|
Hull FC Rugby Club Shirt History
This page is probably of interest to fans of my hometown Rugby
League team, (there are two but I wont mention the other one!!), that team is
called Hull Football Club who are one of the founder members of the English
Rugby League, Originally begun in 1865 this team has a proud history and is one
of the best supported Rugby league teams in the United Kingdom.
The aim of this page is an ongoing project I am attempting to
form a complete and authoritative impression of the Hull Rugby Clubs Shirt over
the years.
Primarily, this will be concerning Shirts since sponsorship
commenced in the 1980s, as basically the kit was similar in many ways prior to
that period i.e., black and white irregular hoops.
if anyone has anything to add to this page which is in a
period of development please feel free. If you could take a picture of the shirt
you have front and back in good resolution to assist that would be tremendous!.
Prior to the Mid 1980s Hull FC like most sporting clubs didn't
participate in the now commonplace shirt sponsorship deals. ABI Caravans were
the clubs first main sponsor and if memory serves had the shirt deal in two
periods over around 8 or so years in total ending in 1997 when they went into
receivership and faced a management takeover, Sponsors since then have been
Since 1985 here are the main shirt sponsors
"Ice" , "JWE" , "JWP", "Kit" , "The Deep" (local aquarium!), "Shopacheck"
(finance company), "Flightshop", "GEMTEC" and last but no means least "P &
O Ferries" .
Please add advice here
http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?t=332181&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
If any of the folk whom are viewing this wish to purchase a "
Retro " Hull shirt made to exacting specifications then please check here
as I have a thread going we need 40 folk to buy one and we are
over half a way there,
http://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?t=343062&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
These shirts are brilliant and made by "
OctopusSports.com " if you add your name to our thread those who want one
will be getting discount be quick though as these are a limited edition run.
The first shirt is the one which is currently available the "trad"
one may be re released depending on interest from folk such as me and you!!!
THE PICTURES BELOW HAVE BEEN USED AFTER PERMISSION
FROM OCTOPUS SPORTS
A link to octopus sports website
http://www.octopussport.com/hull_rl/hull_rl.htm
The first picture shows what is a traditional Hull Football
Club Shirt, through my research this shirt formed the basis of Hulls Kit
throughout most of their existence until sponsorship commenced.
This shirt is obviously highly regarded by Hull FC fans for
sentimental reasons.
FAREWELL TO THE BOULEVARD LIMITED EDITION
SHIRT 1895 - 2002
1977 - 1982 approximately.
This shirt is as traditional as it gets!, Traditional Rugby
Neck with collar, no badge on front and no company logo, black and white
irregular hoops - the business. Made by the famous Shirt company Medallion for
the club in the late 1970s before they changed to umbro!. A great shirt!!.
1980 Wembley Shirt Player Issue
The following picture which will inevitably get folk who love the
club foaming at the mouth is a 1980 Player issue shirt if this isn't the best
shirt a Hull FC fan has even seen I have yet to see one, Unfortunately this isn't
mine ( I've asked and no way will he sell it! ), picture kindly provided by Mr
Richard Watson ( thanks for that Richard ). He wrote in an email that this was
provided by his grandfather whom was Club Chairman at the time , a shirt beyond compare
I'm sure you will agree!!.
1982 - 1986 approximately.
Widely worn by FC fans
in the glory days of the late 1970s and 1980s when we were regular visitors to
the Challenge Cup Final at the Old Wembley. Thanks to Chewie for selling me this
shirt!. My mother gave my mint one to Dove house thinking as it was in the
cupboard I'd never wear it again!, Like you say mate its incredibly small I'm thin build and can just get
into it!, maybe our diet was poorer them days!
Below are a couple of images I have done myself of the first Shirts with
Sponsorship on the front it was from the Season 1985 and 1986 and was worn by the greats
of that era Like Lee Crooks and Knocker Norton. Apologies but I isn't got one of
these shirts myself but obviously would love one! Manufactured by Umbro Sports.
This is as good a representation I can do but you get the idea!.
ABI CARAVANS SHIRTS 1984 AND 1985 SEASONS
1989 - 1991 Away Shirt ( Once again
Acknowledgement to Richard Watson for this great photo ). Three Quarter Sleeves!
1990? Thanks to Paul
Slingsby for putting the shirt below forward for inclusion.
I remember there was a lot of Hoo Harr due to it being rather
a radical change with the inclusion of the Purple why they went for Purple I
cannot remember.
1991/1992
1992 - 1993 Season Home Shirt.
and the above shirt blown up in section to highlight team members
Away Shirt From the Same Season ( thanks to
Richard again for this one!! )
1993/1994 Season ( home Shirt Same as 92/93 )
Away Shirt was the lovely one below thanks to Richard Watson again for the
information he gave my appreciation for your time and efforts Richard!
1994 / 95
The season we got relegated.
The sponsor changed to ABI
Caravans, who had a coloured logo on a hooped shirt with
short black sleeves.
The away kit was royal blue with
blue and white diamonds on the sleeves.... Richard Watson.
Oh and by the way anyone
remember these two guys, Point for Each and no it isn't the
Communards!!!!!Please
note it is totally unfounded that the two guys below have
been seen frequenting some of the More shall we say it
" Single Sex type " pubs in Hull!!, but they do like their
"Camping " Holidays!!!
1995 - 1996
This
was the August to January season, and
the league Centenary Season
The
hoops were better spaced and the ABI
logo was now black.
The
away shirt continued to be the Blue with
checked sleeves. - Richard Watson.
Hutchie Provided the picture used
above, Cheers Mate!.
1996 First Summer Rugby Season - Ill
leave the words to Mr Watson who is more eloquent than me, cheers for that and
once again thanks for your invaluable contributions.
"The first summer season, with
Super League starting but us stuck in Division 1 (Salford
went up)
We wore an awful black shirt
with silly little white hoops on it....
Away shirt was still Blue with
the checked sleeves (but I think we only wore it once, and
used the home kit for most games)"
Hull Sharks Era 1997
- 1999 Inclusive.
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. Hull FC finished
below the cut-off point of 10th in the existing top flight and
were excluded from the new Super League. But on winning the
first division title in 1997 they were promoted to Super League
unlike their near rivals Hull Kingston Rovers who had to wait
until 2007 to be promoted by achieving the same, Rovers remained
in the Rugby wilderness whilst Hull progressed from 1997
onwards!.1997 Words
courtesy of Richard Watson.
Just BEFORE we
became Hull Sharks, we had agreed a new
shirt that was basically white with VERTICAL
stripes running down to a black V. This is
our only shirt to have had vertical stripes.
We only played
one match in it (away at Saints in the cup
23/2/97) before scrapping it and going with
the new Umbro shark's shirts for the rest of
1997 (like your picture).
A few were sold
in the club shop before being sent back to
the manufacturer. Luckily I bought one......
Below is a Picture of the home shirt of the
1997 Season
Main Sponsor ABI Caravans
And the Away one (thanks to Wellsy)
Below are two pictures taken of the shirt I believe from the
1998
Season ( thanks to Wellsy for clarification! )
Main Sponsor being " ICE "
Note this was in the famously contested "Hull Sharks" Era
And Away Shirt
1999 Season ( home first , Away Chequered )
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=45626 (about the Deal
between JWE and Hull FC.
 
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 that Being Hull Football Club.
2000 Season ( home first , Away Second )
2001 Season
2001 Main Sponsor KIT ( Kingston
Communications company / Television / Other Service ). Yorkshire Beef on arms.
Made by Excito , No Collar very stylish looks oldie Worldie!!
the 2001 away shirt also had " KIT " in blue on the front (as
above ) it was a Turquoise colour and had a black
collar, arms were half white and half turquoise.
( No picture as yet! )
2002 Season
The 2002 home shirt was exactly
the same as the 2001 home shirt above with
KIT on the front although the sponsorship names on
the arms were different those being as the away shirt Red "Max
Gold Solicitors" ( aint got a picture of this shirt yet but it was as
I say practically identical! ).
2002 home shirt
2002 away shirt
2003 Season Home and Away
2004 Season
Below are two pictures of the shirt from the
2004 Season Main Sponsor "
Flightshop "
Other Associated Sponsors were 1. All Clear Glass, 2.
Campbell's Water Jet, 3. Jones Electrical Supply Co. 4. CBA.
The shirt although basic shows a move back to more traditional
lines.
The 2004 away season shirt was
exactly the same as the 2003 away season shirt (
above ) but had " The Deep " and
"Try Hull" on the front like the
2005 away shirt ( haven't got any photos of this
one as I don't own one as yet! )
Pasted from the Net Why the "Deep" Sponsored the "away strips"
only
Howes Etc successfully persuaded Hull-based The Deep, the World’s only
submarium, and City Image, responsible for boosting Hull’s profile, to jointly
sponsor the away jersey. The marketing strategy was based on The Deep’s
potential customer catchment's area dovetailing with Rugby League’s network of
northern clubs in the Tetley’s Super League.
2005 Season
Below are two pictures of the shirt from Challenge Cup Winning
Season 2005
Main Sponsor " GEMTEC " all other sponsors unchanged
2006 Season
2006 Away Shirt
note this is the female version ( but team shirt exactly the same style )
2007 Season
I think we all can remember what last seasons away shirt
looked like!.
It was blue in different shades P&O Ferries main sponsor
2008 Season
(Player issue Shirts )
these shirts are as worn by the players on match day and are
made out of a special stretchy fabric, also the collars are stitched in and
strengthened considerably they are allot more considerably and far superior to
the Replicas below them!.
the club shop often sell the above shirts on ebay after they
have been worn, and can on average be purchased after bidding up to
usually between double and upwards of the asking price of the
Replica which is £42.99 depending on the player concerned a Berrigan match worn
one like above went recently for £300+.
I think everyone knows what this seasons away shirt looks
like?.
it is like this, Pretty girl unfortunately not in with your
£42.99!
And the above shirt framed
| 
