Hull F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009) |
 |
|||
| Full name | Hull Rugby League Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Airlie Birds, Black and Whites | ||
| Ground | KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull (Capacity 25,404) |
||
| Chairman |  Kath Hetherington |
||
| Coach | Richard Agar |
||
| Captain | Lee Radford |
||
| League |  Super League |
||
| 2008 position | 11th | ||
| Founded | 1865 | ||
| Championships | 6 | ||
| Challenge Cups | 3 | ||
| Website | hullfc.com | ||
|
|||
 Current season |
|||
Hull FC is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the European Super League. They were one of the founder members of the Northern Union which was formed in 1895, making them one of the world's first twenty-two rugby league teams. Later that year they moved to the Hull Athletic Club's ground at The Boulevard, Airlie Street, which gave rise to their nickname "The Airlie Birds". Traditionally people from the west side of Hull support Hull FC while Hull Kingston Rovers are supported by the east half, the 'border' being regarded as the River Hull. Old Faithful is a traditional Hull terrace song. The team shares KC Stadium with association football side Hull City A.F.C.. Their mascot is "The Airlie Bird" and officially carries the sponsors name JS Power Limited. [1]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early years
Formed by a group of ex-schoolboys from York, who had been at Rugby school, in 1865. The founders used to meet at the Young Mans Fellowship, at St. Mary’s Church in Lowgate. The vicar at that time was the Reverend Scott and his 5 sons made up the nucleus of the team. The club immediately took on members who were plumbers and glaziers.
Soon another team, Hull White Star, was formed and the two clubs merged. Hull Football Club was one of the first clubs in the north of England to join the Rugby Football Union.
Hull were one of the initial 22 clubs to form the Northern Union after the acrimonious split from the Rugby Football Union in 1895. The club moved into the Hull Athletic Club at the Boulevard in 1895, and subsequently played their first ever match there in September of that year. 8,000 people turned out to witness the first club's match in which Hull beat Liversedge.
The early years of the Northern Union saw Hull prosper, and their black and white irregular hooped jerseys became one of the most famous and feared strips in the league. Between 1908-10, Hull lost three consecutive Challenge Cup finals, and has in fact lost in more major finals than anyone else.
In 1913, they paid a world record £600, plus £14 per match, to Hunslet for Billy Batten, one of only seventeen players, and the only representative from Hull FC, so far inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame. A year later the Airlie Birds won their first Challenge Cup, beating Huddersfield in the semi-final and Wakefield Trinity in the final. Playing alongside Billy on that day was John "Jack" Harrison VC, MC, the only professional sportsman to win the Victoria Cross and the Military Cross, the holder of the club record for most tries in a season. In 1920, Batten was once again key in Hull's first ever Championship final, scoring the only try in the 3-2 victory over Huddersfield.
The early-1920s were bittersweet years for the club. In 1921, Hull won the Yorkshire Cup but lost the county championship, both against rivals Hull Kingston Rovers. Hull couldn’t match the successes of 1914, losing a further two consecutive cup finals in 1922-23 to Rochdale Hornets and Leeds respectively, but they managed to win the Yorkshire Cup and finish top of the league.
In the early 1930s, Hull had a full back and goal kicker called Joe Oliver. Oliver was so dependable with the boot that the crowd at one match spontaneously started singing the Gene Autry song, Old Faithful at him. Hull supporters adopted the song as their battle cry from then on.
Hull's record attendance was set in 1936 when 28,798 turned up for the visit of Leeds for a third round Challenge cup match.
[edit] Post World War two
The 1952 Kangaroos visited the Boulevard on Monday 8 September. They had opened their tour with a victory at Keighley two days earlier, and they continued their winning run with a 28-0 victory over Hull.
In 1954, the black Welshman Roy Francis became the first black professional coach in any British team sport, when he coached Hull.
Hull team won the league championship in 1956 when Hutton kicked a last-minute penalty in the final against Halifax at Maine Road. Hull won the play-offs again in 1958, against Workington Town. They also won the European Club championship in 1957 and lost in the cup finals at Wembley in 1959 and 1960. These triumphs healed the wound of two successive Yorkshire Cup final defeats in 1955 and 1957. They lost in two further Challenge Cup finals to Wigan and Wakefield Trinity in 1959 and 1960. All these reverses, when one hand had been grasping so many trophies, gave Hull a steely resolve and a thirst for success.
Johnny Whiteley became player coach in October 1963. When Roy Francis retired as Hull FC coach in 1965, Whiteley took over as coach. Hull F.C. lost to Wakefield Trinity 17-10 victory in the 1968 Rugby League Championship final at Headingley Stadium on the 4th May 1968. Francis resigned in 1970 to coach Hull Kingston Rovers.
With the coaching appointment of Arthur Bunting Hull FC began a period of dominance. Hull won all of their 26 Division Two matches in 1978-79, the only time a club has won all of its league matches in a season and returning to the top flight. The Airlie Birds lost the 1980 Challenge Cup final against Hull KR 10-5 and have never won at Wembley since. It was reputed that a makeshift sign was left on the A63 (the major westerly road out of Hull) that read "last one out turn the lights off!" due to most of the city travelling to Wembley for the final. In 1982, Hull, crushed by Widnes in the Premiership final, avenged the defeat with an 18-9 Challenge Cup replay win.
Hull eventually won the league in 1983 and also reached the Premiership final, the Challenge Cup final and the Yorkshire Cup final, but the latter trophy would be their only reward from the three finals. They lost to Featherstone Rovers at Wembley in one of the great Challenge Cup final upsets and they also lost the Premiership final two years running.[2]
The signing of Australian Peter Sterling, a 2006 inductee into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, maintained Hull’s strength, and Bunting’s men went to their third successive Yorkshire Cup beating Hull KR 29-12, but were edged out in arguably the greatest ever Challenge Cup final of 1985 by Wigan at Wembley Stadium with a score of 28 to 24 in Wigan's favour. A number of subsequent coaches, such as Brian Smith (1988-91) failed to deliver consistent success. Hull lost the Premiership final in 1989 to Widnes, but two years later returned to beat them at Old Trafford under coach Noel Cleal.
[edit] Super League era
When the European Super League was formed, it was suggested that Hull should merge with Hull Kingston Rovers to form 'Humberside'. This was resisted but the club did like many other rugby league clubs, rebrand and became known as the Hull Sharks. It is unclear who came up with the 'Sharks' as a nickname but for a nautical city it was a fairly obvious choice. Hull FC finished below the cut-off point of 10th in the existing top flight and were excluded from the new Super League.
The club won promotion to the Super League in 1997. However the club struggled to gain a foot hold in the competition, the renaming was unpopular with the supporters and the club spiralled in to financial difficulties and almost went out of business. However, Hull Sharks and the recently formed expansion team Gateshead Thunder merged at the end of 1999 with the backing of the Super League. The merged club reverted to the traditional Hull FC identity and played its home games at The Boulevard. Most of the Gateshead playing squad moved to Hull along with their Board and ex-St Helens coach Shaun McRae who remained at the helm until 2004.
After 107 years at the Boulevard, Hull moved in January 2003 to a £44m state-of-the-art council-owned Kingston Communications Stadium, more commonly known as the KC Stadium and the rejuvenation of the club continued. They are joint tenants at the stadium alongside city's football team: the two teams have priority use of the stadium at the end of each sport's season, thus Hull FC receive priority during the early part of the football season, the situation being reversed at the early part of the rugby season. Shaun McRae left the club to return to Australia at the end of the 2004 season; he was replaced by former England coach John Kear, who had previously been McRae's deputy.
In his first season at the club, Kear led Hull to the Challenge Cup final for the first time since 1985. Hull defeated Leeds Rhinos 25-24 in a thrilling final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to lift the trophy. Paul Cooke's 77th minute try, which was converted by Danny Brough gave Hull a 1 point lead, which they held onto after Hull captain Richard Swain charged down a drop-goal attempt from Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield in the dying seconds of the match.
John Kear left Hull FC on 3 April 2006 after a disappointing start to the season, which saw Hull FC lose 4 out of their first 7 league games and also their defence of the Challenge Cup being ended at the first hurdle against the Bradford Bulls in a 23-12 defeat, to be replaced by Peter Sharp who was recruited from Parramatta Eels where he was assistant coach. Between 14 April – 15 July 2006 Hull FC won 13 matches in succession, including a 27-26 defeat of the league leaders St Helens on the 8 June 2006. The last time they beat St Helens on their ground was 18 years ago. This run ended in defeat at Harlequins RL on the 23 July 2006. Hull managed to finish in second place, their highest league position in the Super League era. They lost to the league leaders St Helens in the first Grand Final playoff game, but succeeded in reaching the final by defeating the reigning champions Bradford Bulls. Over 20,000 Hull FC fans travelled to Old Trafford, but again they lost out to the Saints, this time by 26-4. The overall attendance broke the Grand Final record, mainly due to the stadium's recent expansion.
For the 2007 season, Hull signed five players: Matt Sing (a prolific National Rugby League try-scorer and Australian representative), Hutch Maiava, Willie Manu, Danny Tickle and Wayne Godwin. Also, the Hull FC v Hull Kingston Rovers derbies are back for the 2007 season due to Rovers promotion from National League 1. The first of four of these derby matches was played on Easter Monday, the 9 April 2007 at the KC Stadium. The game was played in front of a sell-out attendance of 23,002 and ended with a result for the Black and Whites who had been struggling early in the season. The final score was 22 - 14 with Sid Domic crossing the line for the Airlie Birds in the final seconds.
On April 23 Paul Cooke, stand-off, controversially resigned from Hull FC to join Hull Kingston Rovers. Cooke claimed he was out of contract as he had not signed the contract that the club had offered him. Following his departure, club Chief Executive David Plummer resigned. His replacement James Rule has come in for much criticism.
Hull have endured a poor 2008 season and on the 19 May 2008 the club dismissed coach Peter Sharp. A week later they appointed his assistant Richard Agar as his replacement. John Sharp has since been named as an addition to the Hull coaching staff. Hull FC finished a poor 11th in the League in 2008, falling far short of the fans expectations, although a Challenge cup final appearance and a successful franchise application ensured the season was not a complete failure. The club announced that Australian test prop Michael Crocker will sign for the club on a three year contract from the start of the 2008-9 season. Fullback Chris Thorman has signed a one year deal for 2009, after leaving Huddersfield. Matty Dale, Matt Sing and James Webster were released at the end of the season. Former HKR favorite - Webster having only played one game.
[edit] 2009 Squad
[edit] Transfers
[edit] Transfers in for Super League XIV
| Name | Signed From | Fee | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dominic Maloney | Dewsbury Rams | May 2008 | |
|
Mark Calderwood | Wigan Warriors | September 2008 | |
|
Chris Thorman | Huddersfield Giants | September 2008 | |
 |
Sam Moa | Cronulla Sharks | January 2009 | |
|
Epalahame Lauaki | New Zealand Warriors | February 2009 | |
|
Jodie Broughton | Leeds Rhinos | Loan | April 2009 |
[edit] Transfers out after Super League XIII
| Nat | Name | Moved To | Fee | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scott Wheeldon | Hull Kingston Rovers | September 2008 | |
 |
Gareth Carvell | Warrington Wolves | £50,000 | September 2008 |
 |
Matt Sing | Retired | September 2008 | |
|
Matty Dale | Featherstone Rovers | September 2008 | |
|
James Webster | Widnes Vikings | September 2008 | |
|
Adam Dykes | Released | September 2008 |
[edit] Captains
[edit] Pre-Super League
1980-81: Steve Norton
1981-85: David Topliss
1985-87: Lee Crooks
1987-90: Dane O'Hara
1990-92: Greg MacKey
1992-94: Russ Walker
1994-96: Steve McNamara
1996: Gary Divorty
1997: Andy Fisher
[edit] Super League
| Name | Started | Ended | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alan Hunte | 1998 | 1998 | Relinquished captaincy |
|
Gary Lester | 1998 | 1998 | Relinquished of captaincy |
|
Karl Harrison | 1999 | 1999 | Retired |
|
Tony Grimaldi | 2000 | 2001 | Moved to Canterbury Bulldogs |
|
Jason Smith | 2002 | 2004 | Moved to Canberra Raiders |
 |
Richard Swain | 2005 | 2006 | Relinquished captaincy |
|
Lee Radford | 2007 | Present[update] | N/A |
[edit] Players earning International Caps while at Hull
|
|
|
|
[edit] Other Notable Players
|
|
|
|
[edit] Honours
- Championship: 1919-20, 1920-21, 1935-36, 1955-56, 1957-58, 1982-83 (6 times)
- Challenge Cup: 1913-14, 1981-82, 2004-05 (3 times)
- Premiership: 1990-91
- Division Two Championship: 1976-77, 1978-79, 1996-97 (3 times)
- Yorkshire Cup: 1922-23, 1968-69, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84 (5 times)
- Yorkshire League: 1918-19, 1922-23, 1926-27, 1935-36 (4 times)
- John Player Trophy: 1981-82
- BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: 1979-80 (not subsequently contested)
[edit] Records
[edit] Player records
- Most tries in a match: 7 by Clive Sullivan vs Doncaster, 15 April 1968
- Most goals in a match: 14 by Jim Kennedy vs Rochdale Hornets- 7 April 1921, Sammy Lloyd v Oldham - 10 September 1978, Matt Crowther v Sheffield Eagles - 2 March 2003
- Most points in a match: 36 by Jim Kennedy vs Keighley, 29 January 1921
- Most tries in a season: 52 by John "Jack" Harrison VC, MC, 1914-15
- Most goals in a season: 170 by Geoff ‘Sammy’ Lloyd, 1978-79
- Most points in a season: 369 by Geoff ‘Sammy’ Lloyd, 1978-79
- Consecutive Tries: 11 by John "Jack" Harrison VC, MC, , 1914-15 & Richard Horne, 2006
[edit] Career records
- Most goals: 687 - Joe Oliver 1928-37 & 1943-45
- Most tries: 250 - Clive Sullivan 1961-74 & 1981-85
- Most points: 1,842 - Joe Oliver 1928-37 & 1943-45
- Most appearances: 501 - Edward Rogers 1906-25
[edit] Team records
- Highest score: 88-0 vs Sheffield Eagles, 2 March 2003
- Highest against: 71-0 vs Bradford Bulls, play offs 2005
- Highest attendance: 28,798 vs Leeds, 7 March 1936
- Fastest ever try in both codes of rugby: 9 seconds by Lee Jackson for Hull FC in the Yorkshire Cup semi-final against the Sheffield Eagles at the Don Valley Stadium, 1992 This World Record still stands today
- Only team to have won every single league game in a season: 1979 Division Two
- Most consecutive Super League victories: 13 games, (April 14, 2006 – July 15, 2006, beating Huddersfield, Wakefield, Catalans, Wigan, Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield, St Helens, Harlequins, Castleford, Catalans, Salford & Warrington).
Also made their first super league grand final but lost to St Helens in 2006
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
