Hull FC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the football (soccer) team of the same city, see Hull City A.F.C.
| Hull FC | |
 |
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| Full name | Hull Rugby League Football Club |
| Emblem | Modified coat of arms (Kingston upon Hull) |
| Colours | Black and White |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | Super League (Europe) |
| Ground | KC Stadium |
| Official website | www.hullfc.com |
Hull FC is a professional rugby league football club formed in 1865 and based in Hull, England. They were one of the founder members of the Northern Union which was formed in 1895. 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 supported Hull FC while Hull Kingston Rovers were supported by the east half, the 'border' usually being regarded as the River Hull. The club reverted to their former name of Hull FC in 1999, after Hull (then known as Hull Sharks) merged with Gateshead Thunder after both clubs ran into financial difficulties.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The club was formed by a group of ex-schoolboys from York, who had been at Rugby school, in 1865. The club immediately took on members who were plumbers and glaziers.
The club moved into the Hull Athletic Club at the Boulevard, and subsequently played their first ever match in September of that year. 8,000 people turned out to witness the first club's match.
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. A year later the Airlie Birds won their first Challenge Cup, beating Huddersfield in the semi-final and Wakefield Trinity in the final. 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.
[edit] Post World War two
In 1954, the black Welshman Roy Francis became the first black professional coach in any British team sport, when he coached Hull.
After the second world war, Hull won two Championship in three years, beating Halifax in 1956 and Workington Town in 1958. These two triumphs healed the wound of two successive Yorkshire Cupfinal defeats in 1955 and 1957. They lost in two further Challenge Cup finals to Wigan and Wakefield 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.
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. The signing of Australian Peter Sterling 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 by Wigan at Wembley Stadium in 1985 with a score of 28 to 24 in Wigans favour. A number of subsequent coaches, such as Brian Smith and Noel Cleal 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.
[edit] Super League era
When the Super League was formed, it was suggested that Hull should merge with Hull Kingston Rovers to form 'Humberside'. This was resisted but the club changed its name to 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.
The club did not join the Super League until 1997. Hull and Gateshead Thunder merged at the end of 1999, after the owner of the two clubs could not afford to keep both afloat and Hull reverted to their original name, Gateshead later reforming as a new club but retaining the Thunder tag. Ex-St Helens and Gateshead Thunder coach Shaun McRae was at the helm from 2000 up to 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. They are joint tenants at the stadium alongside city's football team: the two teams have priority use at 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 3rd 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 8th 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 23rd 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 have signed five players. Matt Sing, 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.
[edit] 2007 Squad
| Number | Player | Position | Previous Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Shaun Briscoe | Full Back | Wigan Warriors | |
| 2 |  |
Matt Sing | Winger | North Queensland Cowboys | |
| 3 | |
Kirk Yeaman | Centre | Hull FC Academy | |
| 4 | |
Sid Domic | Centre | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | |
| 5 | |
Gareth Raynor | Winger | Leeds Rhinos | |
| 6 | |
Paul Cooke | Stand Off | Hull FC Academy | |
| 7 | |
Richard Horne | Scrum Half | Hull FC Academy | |
| 8 | |
Ewan Dowes | Prop | Leeds Rhinos | |
| 9 |  |
Richard Swain | Hooker | Melbourne Storm | |
| 10 |  |
Garreth Carvell | Prop | Leeds Rhinos | |
| 11 | |
Lee Radford | Second Row | Bradford Bulls | |
| 12 |  |
Shayne McMenemy | Second row | Halifax RLFC | |
| 13 | |
Danny Washbrook | Loose Forward | Hull FC Academy | |
| 14 | |
Motu Tony | Utility | Castleford Tigers | |
| 15 | |
Paul King | Prop | Hull FC Academy | |
| 16 | |
Danny Tickle | Second Row | Wigan Warriors | |
| 17 |  |
Willie Manu | Second Row | Castleford Tigers | |
| 18 | |
Wayne Godwin | Hooker | Wigan Warriors | |
| 19 | |
Graeme Horne | Second Row | Hull FC Academy | |
| 20 | |
Richard Whiting | Stand Off | Featherstone Rovers | |
| 21 |  |
Hutch Maiava | Prop | Cronulla Sharks | |
| 22 | |
Craig Hall | Centre | Hull FC Academy | |
| 23 | |
Tommy Lee | Scrum Half | Hull FC Academy | |
| 24 | |
Anthony Thackeray | Scrum Half | Hull FC Academy | |
| 25 | |
Matty Dale | Second Row | Hull FC Academy | |
| 26 | |
Scott Wheeldon | Prop | Hull FC Academy | |
| 27 | |
Danny Houghton | Hooker | Hull FC Academy | |
| 28 | |
Mike Burnett | Second Row | Hull FC Academy | |
| 29 | |
Nathan Freer | Prop | Hull FC Academy | |
| 30 | |
Ross Divorty | Second Row | Hull FC Academy |
[edit] Captains
1997: Andy Fisher
1998: Alan Hunte/Gary Lester
1999: Karl Harrison
2000-01: Tony Grimaldi
2002-04: Jason Smith
2005-06: Richard Swain
2007: Lee Radford
[edit] Honours
- Championship: 1919-20, 1920-21, 1935-36, 1955-56, 1957-58, 1982-83 (6 times)
- Challenge Cup : 1913-14, 1981-82, 2005 (3 times)
- Premiership: 1990-91
- Division Two Championship: 1976-77, 1978-79, 1997 (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: 1991
- BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: 1979-80
[edit] Records
[edit] Player records
- Most tries in a match: 7 by Clive Sullivan vs Doncaster, 15th April 1968
- Most goals in a match: 14 by Jim Kennedy vs Rochdale Hornets- 7th April 1921, Sammy Lloyd v Oldham - 10th September 1978, Matt Crowther v Sheffield Eagles - 2nd March 2003
- Most points in a match: 36 by Jim Kennedy vs Keighley, 29th January 1921
- Most tries in a season: 52 by 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 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, 2nd March 2003
- Highest against: 71-0 vs Bradford Bulls, play offs 2005
- Highest attendance: 28,798 vs Leeds, 7th 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, (14/04/2006-15/07/2006, 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
- Official site
- Official Picture Site
- blackandwhites.co.uk - Unofficial fan site
- www.oldfaithful.org.uk - Fan site
- Google-Video
- Profile Hull fc on itsrugby.co.uk
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