Hull City from 2003

Hull City AFC had been formed in 1904, spending time as tenants to Hull FC at The Boulevard and Hull Cricket Club at their Circle Ground off Anlaby Road before building their own adjacent ground. The Tigers moved into Boothferry Park in 1946.

The club moved into the newly built council owned KC Stadium towards the end of 2002. Their previous history can be read about here.

 

Peter Taylor was in charge of the side as City got used to their own home before winning promotion from the fourth tier Division Three as league runners-up in 2003-04 as Ben Burgess led the scoring.

The success continued in 2004-15 with another second spot to reach the Championship, aided by the signings of Boaz Myhill and Nick Barmby alongside stalwart Ian Ashbee. The side consolidated before Taylor headed off to Crystal Place to be replaced by Phil Parkinson.

His reign lasted just a few months before the appointment of Phil Brown who injected life into the squad after they looked in real danger of relegation as Michael Turner stabilised the defence before the 2007-08 campaign realised the dreams of all City fans after Paul Duffen had led a consortium to buy the club.

 

The team, including the likes of Dean Windass, Bryan Hughes, Andy Dawson and Fraizer Campbell finished third in the league before defeating Watford in the play-offs to reach Wembley. A dramatic goal from local hero Windass propelled the club to the top flight for the first time in their history.

City stayed up by the skin of their teeth with Geovanni giving fans cheer, before being relegated in 2009-10 season as Iain Dowie took over from Brown towards the end of the season with Stephen Hunt being voted as player of the year.

There were financial issues off the pitch as the returning Adam Pearson soon discovered when he returned in October 2009. The previous owners had spent money they didn't have, encapsulated most by Chairman Paul Duffen including the previous signing of Jimmy Bullard

New owners were sought urgently as Nigel Pearson came in from Leicester City as the new manager. Egyptian born businessman Assem Allam who had lived in the city for many years earning his fortune in marine engineering bought the club in November 2010 alongside his son Ehab and paid off the not inconsiderable debts.

 

The act was publicised as Allam wishing to give something back to the city of Hull. However, in 2011 he looked to buy the KC Stadium to develop the stadium and surrounding area from the local council. The plans were rebuffed.

Allam threatened to move the club to a new stadium at Melton. Meanwhile, Nigel Pearson gradually improved matters on the pitch with Robert Koren starring.

However, in late 2011 Pearson was lured back to manage Leicester City. Nick Barmby was appointed as caretaker, and then full time manager. His style was appreciated by the supporters as the team finished just outside the play offs. 

In May 2012 it was announced that Adam Pearson, who had stayed on in an operational position, would be leaving the club. A week later Barmby's contract was terminated for criticising the owners transfer policy. Steve Bruce came in as the new manager.

Bruce worked wonders with a plethora of new signings. The Tigers were up near the top of the table all season and then won promotion with champions Cardiff City on the final day of the season back to the Premier League.

City continued an upward surge in the their first season back in the top flight. However, Allam caused major controversy and anger amongst the fan base.

Rumours had circulated the previous season that he was looking at trying to change the name of the club. In August 2013 Allam announced that he intended to change the name to Hull Tigers, citing that 'City' was common and lousy and the new name would bring in commercial advantages. 

Fans were far from happy, with the City Til We Die campaign being formed to oppose the move. Meanwhile things continued well on the pitch. Major signings Nikita Jelavic and Shane Long came in to boost an already decent squad with Curtis Davies and Alan McGregor forming a defiant rearguard.

Protests continued at games. Allam eventually consulted fans via a very slanted survey after previously telling a Sunday newspaper that City fans could die as soon as they wanted. The fans said no to the change, as did the East Riding FA and then eventually so did the FA on 9th April 2014.

Back on the pitch the team progressed in the FA Cup. Middlesbrough, Southend United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland were defeated to set up a semi final at Wembley against Sheffield United. In an incredible game City finally won 5-3 in an epic battle.

In the final against Arsenal, James Chester and then Curtis Davies sent City fans into dreamland as they went into a 2-0 lead within nine minutes. Eventually the multi million pound Gunners victored 3-2 after extra time.

Reaching the final meant City qualified for the qualifying rounds of the Europa League for the 2014-15 season. Robert Snodgrass, Tom Ince, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gaston Ramirez, Abel Hernandez and Mohamed Diame joined an already impressive squad while Long departed. After defeating FK AS Trencin, City went out to Lokeren.

Allam, not satisfied with the FA decision announced in September 2014 that the club was up for sale and reiterated that he would walk away if his appeal to have the clubs name changed was turned down by the FA and the Court of Arbitration.

On the pitch City suffered from a lack of goals. Despite a late rally they were relegated on the final day of the season. Bruce looked to change the squad as some big earners were released or sold on. Allam lost another appeal to change the clubs name with the FA.

The manager brought in two loan signings from Arsenal; Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden as well as Scottish international Shaun Maloney during the transfer window of August 2015. City's form fluctuated when up the top end of the table. Many fans were critical of Bruce's tactics.

In the end the team just missed out on automatic promotion but defeated Derby County in the play-off semi-final before a wonder strike from Mohamed Diame at Wembley sent City back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Assem Allam was in ill health, so his son Ehab took over the day to day running of the club. Bruce departed in the summer to be replaced by his assistant, Mike Phelan. Phelan's job was made extremely difficult by the owners as players were sold, including Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson without funds being available for replacements.

Phelan was sacked just after the New Year of 2017 to be replaced by the Portuguese Marco Silva. The Portuguese oversaw a huge improvement in performances but the team narrowly failed to stay up and were relegated to the Championship despite fine efforts from Robert Snodgrass and Sam Clucas.

Silva departed for Watford with the Russian Leonard Slutsky replacing him. He used his contacts to bring in several loan signings while the owners offered little financial help as many Premier League players left the club.

Slutsky was gone in December 2017, with Nigel Atkins arriving as City’s new manager. Eventually the new boss got the team away from the relegation zone by the seasons end. Atkins led the team to a creditable thirteenth place in 2018-19 before moving on at the end of the season.

Grant McCann was chosen as the new manager as he introduced new signings to work along with those remaining from Adkins' era. Relations between some fans and the owners gradually began to thaw after the previously withdrawn concession tickets were reintroduced along with other attempts to reach out.

Not for the first time the peace didn't last for too long. Star players Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki were sold in the January transfer window. City's form dramatically slumped as the team were relegated after being on the verge of the play-offs at Christmas.

McCann made mass changes to his squad as City lifted the League One title in 2020-21 with a fine all round squad performance as Mallik Wilks and Josh Magennis put away the goals. However, the news that most fans of the club wanted to hear was not far away.

In January 2022 the Allams’ finally sold Hull City with the buyer being Turkish media mogul Acun Ilıcalı. The new owner quickly replaced McCann with Shota Arveladze as the new head coach, who led the side to survival at the end of the season.

Former fans favourite Liam Rosenior replaced the Georgian in September 2022. The side improved off the pitch, while crowds returned, and a new positive atmosphere was found around the club. The squad was restructured for the 2023-24 campaign with many new loan signings arriving.

Among those to thrill the Tigers faithful were Fábio Carvalho, Ozan Tufan, and Jaden Philogene. Rosenior was placed by Tim Walter at the end of the season. 

Hull City FC will play in the EFL Championship the 2024-25 season.

My visits

England 3 Serbia & Montenegro 2 (Monday 2nd June 2003) Under 21 International Friendly (att: 24,004)

Having spent many happy occasions at Hull City's old home of Boothferry Park I was absolutely delighted when the club finally got over its financial problems, found itself a good Chairman for the first time since Don Robinson in Adam Pearson. 

For many years we would pass The Circle, home of Hull Cricket and Rugby Union Clubs either on foot or on the train to Boothferry Park Halt. The cricket ground had certainly seen better days since Yorkshire stopped playing there because of the poor facilities and wicket, while the rugby club was nothing to write home about. 

It did occupy a large area in West Park next to George Street where Hull Fair sets up for a week each October. I couldn't wait to go to the KC for the first time. My brother Nick, and his daughter Sally were at the official opening game against Sunderland in December 2002.

It has an all seated capacity of 25,404 in a single-tier, asymmetrical bowl that can seat approximately 20,000, with a second tier on the West Stand that can seat approximately 5,000. The stadium is shared with Hull FC who left their Boulevard home, which is half a mile away. 

I had to wait until Monday 2nd June 2003 for an England Under 21 game against Serbia and Montenegro. I was staying with Nick and had a lovely weekend in York. We drove through with Matt and parked opposite Boothferry Park. I guess old habits die hard! 

We walked down Anlaby Road and went into a couple of pubs on the way. We sat in the South Stand and I was immediately impressed. I was aware it was nothing new for grounds to have concourses with bars and TV's but it was a bit of a culture shock at Hull City!  We had excellent seats to watch a thoroughly entertaining game. 

A strike from Shola Ameobi on fifteen minutes was wiped out shortly after the break by Branimir Petrović. Jermaine Defoe restored the lead with just over twenty minutes remaining, only for Srđan Stanić to restore parity five minutes from time. Darren Bent scored the winner with three minutes remaining to send the crowd home happy.

On the way home we stopped in a local pub for local people in the village of Market Weighton before I caught the 1am coach back to London.

Hull City 4 Cardiff City 1 (Saturday 26th December 2006) The Championship (att: 23,089)

I was visiting Scarborough before Christmas in 2006. Scarborough weren't at home so I decided to take in another City game. Nick got us tickets for the Cardiff City and we were to take Sally as well. City were struggling in the Championship (Division 2) at the time and manager Phil Parkinson had been dismissed. 

Phil Brown was at the helm in a caretaker role and in an effort to make the most of the potential support, Chairman Pearson sold all tickets for £10 with only £5 for concessions. This ensured a virtual full house for this vital encounter against the high flying Bluebirds. 

We showed Sally Boothferry Park, which was now a sorry state, but she just had to have her photo taken there with her dad. It brought back many memories of visiting Hull as a kid as we bought Sally an amber and black scarf and took her into the pub to watch the lunchtime game on TV. 

Our seats were next to the away fans in the North Stand so we got the very best of a vibrant atmosphere. City came out of the blocks flying and blew away the Welshmen with goals from Damien Delaney, Dean Marney, Craig Fagan and Michael Bridges and even having the luxury of missing a penalty. 

Sally absolutely loved it which was good news as I knew I'd have no difficulty persuading her to go to other games in the future. We had a great day out.

Hull City 1 Peterborough United 0 (Saturday 14th January 2012) The Championship (att: 18,074)

I attended this game in memory of my old City mate Nick Groombridge with lots of others of his good pals. I had missed previous seasons because of work commitments, and one one occasion because the game was called off. I'm so glad I made the effort this time. I had a wonderful warming day in the company of good people. 

The biggest shame is that Nick couldn't be with us, as he'd have loved it. I travelled up the day before to stay with my brother Nick and his family in York before catching the train through to Hull the following morning. We met up with the rest of the lads in the Admiral of the Humber and then the Silver Cod to catch up with the Hull lads. 

It was old school for the next hour. Good chat and laughs with top tunes on the juke box; in general anyway! Even Brown's seemed good at the time. Then there was the match. With the greatest of respect to Peterborough United, I didn't think their skills warranted £26 for a look, and so it proved. 

City weren't that much better, but thankfully the classy Robert Koren found a way to break the deadlock. The highlight inside the stadium was when an over officious steward, who was asked about his diet, came to try and confiscate a small hip flask that had kept us warm on medicinal advice. 

He couldn't find it, and if he had it was empty anyway. Apparently this attention was the norm for the regulars amongst our group that day.

I was gobsmacked listening to the round up of the game on Radio Humberside in the taxi back to the old town, that this was apparently a decent match. Thank God I'd missed the bad ones. I had time for a couple of rapid pints before heading back to Paragon for a well deserved sleep on the train back to London.

Hull City 2 Ipswich Town 1 (Saturday 20th October 2012) The Championship (att: 15,983)

My neice Sally suggested that for her seventeeth birthday treat that we went to the match. I took the train up from London, where I met Nick, Sally and little Stanley who was to go to his first City game. Dad arrived soon after as Sally spent some of her birthday money in Princess Quay while I bought Stanley a Tigers scarf. We all walked up to the stadium in plenty of time.

Nick had sorted the seats in the West Stand Upper. Stanley was taking it all in. He'd previously been to a York City home game and then Pickering v Scarborough, which he'd enjoyed. 

However, his first reaction to the KC was that it was like he'd seen on the telly! I purchased him a programme and match day badge before we walked up the steps. Even the turnstiles were a thrill to him, which gave me pleasure too. The two youngsters took their seats while we enjoyed a beer on the concourse.

City started the game well, but Ipswich took the lead through Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and then decided to sit on their advantage. Half time came and went as the home fans and players grew more and more frustrated. 

It looked like the points were heading to East Anglia until at last Ahmed El Mohamady got to the byline and substitute Nick Proschwitz prodded home with six minutes remaining. He didn't look to be anything of note, but he headed in a fine winner three minutes into stoppage time.

We left the ground full of smiles. Nick and his kids went to their car, while Dad and I headed for the station. I enjoyed a couple of beers in the Admiral of the Humber before my train home as Norwich defeated a lacklustre Arsenal on TV. All in all, not a good day to be an Ipswich fan.

Nick said Stanley kept his scarf on until bedtime and put it straight back on again the following morning!

Hull City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 3 (Saturday 12th January 2013) The Championship (att: 16,531)

The annual Nick Groombridge day saw the usual excellent turn out of lads from Scarborough and afar as well as the locals who meet up. I stayed with Dave Cammish in the Station Hotel, arriving on Friday and enjoying some cracking real ale pubs with Fred Firman.

Match day was longer for some than usual as the game had been put back to a tea time kick off for live TV coverage. The pubs of Anlaby Road certainly felt the benefit of our trade. We went out and braved the freezing temperatures and hail storms hoping that second placed City would defeat a Wednesday side near the drop zone.

Again City put in a poor performance. Wednesday cheered on by a noisy but poor following took the lead as Reda Johnson headed home a set piece. The performance from the catering staff tried to make the home team look competent before we went back to cheer the team on. 

Proschwitz came on and The Tigers equalised when Robert Koren glanced home a header. Unfortunately, Wednesday went straight up the other end and restored their lead following a monumental cock up from Eldin Jakupovic in the home net.

He dropped the ball over his own line from a corner before being carried off with a severe case of bruised pride. The visitors made it three as Michail Antonio raced clear and rounded the deputy keeper Mark Oxley. There was a bit of hassle in the seats as some away fans were in the home section and began taunting some pretty fed up and full up lads.

We called it a night and headed away. In stoppage time Jay Simpson missed a penalty for City. They had got what they deserved. The totally incompetent referee Mark Haywood had even assisted by chalking off a Wednesday goal after signalling to the centre spot. He was awful to both sides.

We headed off to The Polar Bear and then Princess Avenue as the lads began to drift off. Somehow Dave and I lasted out until 10.30. It had been a good day and a fitting tribute to our old mate, but a dreadful game. Nothing too unusual there!

Hull City 0 Chelsea 2 (Saturday 11^th January 2014) FA Premier League (att: 24,924)

The sixth annual pilgrimage to our much lost mate Nick Groombridge saw high flying Chelsea in town. I stayed over in Hull with Dave Cammish for another couple of enjoyable evenings. The turnout was as good as ever. It was such a shame for the reason behind the gathering.

City owner Assam Allam was causing loyal fans much anguish as he tried to change the clubs name to Hull Tigers for the following campaign. The supporters certainly made their feelings known.

I sat in the North Stand with Dave, my brother Nick and Chewy. City were excellent for twenty minutes or so before Chelsea gradually took control. In the end they ran out deserved winners with goals from Oscar and a late Fernando Torres strike.

The game had kicked off at lunchtime for TV coverage. We headed down to the old town afterwards for a long drink.

Hull City 0 Newcastle United 3 (Saturday 31^st January 2015) FA Premier League (att: 23,925)

It was back to the KC for Nick Groombridge Day. Poor Nick would have been just as gutted as the rest of us at such an abysmal gutless performance from City. Goals from Remy Cabella, Sammy Ameobi and Yoan Gouffran sealed the game for an average Geordie team.

I sat with Chewy in the North Stand. Nick took my nephew Stan to the game and to the pub for the first time with us. He suggested leaving early to get back to meet the others who’d watched on TV. The general agreement was that City were heading for the Championship. Only time would tell.

I went just for the day on this occasion and had an excellent time in the pubs with good people. The turn out was just as impressive, paying a deserved tribute to a top bloke. 

Hull City 6 Charlton Athletic 0 (Saturday 16^th January 2016) The Championship (att: 16,430)

Once again an excellent gathering had assembled for Nick Groombridge day. We met at Pearson’s on Princess Avenue, which was a fine choice as it showed Sheffield Wednesday defeat Leeds as well as England’s march to victory over South Africa in the Test Match.

I was with Nick and Stan, having stayed in York with them overnight before catching the train. We even managed an impromptu meeting of the Beer Battered Seadogs Cricket Club as a quorum of members was present!

Nick got us seats in the East Stand, which was a first for me. As predicted on my previous visit, City were back in the second tier, but going into the game in second spot in the table. The visitors from south London were in the relegation spots and in real turmoil on and off the pitch.

We had an excellent view as City tore into a woeful Addicks side straight from the kick off. Abel Hernández finished in fine style after just nine minutes. He made it two six minutes later after being set up by the impressive Sam Clucas. The same man was provider for Rob Snodgrass to make it four with another fine finish. Hernández made it four before the break as he finished off an excellent team move.

Some of the lads left after an hour, just after Mohamed Diamé smashed home a beauty from just outside the box. The impressive Isaac Hayden rounded off the scoring with a deflected shot the edge of the area. Charlton’s fans were small in number, but their support was top class and with plenty of dark humour. I hope that they enjoyed the floodlight show after each goal; the latest daft wheeze from Allam and co.

Just before full time we made a dash for it, with Andy Crossland who was on a rare excursion to the KC. Young Stan’s fitness levels were given a good examination as we needed to be back at Paragon for the 17.11 train back to York.

My day was far from over. While disappointed that I couldn’t be with the other chaps in the old town, I was heading to Edinburgh to stay over before the following days match between Falkirk and Hibernian. Nick and Stan were not on their own looking a little bit doubtful when news and pictures came of snow storms north of the border!

After time for an ever excellent pint in the York Tap, I boarded the train north for a nap to refresh for last orders to round off another cracking day, which our old mate would have loved once again.

Hull City 3 AFC Bournemouth 1 (Saturday 14^th January 2017) Premier League (att: 17,963)

It was our annual trip to City for Nick Groombridge Day and I had again stayed in York the evening before. Our train ride was definitely more exciting this time as I’d bought Stan an Owzthat dice cricket game as part of his Christmas present. We had fun trying to play that on a line that was not the smoothest!

I got a shock when meeting the lads in the Admiral of the Humber. I’d bought tickets for Brentford v Newcastle United the following Monday but the fixture had been brought forward by a couple of days without me checking. Fortunately through the power of modern technology I was able to send an email to Griffin Park and have my money refunded.

Six of us got into a taxi to the game; the three of us from York plus Dave Cammish, Dave Kemp and Chewy. The queues were long but we got into our corner seats just before kick off. For the first fifteen minutes we wondered why we’d bothered?

City had just appointed Marco Silva as their new manager. After knocking Swansea City out of the FA Cup the week before, this was his first league test. The visitors were faster, stronger and far classier in the opening stages.

There was an air of inevitable resignation when Harry Maguire committed a foul in the area on just three minutes, which Junior Stanislas put away to make it 1-0. Crowds were down mainly because of the fall out with the Allams, but the mood was not helped by the early stages of this game.

Remarkably the tide turned in an instant. City put a couple of decent moves together before they swept upfield, with Tom Huddlestone finding Andy Robertson in acres of space to send over a brilliant cross for Abel Hernandez to head home the equaliser.

The Tigers ended the half in total control as the mood lightened as we grabbed a half time beer and went to see Nick’s plaque on the concourse wall.

City came back out fired up and took the lead with a goal of real quality five minutes after the restart when Hernandez cut inside and fired a hard and low shot across Artur Boruc and into the far corner.

Seven minutes later City made it 3-1 when a Huddlestone shot from the edge of the box was deflected past Boruc from the head of Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings. The home side closed the game out and gave two debutants a run out; one replacing Robert Snodgrass who was making his final appearance for the club.

We were a happy group on our return to the George in the Land of Green Ginger. Unfortunately I took my eye off the ball meaning Dave and I missed our train back. It was entirely my fault. 

I managed to use my RMT Union membership card and LUL Staff Pass to persuade the guard to let us have a free ride to Doncaster. Unfortunately the chap on the service to Kings Cross was of more company focus!

To round off a top day I met Steve Speller and ended the night watching Match of the Day in Colindale with some new friends.

Hull City 2 Manchester United 1 (Thursday 26^th January 2017) EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg (att: 16,831)

City had reached the semi final of the League Cup as the EFL Cup had become for the first ever time. Despite losing the first leg 2-0 to two late goals at Old Trafford, I still gave Marco Silva’s team a chance.

I’d watched Scarborough in action against Richmond Town in the North Riding Senior Cup at Stokesley the previous evening, spending the night and next morning in my old home town before taking the train down to Hull and heading to Fred Firman’s house.

Fred was putting me up for the night so I could head to Manchester Airport the next day for a weekend of football in Germany. We headed to meet Andy Crossland pre match where we enjoyed beers in Hull’s old town in The Head of Steam and the fantastic Ye Olde Black Boy.

We’d left it rather late for kick off but Fred came up trumps with a taxi number. Two Man Utd fans asked if they could cadge a lift. They turned out to be decent enough old school lads. Our estimation of them went up when they insisted on paying!

Again the queues were ridiculous. This time I missed kick off before we found our excellent South Stand seats. Again City fans voted with their feet. The visiting United hordes more than filled their section and made a real noise all night.

City were coping rather well on the pitch before they got the rub of the green ten minutes before the break when Marcus Rojo was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Harry Maguire in the box with referee Jon Moss pointing to the spot. Tom Huddlestone fired home the penalty.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic came close to levelling things up in an instant but he was denied by a marvellous David Marshall save. United did increase their aggregate lead to 3-1 on sixty six minutes when Huddlestone tackled Marcus Rashford in the box, but the ball ran to Paul Pogba who fired home.

City regrouped and continued to press after Rojo had come close to extending the lead. Oumar Niasse saw a header come off the United bar with David de Gea beaten. However, Niasse was not to be denied with six minutes remaining when he finished off a fine move to make it 2-1.

City tried to find an elusive goal that would have taken the tie to extra time, but the United defence held firm to head to the Wembley final to take on Southampton.

We headed to the Silver Cod instead to have a good chat and beers before a McDonalds supper. It was an early start the next morning, but I’s thoroughly enjoyed another visit to the 2017 UK City of Culture.

Hull City 0 Reading 0 (Saturday 13^th January 2018) The Championship (att: 14,300)

It was our annual Nick Groombridge pilgrimage to Hull; with just five of us leaving the pubs to go to the match. The drinkers probably got the better end of the deal. It was cold; the crowd was even lower than the announced figure and the atmosphere flat with a hint of toxicity.

I’d gone up the day before with Dave Cammish and enjoyed an evening out in fine company. I’d started off Saturday morning with a long walk to the new home of Hall Road Rangers to put me in the mood for a few drinks and food.

The visitors turned up determined not to concede a goal, so I guess that they should have been satisfied. City tried their best, but were missing invention and an injection of pace. Recently employed manager Nigel Adkins had at least made them more solid at the back.

The highlight of the first half was the ovation given to former City defender Paul McShane when he was forced off with injury and then a disallowed goal as Jon Toral was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of the hands of Vito Mannone.

Toral and then Jarred Bowen should probably have done better than have their efforts blocked in the second half, before Alan McGregor pulled off a superb double save to deny Liam Moore.

City continued to press, without much luck. They probably deserved all three points. I headed back for a couple of beers with Chewy and Kempy before grabbing my bag from the Gilson Hotel before the train home.

Hull City 3 Birmingham City 0 (Saturday 21^st December 2019) EFL Championship (att: 11,334)

My few days off from work afforded me the chance to kill several birds with one stone. I headed to York the previous afternoon, where I had a lovely evening of TV while “looking after” my niece and nephew; Sally and Stan.

I need to be in Scarborough on Sunday lunchtime for a family meal, so I arranged to stay with Karl and Donna and have beers in the town on Saturday evening. It was most convenient to go to watch the Tigers on Saturday afternoon!

I’d been a bit reluctant as the cheapest ticket was £33. It was either that or go elsewhere and pay less for a game I wouldn’t be anywhere as bothered about. My decision was made when Chewy said he’d be going, so I arranged to meet him pre match.

Ridiculously cheap beer prices in The Ebenezer Morley; where the Tetley’s was excellent, and then The Griffin were our pubs of choice before walking across West Park to the stadium. It was noted that the police presence was the highest we’d seen at a game for years. Perhaps they’d been tipped off?

My seat was just a couple of rows behind my mate in the East Stand in the singing area close to the away fans. It was good to see plenty of youths supporting the team again with relations with the owners slowly beginning to thaw.

Leonardo Da Silva for the Tigers was outstanding from the off as Josh Bowler and then Jackson Irvine went close in the opening stages. Big striker Tom Eaves was causing havoc for the Blues defenders; whose support seemed just as happy to celebrate Aston Villa conceding goals at the same time.

Francisco Villalba forced George Long into a good low save on a rare Birmingham foray. Jarrod Bowen saw his volleyed effort for the hosts saved by Connal Trueman. Despite the plentiful Hull possession, it looked like they’d trot off with a blank score line at the interval.

That was until Tom Eaves rose at the near post to glance home a corner from Kamil Grosicki. It was just the boost City required and they never looked back in a second half in which I joined Chewy in some spare seats handily located on the end of the row.

Grosicki curled a shot just over before the lead was doubled on fifty eight minutes. Bowen produced some quality skills and then released Grosicki who went straight through the middle before drawing and dinking over Trueman.

Alvaro Gimenez contrived to head wide from close in at the back post for Birmingham. A goal at that point may have offered hope, but the opportunity was gone. Bowen saw a shot saved as the team continued to put in a fine performance.

The scoring was completed a couple of minutes from time as young home grown sub Keane Lewis-Potter made a bit of a mug of experienced centre back Harlee Dean before firing hard and low across Trueman into the net.

I watched the last couple of minutes on my way along the front to the corner exit before legging it at full time. I had a train to catch and wanted to grab a sarnie along the way. I’d thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and thought City looked a good solid outfit.

An excellent evening was spent in the company of Karl in several Scarborough pubs before the meal went off wonderfully the following day. My fine Yorkshire weekend was ended with a lovely catch up over pints in York with my brother Nick.

Hull City 0 Fulham 1 (Saturday 11^th January 2020) EFL Championship (att: 11,347)

This was shocking game in poor windy conditions with one bit of class from Ivan Cavaleiro deciding things. City huffed and puffed; Fulham shut up shop and did a fine job of frustrating and wasting time; as perfected by Aleksandar Mitrović.

Fair dos. The Tigers did a job on the visitors at the Cottage a couple of months ago. This was payback. The hosts had a late goal chalked off for offside, but it just wasn’t to be. The away fans didn’t seem to be bothered by the lack of entertainment on show.

Far more importantly, it was a great day out following a venture around North Yorkshire the previous day where I topped up my photo collection with visits to the homes of Selby Town and Tadcaster Albion as well as a couple of fine pub sojourns.

I’d then spent a lovely evening with the family playing darts, eating exquisite fish and chips and enjoying the excellent BBC4 offerings on punk and then a programme on music around the regions, featuring Scotland, Ireland and Wales while Nick and I enjoyed the whisky.

My brother had booked an earlyish train the next day; meaning we were the first to arrive at The Admiral of the Humber and were able to claim a decent area for those on route. It was great to catch up with lots of good people.

We continued over the road to the Morley where I got Stan to pose for a photo that made his Mum laugh if nothing else. It’ll be one that I want to replicate for real in years to come. He knew when to ask the right questions at the right time as we ended up getting a cab to the game!

Word had got around about my none too secretive intended move to Thailand later in the year. I was offered lots of support in general, but it did make me realise that I’d miss friends and days such as this.

I just wish that Nick Groombridge had have been there. He would love the concept of lads meeting up for a good drink in his honour and some heading to the match. He’d have been buzzing about wanting to talk to everyone. He really was a top lad.

I was also delighted that Nick and Stan went to the game. Nick was naturally miffed with the ownership of the Allam's and been staying away. Of late they'd made strides to try and reach out to the fans.

While cynics could easily claim that this was because the Premier League parachute money had run out, at least there was some signs of contrition. They'd both purchased match cards which gave a £6 discount each time they bought a match ticket. 

In typical City fashion the online sales then also docked £6 for the additional tickets Nick got at the same time for Kempy and myself. You really couldn't make it up! As Kempy pointed out, it was nice to beat them for a change and the two pints would be greatly appreciated!

I remember the days when losing football results would ruin my weekend; and while it's nice when your team wins, it's not massively important in the grand scheme of things.

Friendships and laughter matter far more.

Hull City 0 Derby County 1 (Wednesday 18^th August 2021) EFL Championship (att: 10,451)

Once the new seasons fixtures came out and it was confirmed that spectators would be allowed in following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, I got on with planning some trips. If things went to plan, I’d be heading to Thailand for an extended spell a few months later.

My pal Fred Firman had been on the blower and told me to bear in mind a visit to Hull for a catch up. This Wednesday evening match worked out perfectly with the day off work and a late start the next day.

I went with the cut price travel option and decided that the Megabus service by train to East Midlands Parkway and then coach to Hull via several old industrial cities was a decent idea. It allowed me some rest and reading time.

Fred picked me up, with fellow Scarborough fan Andy Crossland also with us. We’d be met at Fred’s house by former Boro skipper Dave Kemp as we enjoyed nibbles for tea with a beer and chat before heading to the Anlaby Park pub.

The establishment had been refurbished but was still earthy customer wise. One decided we were his friends as he howled along to Pink Floyd while Kempy upset the extremely attractive barmaid by laughing when she dropped some glasses.

A bus took us to the Silver Cod, not long ago a packed hive of Tiger fans, now with the feeling of a nondescript match. Over the road the Malt Shovel was more vibrant as we were joined by Dave’s Dad and his brother Andy.

Dave had managed to source a couple of freebie tickets and split the saving between 5 of us meaning it was £18 a pop. Otherwise, it was a jaw dropping £33. The poor attendance figure was down to that along with the owners sucking the life out of the place.

We sat in the East Stand and witnessed poor game that had 0-0 written all over it. City pressed in the early stages with Lewie Coyle pressing forward from right back and Keane Lewis-Potter buzzing about.

Soon after the break a goalkeeping howler from Matt Ingram allowed Sam Baldock to score. It was going to be a long season for fans of both clubs on this evidence. The Rams perhaps had some cause for optimism after Wayne Rooney had made some astute experienced signings.

The one highlight for City the introduction of an XXL Tom Huddleston from the bench who was given an ovation from all sides of the ground. He was still a wonderful footballer, at least in this company, head and shoulders above his teammates.

Former Tiger Curtis Davis alongside fellow veteran Phil Jagielka snubbed any weak attacks for Derby that the hosts could muster with the aid of a tweak in tactics and formation that seemed to quell Coyle’s forays.

After the game we trudged back over to Anlaby Road. Andy had used his common sense and not bothered with the match and headed home. The five remaining of us visited the William Gemmell, a former social club, for more socialising.

As is often the case, the company and that part of the occasion far outweighed the match. I didn’t need much to fall asleep back at Fred’s but woke ready for my train journey back to the metropolis for work.

The magical nights under six floodlights on the carpet like pitch at Boothferry Park had long gone like my shape, hair and innocence. I’m not sure when, but I was sure I’d return. And that’s the problem. Dodgy owners know they’ve got lifelong fans.