WHEN he flew to India to teach an intensive speech therapist course to fellow stammerers, Matthew Richardson never imagined that by the end of the four days he’d be chatting to his students about Middlesbrough Football Club.

As a teenager it would take him ten minutes just to say his name and he feared he would never find a job or travel to all the places he’d escaped to in his mind.

But since enrolling on the McGuire Programme Matthew, 43, has helped transform the futures of hundreds of people and has instructed courses South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and now Bangalore in India.

The pioneering concept involves people who have been through the course teaching the breathing technique, non-avoidance and self-acceptance.

The Armstrong Watson accountant from Stockton recently celebrated 20 years as one of the first people to enrol on the McGuire Programme, credited also by singer Gareth Gates.

He said: “I never want to take it for granted that I am asked to these incredible places to help people just like me.

“When a doctor you’ve spent time coaching stands up and says his name for the first time without struggling, it is a special moment.”

As a Boro fan, Mr Richardson wasted no time extolling the virtues of his favourite team. He said: “My priority is to help these people gain control of their stutter but if, at the same time, I can convert them into Middlesbrough supporters then why not?”

*Mr Richardson will be speaking at a free open day at 11am on Saturday, July 9, at The Stages Academy, Bridge Street West, Middlesbrough.