Hull FC will face community club opposition in the Challenge Cup for the first time in 27 years next month, with John Cartwright taking his side to face either GB Police, York Acorn, London Chargers, or Oulton Raiders.
The Black and Whites’ opponent for the third round clash is dependent on the results of the first and second round ties, which take place over the next two weeks, wit Hull then beginning their competitive season with cup action on the weekend of February 8-9 before their Super League opener in Perpignan the following week.
But who have Hull faced in the community game before? Here, Hull Live looks at their previous opposition.
1998: Ellenborough
The last time Hull played community club opposition was 27 years ago, with the Black and Whites, prior to their Super League debut, beating the Cumbrian-based side 78-0 at the Boulevard. Hull, then under the Sharks brand, posted 14 tries, with Allen Hunte scoring five. Elsewhere, Rob Nolan, a 1991 Premiership winner, crossed over for a hat-trick, with Graeme Hallas also adding a brace. Logan Campbell, Jason Donohue, and Steve Prescott also got over the line, with Hallas adding 11 goals.
1997: Lock Lane
Hull also faced community club opposition in their last year as a second-tier club. They beat the Castleford-based side 42-0 at the Boulevard, with Gary Divorty scoring a brace of tries. Elsewhere, Rob Danby, Leigh Deakin, Chico Jackson, Gary Lester, Rob Nolan, and Tevita Vaikona crossed over, with Hewitt adding three goals and Kevin Gray two.
1986: Bradford Dudley Hill
Hull faced Dudley Hill in a preliminary round nearly 40 years ago, their first cup fixture since the classic 1985 final against Wigan. They defeated the Bradford-based side 38-10 at the Boulevard, with Dane O’Hara and Garry Schofield each scoring a brace of tries. Elsewhere, Lee Crooks, Steve Evans, and Geoff Gerrard crossed over, with Schofield adding four goals and Evans one.
1980: Millom
Hull hosted another Cumbrian-community side, with Millom heading to the Boulevard in 1980. The Black and Whites, then coached under the late, great Arthur Bunting, won 33-10, with Ronnie Wileman, the pocket rocket hooker, scoring a hat-trick of tries and Paul Woods also crossing for a brace. Elsewhere, Steve Evans and Clive Pickerill also got one try each, with Lee Crooks landing six goals.
1933: Higginshaw
Hull faced Oldham-based community side Higginshaw at the Boulevard back in 1933, with the Airlie Birds running out 37-9 winners. George Bateman scored a brace of tries, while Joe Oliver kicked five goals.
1930: Bickershaw
Located near Wigan, Hull played the Lancashire village outift at the Boulevard back in 1930, defeating them 44-10 with Mr. Old Faithful himself, Joe Oliver, on the scoresheet.
1926: Pemberton Rovers
Hull beat the Wigan-based side 27-3 at the Boulevard. Bob Taylor was on the scoresheet alongside two more club greats in Harold Bowman and E Morgan.
1920: BOCM
Hull faced off against factory side British Oil and Cake Mills, formerly located on the banks of the river Hull, in 1920, defeating them 75-2 at the Boulevard. The factory produced rape speed for one, with an infamous smell filling up the senses before its closure in 2022. As for the cup tie, the Airlie Birds cruised through, scoring 17 tries. Alfred Francis, one of the club’s greatest-ever wingers, crossed over for six, while Bob Taylor, the club’s greatest-ever try-scoring forward, got three. Elsewhere, Jimmy Deveruex and Milner scored braces, while one try each came for Tom Herridge, Alf Grice, Jack Beasty, and Percy Oldham. Jim Kennedy kicked 12 goals.
1913: Seaton Rangers
Hull won this tie 24-2 at the Boulevard with one of the club’s greatest ever Australian players, Herb Gilbert, scoring three tries. Alf Francis also got a brace.
1909: Normanton
Hull’s only previous away fixture against a community club was way back in 1909, with the Black and Whites heading to Horsfalls in West Yorkshire. They won 20-10.
1905: Leigh Shamrocks
Hull defeated the Leigh-based community club 52-0 at the Boulevard. Arthur Freear scored a hat-trick of tries, while Fred Goodfellow landed 11 goals.
1903: Hull Marlborough
Hull first faced off against community opposition from the city over 120 years ago, lining up against Hull Marlbrough at the Boulevard. The Black and Whites ran out 45-0 winners, with Jackson scoring four tries. Elsewhere, Jim Cook and Demetrius Franks got braces while Dicky Goddard, R. Parkinson, and F. Spenceley added one each. Goddard also kicked six goals.
1900: Wath Brow Hornets
Hull defeated the Cumbrian-based side 52-0 at the Boulevard, scoring 14 tries—two of which came for Charles Lempiere, Hockey Driscoll, and Jack Townend.
1898: Radcliffe
Hull faced off against the Greater Manchester-based side at the Boulevard, defeating them 18-0. R. Forshaw scored twice during the victory, with Jack Townend and Fred Gorman also getting over. Willlam Jacques added three goals.
1897: Walkden
The Challenge Cup was first played in the 1896/97 season, with Hull meeting Salford-based side Walkden in their first ever cup tie under Northern Union rules. The Black and Whites ran out 9-0 winners at the Boulevard, with J. Coulthard, C.A. Low, and Wilson Harmer scoring the tries.
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