GATHERED around a television screen on Thursday night, the family of James Morrison sat biting nails, screaming and shouting as Middlesbrough looked to book a place in the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup.

As time gradually ticked down on Banik Ostrava's hopes of clawing their way back into the first round tie, having trailed 3-0 from the first leg a fortnight earlier, nerves were jangling as ten-man Boro battled resolutely to stop the Czech champions from adding to their one-goal advantage.

Just to see attack-minded Morrison, who had previously made only two substitute Premiership appearances, pitching in with his defensive duties wearing a Boro shirt for the first team was an unforgettable experience.

But then the Darlington teenager, as Banik pressed in injury-time, was fed the ball from George Boateng and was clean through on goal with only advancing goalkeeper Martin Raska to beat.

With a quick twist of the hips, Morrison was cleverly beyond Raska and succeeded in side-footing the ball into an empty net to tie things up and complete a remarkable 4-1 victory.

For years, one would imagine, the name James Morrison will be remembered as Middlesbrough's youngest goalscorer in European competition or Boro's first scorer on European soil; while for generations longer his family are likely to cast their minds back to September 30, 2004.

That was the night he became an instant hero with the Teesside fans in the city of Ostrava and the rest back home.

"We are a close-knit family and we all went round to my brother-in-law's, Ian Jackson, to witness the action on the tele, he's got a better one than us," quipped James' father Charlie, a former Chelsea, Grimsby and Darlington player.

"It was incredible to watch but we just always knew he could do something like that. He's a real talent. It was fantastic for me, my wife Liz and all of us to watch."

Charlie retired in 1973, before playing the managerial game in the Northern League. During his days on the sidelines his two sons, James and Richard, would regularly jump in the car and go with him on match-days.

Brought up in a football environment certainly played its part in honing the Boro starlet's ball skills, but his father is of the belief that he was born with a gift.

"There was no pushy father stuff, it wasn't like that. He was genuinely just a natural,'' he said.

"I have a 22-year-old son who is also a decent player but James just seemed to get his talent naturally. There's no other way of explaining it.

"I spent lots of time with the pair of them with the ball and when they used to come to matches with me on a Saturday to watch some of the players I had would look at him with a ball, and say 'he's going to be a player'."

Of course Morrison's development into a performer on the professional stage has also been brought about by many years' dedication from others.

He was a star player during his days at Abbey Road Primary School before carrying on his fantastic footwork for Hummersknott Comprehensive School in his home town.

On a weekend he would play the usual Sunday League football with his friends at Darlington All Stars - before signing for Middlesbrough as an 11-year-old. Progress through the Academy and the rest, as they say, is history.