While Pulis will leave that side of things to his scouting team, Boro have no fresh concerns so far ahead of Saturday’s visit of Aitor Karanka’s Nottingham Forest. It will be the first time the Spaniard has been back since losing his job 13 months ago.

Boro are desperate to return to the top-flight after investing heavily in the squad last summer and if they do then it will be the perfect start for a switch of kit manufacturer.

After nine years with Adidas, the club confirmed a five-year partnership with Hummel, a throwback to the club’s rebirth in 1986.

Boro’s first new strip from the Danish company will be out in the summer. Hummel’s chevrons were worn when Tony Mowbray captained the side on the up after emerging from liquidation in 1986/87.

Boro chief executive Neil Bausor said: “We’re delighted to join up with Hummel once again, as our official technical kit supplier. The name Hummel is synonymous with Middlesbrough Football Club as it being the kit worn during a very significant time in our history, and this is important to us.

“There were several options open to us, but we were keen to work with Hummel for a number of reasons. They have an understanding of our heritage and they have shown a real desire to work with the local community during the course of this partnership, and that fits in with the ethos we have as a club. They also have a flexible approach, and I think our fans will appreciate the look of next season’s bespoke kit design.”

Hummel boast Denmark, Freiburg, Strasbourg and Brondby among their clients.