Off season type of topic!

People talk about remembering where they were when JFK died, 9/11 happened, etc.

Just wonder if anyone had any FC related ones.

One of mine was coming home from school, unfolding the massive Hull Daily Mail and seeing the headline that we’d signed Peter Sterling. Can still see the back page!

Also remember driving down Wawne Road and putting the sports news on at 5.25 to hear Gateshead were moving to Hull with all their players. The feeling of relief knowing I had a team to support!

I remember being at the Boulevard and Martin Offiah was on the wing for Widnes, first time we had seen him, my mate said his legs were to skinny, and then he made two scintillating breaks, think they may have ended in tries as well. Won’t tell you what my mate Ian said

Im with you on the 1999 one. On Monday 15th November I was in my office in the Guildhall but I couldn’t work and just fretted away the morning waiting to hear from the meeting in the West Riding that was to see A certain Club chairman and the the First Division Clubs refuse us as a hybrid team access to the First Division after we had merged as a Super league Club with Gateshead. At lunchtime I once again wandered into the and came across a press release, which had ‘Embargoed until 12-00 midnight on Monday 15th November 1999’ emblazoned in red ink across the top. The title of the release was ‘Hull City Council welcomes the management of Gateshead Thunder to the City’. I had to read it three times before I realised what all the meetings that had been going on in the council Leaders office, had been about.
Vince Groak, Steve Roberts and the Boys from ‘In Any Kinda Weather’, The Hull Daily Mail, Hull City Council, Shane Richardson, the Council Leader (and FC fan extraordinaire) Pat Doyle and the fans of Hull FC had between them somehow, combined to deliver a miracle and my beloved Club had been saved.

My other one was in in late January 1978, I was driving back to Sutton on my way home from work when I read the HDM board out side a newsagents on James Reckitt Avenue,. It read “Hull sign Norton” and I was dumbfounded, so much so that I did a three point turn in the road and went back to make sure I hadn’t miss-read the placard. We had paid the struggling Castleford club £25,000 and lost one of my favourite players Jimmy Crampon in the deal. But this was one of the best players in the world and he was our player!

Somewhat younger than you lot, and a latecomer to the game, what sticks in my mind most is Tom Briscoe smashing Peter Fox in to touch at my first derby. I was right in chav corner and we knew straight away he’d saved the day.

Also remember pulling my phone out to a text saying “Gareth Ellis!” And frantically checking sky sports news online. Still find it hard to believe we’d signed him, even convinced myself he was probably crocked to stop me getting my hopes of silverware up.

I’m with you on the Gareth Ellis one .

Was in Trinity Market and remember getting the text from my mate telling me we’d signed him.

Couldn’t believe it

I went to see Hull and Rovers at The Boulevard, with my dad, aged 6/7. It was not my first game , that was around 1974, but the one that I really remember. We were losing a tight game , with literally seconds left to play and Super Alf Macklin dived over, in the corner , taking the flag out as he was tackled after scoring to win us the game and the crowd erupted. It may have been 1976/77 and possibly in the cup. I was hooked and we went home and away since then, witnessing as many downs as ups along the way. The other was when Graham Bray scored in the semi final of the cup against Widnes, 1980 at Swinton I think, to get us to Wembley in the historic all Hull final. Loved that feeling, as you see from my moniker!

In that 1980 semi at Swinton wasn't it a run down the right wing by Bray and a pass inside to Ron Wileman for a try that gave Hull a 10-5 winning lead in the final few minutes. Wileman earlier had stopped the big Widnes prop Brian? Hogan from scoring a crucial try after he chased him to the line. Hogan was sent off just before FT.

Came over from Aus for that Wembley shootout to take my Hull mum who was a Rovers fan.

That was it Frddie, wow, my memory told me it was Graham Bray but you're correct, I remember it now. and we went barmy at the end, was such a hard game against much fancied Widnes and we weren't expected to win- I think Rovers got there by beating Saints but that could well be wrong given the memory lapses I am having of late.

Nope I am wrong it was Halifax rovers beat.

Onec of my greatest Hull memories was us beating Saints at the Boleveard they were a star side, hard to remember the year, I'd guess at early 90's as Tim Street was playing, only around 2700 there.

Other two are weather based

Widnes at Home Des Hadler nearly died
Leeds away Tony Smith scored twice.

God that Hull v Widnes game was also etched on my memory, I think it was recorded at -6 the teams didn’t want to come out, I think they had to put Hasler in a microwave

Remember Hasler sprinting off at half time. Surprised he came back out!

Playing in a curtain raiser for West Dock Ave juniors against Chilly Bomb Bomb (Chiltern Street Juniors) in Schools Cup, 62 I think. Winning then taking the bucket round the crowd and being told to Eff Off in the Threepennies. Got to stand next to my Dad in there though. Safer than the blanket collections at half time, I remember a bloke used to wear a mortocycle helmet and the Threepennies jeering him.

Another was when we played Leeds, John Gallagher was their star All Black fullback . We were losing and in the last few moments sent up a hail Mary bomb which was Gallagher's all day long until Gary Nolan took the ball from him in mid air to score and we won. Memory fails me, but that may have been the year we made the Premiership final. Great days. indeed.

Think that try took us to the final

Graham Bray scored our first try in that semi from a Graham Walters pass.

Great memories Rider I got a great interview from a member of the FC backroom staff back then for my book what a half time that was! For those who weren't around then its worth repeating what happened.


"...... Widnes went in 6-0 up! but despite having played the first half with the snow, sleet and rain at their backs, the Hull Dressing Room at the interval was in turmoil.

The Club Doctor at the time, (I think it was Mike Dunham) was summoned by the tannoy to the Home Dressing Room and soon declared that 5 Hull players were suffering from the early stages of hyperthermia. He immediately approached the Referee and requested the game be called off for medical reasons, but when this suggestion was put to the Widnes officials they felt that they were on top and would win and so turned it down.

The half time interval was extended and as the announcers records ran out and we were treated to a second airing of a scratchy rendition of ‘Uptown Girl’, out on the terraces we all wondered just what was happening. Apparently Mike Dixon and Des Hasler were so cold that, in an effort to get their circulation going, Pete Standidge, one of the assistants that day, had to run to the Club House kitchen and get all the baking foil he could find to wrap the pair up. Finally after a break of around twenty five minutes the teams ran out into the sleet and the rain. Both sides changed their shirts, but Hull FC were for reasons unknown, still wearing the dirty wet shorts that they had worn in the first half".

Blanket collections , forgot about them!

Health and Safety not as stringent in those days

Watching us win the floodlight trophy against Rovers. The first time I'd seen us lift silverware. Fantastic night.

Brilliant night, Paul Woods

and Steve Dennison.

Not surprised it was target practice! mind you it encouraged more fans to throw a donation.

One of the first games I remember going to. 18th December 1979. My birthday and what a night. I was standing at the Airlie Street end and it was that packed I could hardly see any of the pitch. Luckily just about the only part of the field I could see was the wing Dennison scored.

Remember being packed in at that end. First “big” game I’d been to at Hull. Watched it on my tip toes!
First time I’d seen some skirmishes at a game as well (down Anlaby Road).

The Elland Road CC replay was quite an experience. Brilliant night obviously but I remember standing at the Kop end (Don Revie Stand now) packed in pens and you literally couldn't move which was scary. Tragically a prelude of what was to happen a few years later at Hillsborough.

Seem to remember it was a Fordyke organised coach trip which was lively on the way back as you can imagine. I didn't over indulge I only had 5 cans as I was only 14 and had school the following morning.

I was 16 on the upper back seat of a double-decker bus that departed from the coast.
8 cans of Norseman, snogging my 15 year old '[ibird[/i' all the way to Leeds.


Seem to remember a train-load from Hull arriving into the kop end after kick-off.
It was rammed with Hull fans in that end.
Great atmosphere under the floodlights.