In 1971, Middlesbrough manager Stan Anderson bought Mansfield Town central defender Stuart Boam to form a defensive partnership with Maddren.
In 1973, after repeated failures to gain promotion to the old First Division, Anderson left Middlesbrough and was replaced by World Cup winner Jack Charlton.
They were promoted to the First Division on 23 March 1974, finishing the season conceding only 30 goals, keeping 25 clean sheets in a 42-game programme.
[citation needed] The following season Maddren was sacked with 13 games remaining, replaced by his assistant Bruce Rioch.
The Willie Maddren Trophy is a charity football competition, whose proceeds go towards the Mike Findley MND Fund.