Hull City AFC

Our first loss of the season! Somehow I can’t see many people shedding a tear though. The Carling cup may be a decent piece of silverware but the overwhelming feeling is that we have bigger fish to fry. Survival in the premier league is, rightly so, Hull citys priority. This was confirmed by Phil Brown, who fielded a completely different starting eleven from the team that picked up a point against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

Both managers here looked to experiment, newly promoted Swansea made eight changes to the starting line up. Hull looked better in the first half. Seemingly falling apart and losing shape in the second. Phil Brown admitted that the best team had won and that is that. No carling cup run this year, but on the flip side it’s one less distraction.

Two matches in. 4 points. Today Hull city proved that they can stand up to the better teams in the premier league. Like last week the first twenty minutes or so proved difficult and Blackburn had the better of the play. After 38 minutes Blackburn went ahead thanks to a long ball from midfield and a well timed run and strike by Jason Roberts. The fact that he managed to tuck himself behind three Hull defenders and stay onside was a great move on his part. It also highlighted to us that at this level every player has to have %110 concentration . 

A huge plus from this game is that we kept pushing until the end. A goal seemed possible right up until the ninetieth minute and Hull could’ve easily picked up the victory. Also the team came back from one nil down, for the second week running. Where Hull may lack in quality and spending power, sheer grit and determination may see us surprise a few people this season. In the mean time, I’ll enjoy seeing city in the champions league spots!

Ninety tense minutes and we did it! Won our first premier league match. I’m happy to say that one match in and we’ve equalled Derby’s winning tally from last season. Thanks to a Geovanni wonder goal.  The first twenty minutes where tough on us but we soon adjusted to the premier pace and didn’t look out matched for too long. Fantastic when you consider that we’ve spent less than a quarter of the money Fulham have pre season.

Phil Browns master stroke was his choice of second half substitutions. Folan and Fagan came on at 70 and 74 minutes respectively. When most around me where calling for Windass instead of Fagan the decision seemed bizarre. This doubt washed away after  81 minutes when Fagan linked up with Folan, scoring our second goal that would turn out to be the winner.

2-1, a fantastic result by anyone’s standards and the pundits predicted doom and gloom for Hull this season is yet to rear its ugly head. A tougher match next week, we face a legitimate top half of the table team in Blackburn. If this week’s performance is anything to go by, we should be okay.

Here we are, in ten years of support I’ve seen new managers, new chairmen, near relegation to the conference. Players and management locked out of the ground, we were nearly bankrupt and there was general doom and gloom.  Then there was a turnaround, the likes of Adam Pearson and Peter Taylor gave the club new hope and paved the way for a brand new outlook. We got the KC stadium and back to back promotions to the Championship.

Today is Saturday the 16^th of August 2008 at 13:26 and anticipation is building for the most important game in Hull City AFC’s history. Our first game in the premier league. No one can deny that the turnaround in fortunes has been unbelievable. What happens now is unpredictable but however this season plays out every Hull City fan will be filled with pride and excitement. COME ON CITY!!

Established 1904, Boulevard rugby ground, become professional. 1930 FA cup semi- final, move to Boothferry Park, years in lower divisions. 1998 great escape, Warren Joyce. Peter Taylor – promotion. Phil Parkinson – rubbish, nearly relegated. 2007, Phil Brown – saviour. Paul Duffen – legend Chairman, more money. Dean Windass -wonder goal. Premier league 2008…

Name: Aaron Rustill.
Age: 22.
Years supported: 10.
First game: Can't remember I was only 12!
Favourite all time player: Dean Windass.
Favourite current player: Ian Ashbee.
Worst ever player: Jay Jay Okocha, he was more spin than substance when he came to Hull last year.
Fantasy signing:  Stevie Gerrard, We could use his experience, quality and consistency.
Tell us a secret:  Not a secret but I was Hull ball boy when I was younger. North Ferriby Vs. Hull, Warren Joyce was manager.
Who's the Daddy:  Phil Brown.
Favourite chant:  'From Boothferry to Wembley, we'll keep the Hull flag flying high'. We’ve moved to the KC stadium and we still sing about Boothferry Park'.
We'll finish: 16th.