50 Fun Facts About Hull City

Which big cat gives Hull City their nickname?

The Hull Daily Mail coined the nickname in March 1905 in response to the striped kit.

Which two colours make up Hull City's traditional home kit?

Despite a persistent myth about early white shirts, the club wore black and amber stripes from the very beginning.

In which year was Hull City founded?

For the 120th anniversary in 2024, the club sold exactly 1,904 commemorative all-black shirts.

Which stadium was Hull City's home from 1946 until 2002?

By the 1990s the cash-strapped club had let supermarkets Iceland and Kwik Save open stores inside the ground's structure.

The MKM Stadium is shared with which rugby league club?

It is a return of sorts: Hull City's very first friendlies in 1904 were played at the rugby club's ground, the Boulevard.

Who scored the only goal in the 2008 play-off final that sent Hull City to the top flight?

Windass was 39 years old and Hull-born; he later became the club's oldest-ever goalscorer in the Premier League.

Who did the Tigers beat in the 2008 Championship play-off final?

Hull had thrashed Watford 6–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to get there.

Who was Hull City's manager when they first reached the Premier League in 2008?

Brown was placed on gardening leave in March 2010 and replaced by Iain Dowie, whose curious job title was 'Temporary Football Management Consultant'.

Hull City lost their first FA Cup final, in 2014, to which club?

James Chester and Curtis Davies had Hull 2–0 up inside ten minutes before Aaron Ramsey completed the comeback in extra time.

Which manager led Hull City to two Premier League promotions, an FA Cup final and Europe from 2012 to 2016?

Bruce resigned in July 2016 amid an alleged rift with the owners, weeks after winning the play-off final.

Which ex-Barcelona midfielder scored Hull City's first top-flight goal, against Fulham in 2008?

That autumn Hull won away at two of London's biggest clubs and briefly sat joint-second in the table.

Who is Hull City's record goalscorer, with 222 goals in all competitions?

His strike partner Ken Wagstaff is second on both the league and all-competitions lists.

Who holds Hull City's appearance record, with 579 games in all competitions?

Davidson was part of the celebrated 1965–66 Third Division title side under Cliff Britton.

Which owner tried and failed to rename the club 'Hull Tigers'?

He argued that 'City' was too common a name and said that if he owned Manchester City he would rename them 'Manchester Hunter'.

In April 2014, which body rejected the club's application to change its name?

Supporters had rallied under the banner 'City Till We Die'; the owner replied that they could 'die as soon as they want'.

Which Turkish media mogul completed a takeover of Hull City in January 2022?

He later sacked Liam Rosenior despite a near-play-off season, citing a difference in 'football philosophy'.

Hull City contest the Humber derby with Scunthorpe United and which other club?

Many Hull fans regard Leeds United as bigger opponents than either Lincolnshire club, an enmity Leeds do not return.

Why were Hull City and a Lincolnshire neighbour once excused league football on Christmas Day?

Both ports were among the largest fishing centres in the country when Hull joined the Second Division in 1905.

What kind of ground was the Circle, Hull City's temporary home after the Boulevard?

The MKM Stadium was later built about 100 metres from the site of the old Circle.

What was the name of Hull City's first permanent home, opened in March 1906?

The club's record 11–1 win was recorded there in January 1939.

Hull City's biggest ever competitive win was 11–1 in 1939 against which club?

The record away win is 8–2 at Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup in 1932.

Hull have twice lost 8–0, in 1911 and again in July 2020. Who inflicted the 2020 defeat?

Hull lost 16 of their last 20 games that pandemic-hit season and went down to League One.

Duane Darby set a club record by scoring how many goals in an FA Cup replay against Whitby Town in 1996?

Twelve goals in one tie, at a time when the club could barely pay its bills.

What did Hull fans throw onto the pitch at Bolton in 1998 in football's first protest of its kind?

The owner at the time was a former tennis player who wanted to move the club back to the Boulevard and merge it with Hull F.C.

Which former British Davis Cup captain owned Hull City from 1997 to 1998?

In 2000 he had the bailiffs lock the club out of its own ground, which he still owned, over unpaid rent.

Which former Liverpool midfielder became Hull City's first non-British or Irish manager in 2002?

He lasted just six months before Peter Taylor took over and began the climb to the Premier League.

In 1970 Hull became the first team eliminated from a cup competition on penalties. Which competition?

Hull did reach the final of the same competition in 1973, finishing runners-up.

Which former England international was player-manager when Hull won the Third Division North in 1948–49?

That same season the ground drew its record crowd of 55,019 for an FA Cup tie.

Hull's record home attendance of 55,019 came in a 1949 FA Cup tie against which club?

The MKM Stadium record is a more modest 25,030, set against Liverpool on the last day of 2009–10.

Roughly how much did the KC Stadium cost to build in 2002?

Most of the money came from Hull City Council, which had sold part of its stake in Kingston Communications.

What is the current capacity of the MKM Stadium?

The operators have considered expanding it to around 34,000; in UEFA competition it is simply called the Hull City Stadium.

Who scored the first goal at the KC Stadium, in a December 2002 friendly against Sunderland?

The first competitive match there was a 2–0 league win over Hartlepool United on Boxing Day 2002.

Who did Hull City beat in the 2016 Championship play-off final?

Scorer Mohamed Diamé had left for Newcastle within weeks, and the thin squad posed for a now-famous nine-man photo on the pre-season tour.

Which Hull midfielder celebrated a goal in the 6–0 win over Fulham in 2013 with an on-pitch haircut?

He had not scored for more than two years, since a Tottenham game in April 2011.

Hull City's first-ever European match, in 2014, was a 0–0 draw away to a club from which country?

They were then knocked out by Belgium's Lokeren on away goals in the play-off round.

Which two future Premier League stars did Hull sign together on 29 July 2014?

Both would go on to captain their countries and win major trophies at Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

Which winger's 2020 sale to West Ham remains Hull's record transfer fee received?

He had 16 goals in 29 games that season, and Hull collapsed to relegation without him.

Under which head coach did Hull win the League One title in 2020–21?

It was only the fourth league title in the club's history and the first since 1965–66.

Which Oscar-nominated Egyptian actor famously followed Hull City from his home in Paris?

Hull-born actor Tom Courtenay converted him in the 1960s; Sharif was given an honorary degree by the University of Hull in 2010.

Which former Deputy Prime Minister was a well-known Hull City supporter?

He represented Hull East for nearly 40 years and his 2024 funeral was held at Hull Minster.

Which 1961 Elvis Presley song do Hull City fans sing as a pre-match anthem?

When winning, the crowd switches to 'You're getting mauled by the Tigers', a chant rival fans love to mock.

Which future England manager broke into Hull's first team in the early 1980s?

That side, captained by local lad Garreth Roberts, won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1982–83.

Ian Goodison and Theo Whitmore, signed in 1999, were internationals for which country?

Whitmore's 28 caps while at the club remain a Hull record for international appearances.

For which season did Hull switch to blue shirts and white shorts to match the city's civic colours?

The same season the club adopted the three civic crowns of Kingston upon Hull as its first crest.

Hull's 1992–93 home shirt is remembered for what divisive design?

It has since become a cult classic among football-kit collectors.

Who was Hull's youngest-ever debutant, at 16 years and 60 days in 1992?

At the other end of the scale, goalkeeper Steve Harper played at 40 years and 60 days in the 0–0 draw that relegated Hull in 2015.

Which Russian coach spent six months in charge of Hull City in 2017?

He followed Marco Silva, who had resigned after relegation, and was replaced by Nigel Adkins.

Which club did Hull City beat in the 2026 play-off final to return to the Premier League?

It came five years after the Tigers bounced straight back from League One as champions in 2020-21.

Which former Crystal Palace and Charlton boss replaced Phil Brown but could not keep Hull up in 2010?

He was announced as a 'Football Management Consultant', and relegation was confirmed by a 2-2 draw at Wigan on 3 May 2010.

Under which manager did Hull win promotion as Third Division champions in 1965-66?

That began a twelve-season stay in the second tier after several years yo-yoing between the divisions.