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279 The Dentists Dairy This week the Dentist Diary is exactly 6 years old! Boy that’s flown and here we are less than 5 weeks off the first meaningful rugby of the new season; that joy of joys, a game against the Dobbins, in what is jokingly referred to as a Friendly! It’s certainly been another extremely quiet week at the Club, but that didn’t stop us fans doing what we do best; spending money! Season tickets are ahead of last year and possibly on target for a record, thousands of shirts have already been sold and, if like me at the weekend, you had to spend a couple of hours in one of our shops, you would wonder how the staff keep up with the demand as Shirts, Jackets, Vests, T shirts etc, etc. fly out of the place at a record breaking pace. You know, credit where credit is due, if ever there was a good investment for the Club it was that shop in Savile Street, because a town centre shop at Christmas time is a goldmine and

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Page 1:  · Web viewYour heart says “Great” but in your head you have to worry a bit, because it’s a big risk especially with so many new players in there, but I for one will look forward

279 The Dentists Dairy

This week the Dentist Diary is exactly 6 years old! Boy that’s flown and here we are less than 5 weeks off the first meaningful rugby of the new season; that joy of joys, a game against the Dobbins, in what is jokingly referred to as a Friendly!

It’s certainly been another extremely quiet week at the Club, but that didn’t stop us fans doing what we do best; spending money! Season tickets are ahead of last year and possibly on target for a record, thousands of shirts have already been sold and, if like me at the weekend, you had to spend a couple of hours in one of our shops, you would wonder how the staff keep up with the demand as Shirts, Jackets, Vests, T shirts etc, etc. fly out of the place at a record breaking pace.

You know, credit where credit is due, if ever there was a good investment for the Club it was that shop in Savile Street, because a town centre shop at Christmas time is a goldmine and any Club who hasn’t got one is missing a big trick. It makes me realise, as I watch all this going on, that in the end, there are few sets of fans like us lot and there must be many other Clubs who wish they had the size and loyalty of a supporting community as we have, but more of that later.

In this week’s Diary there’s a few thank-you’s, I have a look at those sales figures, at Sam Moa’s view of training, ‘Rocky’ Radders, a whole new game plan and what a couple of players told me about Peter Gentle. Then as it’s Christmas and a time

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for taking stock and so I look at the phenomenon that is the FC Army, the rule changes and what they mean for the game next season, a renaissance at the Halliwell Jones, Stanley Gene’s good looks, and my letter to the Allam’s, plus in Codgers Corner I have a look at one of those rare great away wins against all the odds that you experience in a largely forgettable season.

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The comments of Sam Moa this week about the intensity of the training and how much everyone is enjoying ‘Being Flogged’ by Gentle and Co. bears out, I think, what I heard and saw at training last week, it seems that not only have we got a new regime in place but also that Peter Gentle has introduced a complete new game plan and structure for both defence and attack. Your heart says “Great” but in your head you have to worry a bit, because it’s a big risk especially with so many new players in there, but I for one will look forward to seeing some more adventurous play and a bit of entertainment!

For me the most interesting thing that Sam said was about the older more established players in the squad, who he said now all had a “fresh spring in their steps”. That speaks volumes about how the old regime was making them stale and how each pre season was ‘same old same old!’ Another interesting thing was when young Danny Nicholas said, “In the past there has been a divide between the younger and older players, but this year it has been great and we all feel like we’re part of one team”. ‘Out of the mouths of babes’ eh? It’s pretty obvious to

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me that it’s been pretty ‘clicky’ previously and perhaps the advent of Gentle came just in time!

A couple of first team players told me that they don’t think that Peter is a “Shouter” and seems to go calmly about things but they also said that he certainly knows his business, plans meticulously and is pretty strict. That said they all really liked the Dinner at the Mill at Skidby hosted by Adam Pearson that all the clubs staff attended the other night and indeed they are all going out Bowling with their families and Peter Gentle one afternoon this week. Believe me folks, since Pearson and Gentle arrived at the Club, I can’t promise you winning performances and trophies, but I can tell you one thing; the whole culture of the place has changed and there is little doubt that it has been for the better! Agar always kept the players away from the administration, but now shop staff and admin people run shoulders with the Owner, players and Coach; that has to be a good thing!

There was a good quote this week from Peter Gentle when he said, “We have a bit of money up our sleeve and a quota place left so might still bring someone in, if we feel we need to”. We like a bit of that sort of news don’t we?

Well done to ‘Radder’ with a fine performance in the Boxing on Saturday night at the Ice Arena. Lee beat Paul Sculthorpe in the final of Super League's Prize Fighter contest, after dispatching much fancied pre-tournament favourite Weller Hauraki from Leeds Rhinos and Lee Jewitt representing Salford, to set up the decider. It is even more of an

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achievement for Radders when you consider that he was full of cold before hand and really under the weather. The event, organised as part of his Testimonial Celebrations, certainly proved popular with the fans, with over 1,500 spectators creating a great atmosphere and the beer running out at some of the bars by 10-00pm! Well done to everyone who was involved with running the night because delivering such a successful spectacle was a real achievement!

The news that we could just be on target for a record number of season ticket sales this year, was amazing really. On Friday we announced that with almost 7000 seasons sold already we were on target for the heady days of two years ago. What a great accolade that is for the fans at such a difficult economic time and I am told that you can add to that 5000 shirts sold already in just over 6 weeks. I have actually never seen the shops stuffed with so much stock and so many folks buying it! Later in the Diary I discuss just what an incredible fan base we have and these figures certainly bare it out. Season ticket wise I think that there are still a lot of folks to commit, a lot will be waiting as late as possible and who can blame them? The thing is though, this year as many folks have said it’s not just the team or a new coach that is cranking up the excitement but a lot of fans are buying season tickets because the old Board has gone and we are now showing our faith, and supporting Adam Pearson. Exciting times indeed!

So although I said last week that the administrators had, by and large, left the rules alone this year, on Tuesday the RFL announced a few changes for the next campaign most of which I feel are good. Firstly there’s the change from 12 to 10 substitutions, which I discussed at length last week. They have

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also though, decided that when a player touches the corner flag, he will not be deemed to be out of play.

This I feel is a good idea because everywhere else down the touch line there is no flag and therefore if a player crosses the plane of the line and his feet are on the right side of the line (e.g. if he catches a kick over the line but his feet are still in play) it is play on, but at the corner flag it is different because his body cannot cross the plane of the line because the flag is in the way and in the past he was then deemed to be out! We’ll see some spectacular tries in the corner now I think! Then there is a change to the conversion rule which indicates that you can drop a conversion as well as convert it from a place kick. This confused me somewhat because I thought, quite wrongly it turns out, that the watch is automatically stopped for a minute when a conversion is to be taken anyway.

I was however, when I went out for a bite to eat on Thursday night, put right by my pal Jed, who knows about these things. I am sure you get it completely, but I didn’t, however as Jed pointed out when you concede a try in the last minute you know that’s it because once the ball is put done the clock keeps running until a minute is up and then stops. The Kicker is allowed up to a minute before the Clock is stopped anyway but often the hooter go before the kicker has had a chance to set the ball up and kick the goal. Of course he gets a chance to complete the conversion, but that’s it, there’s no time for anything else.

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Now, say you are 7 points behind and you score under the sticks with 59 seconds to go. In the past that would have been it, by the time you had placed and kicked the goal, however now the scorer can run back out and drop a quick conversion. His team mates would have to run back and got set for a kick off and once the (drop) kicker was back in our half, the referee would have to stop the Clock and make the defending team kick off. It’s possible that you could then get the ball back from the kick off and have one last go at getting a score. Well that’s how I now see it anyway.

Otherwise there is the thorny subject of Referees who will be told to show more leniency to players who carry on playing after failing to hear their shout of "held". Instead of being penalised, the players will be allowed to go back and play the ball. Of course the referee will then have to decide whether the player actually didn’t hear him, or was pretending he didn’t. That will cause more controversy than the new rule is worth but still I feel that the changes will be, for once, a big improvement on the current situation.

Talking of Jed he is heavily involved in amateur rugby and knows a bit about the game and how it is played. He was telling me that he had been to training a couple of times now and agrees with me about how good the lads look. He was particularly impressed with the way that the team move the ball using Seymour, Ellis and Horney as pivots and how vocal our new full back Wade McKinnon is. With Bomber on holiday in Australia at present (and it is reported talking to potential targets for next season) it’s all a bit quiet from the Club at present but it seems that Jed and a few other fans who are a lot

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more ‘In the know’ than I am, feel there are real grounds for optimism.

It’s a time of year for saying ‘thank-you’s’ and indeed this week’s Diary is full of ‘em! As I mentioned last week, I did a bit of book signing at the weekend in the two club shops and it was great to see so many fans and indeed readers of this rubbish popping along to say “Hello” and talk about rugby! Sales of the book are heading towards 850 which is simply amazing and once again thanks to everyone who has bought one, I hope that you find something in there to interest you. Incidentally the second and final part will be hopefully out next year at this time and I hope with the new one, for every copy sold a contribution will be made to the Kirk Yeaman Testimonial Fund, so I’d better get writing and get it finished!! In other bits of news, all being well, FC Voices will be arranging a fans forum in mid January, which should give the fans a chance to quiz the Coach and the Owner, before the serious business of season 2012 begins.

I wrote to Mr Allam this week to voice my concerns about the branding of the Foyer of the KC as the home of the Tigers, it will no doubt ‘fall on stony ground’ but I believe that its worth at least putting my concerns into writing to say what I think and I would encourage others to do the same, if they feel as I do, that our teams integrity is being threatened here. Some folks think it is a storm in a tea cup but to completely brand the outside of the whole glass frontage of the main entrance with a ‘permanent’ Tiger, is a bit much I think! As I have said before, I believe that because he can’t be gifted the Stadium by the Council the owner of Hull City is trying to take it over in other ways but that’s just me. I am sure as we try and renegotiate our

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deal with the SMC, it’s something that our owner or Club will not be commenting on, and that in the end my efforts won’t do any good anyway, but it made me feel better.

It says a lot about, on one hand arrogance and on the other, self confidence, when I seem to consistently bump into City Fans who go on about kicking rugby out of THEIR ground, whilst on the other hand I have yet to meet a Hull FC fan that has the same sort of ambition to kick out the football! We want to live and let live it would seem, whilst some City fans are just downright arrogant! There really are some ‘saddo’s’ about aren’t there?

This week, I heard from Adrian in Pontefract who is a Diary reader and who’s Dad, Eric Broom was a big favourite of mine in the 60’s and 70’s. I’ll be looking to feature a game in which Eric starred early next year, but it was great to hear from him. Great to get a copy of a CD entitled Hull FC the Tony Smith Years from my pal Bill. A big thank-you too, to Terry Kirchin’s family who contacted me about a book for that great second rower of the late 60’s and to everyone who came to Hessle Library last Monday for a short chat about the book...... and a long chat about the old day’s! We went from Bruce Ryan, Pin McMillan, George Watt and Duncan Jackson, to next year’s prospects at the KC.

There are so many folks with so many memories and it’s amazing that however many times someone mentions it; some things still get to you even after 30 years. We got talking about that run around move of the 80’s, that was always engineered

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by the late great David Topliss, which utilised Leuluai and Kemble and usually followed early ball from the scrum from Tony Dean. It’s amazing and perhaps a bit self deprecating really to report that just talking about it being used in the 1982 Cup Semi Final Replay at Elland Road, made the hairs rise on the back my neck and I could honestly actually feel a shiver down my spine. Saddo or what? Last Monday was certainly a good afternoon in great company!

Quote of the week this week has to go to the family of Stanley Gene whose only concern about him Boxing at the weekend in Radder’s Testimonial Promotion, was that he might get punched in the face and that it might affect his good looks!!!

Well we’ll certainly see a lot of changes at the Halliwell Jones Stadium when we go this season, because the Lancastrians have been spending the closed season increasing the grounds capacity to an impressive 15,500. The additional 3000 seats will be accommodated by filling in the two open corners opposite the away end where we all usually stand. This will no doubt help a Club who sold out seven of their games there (excluding the away end) last season. I always enjoy our visits to Warrington and it has not been too bad a hunting ground over the years. Of course, I remember particularly our unlikely win last season but most of all that wonderful night under John Kear when we beat them in the play off’s to the almost continuous chorus of “He’s going home, he’s going home, Joey’s going home” from the Black and White Army, as we sang Andrew Johns off on his way back to Australia. That, after the Wire had brought him in at great expense on a short term

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contract to, “Get them into the Grand Final” (Ha ha) that worked then! What a great night that was, Happy days!!

This week in Codgers Corner I want to look at a bit of an unsung hero but someone who, for so many years, was there working hard behind the scenes at Hull FC and indeed played and coached at both Hull clubs too. Back in 1991/92, by October, we had lost seven, won two and drawn one. In fact following the club falling on hard times, and having to sell Karl Harrison and let players like Patrick Entat go, Noel Cleal (in his first full season as a manager) was watching as it all started to unravel.

A shocking 24-12 defeat at home to Salford had seen us slump to the bottom of Division One and already looking doomed. It was therefore with some trepidation that we all travelled the short distance down the M62 to that great little ground of Post Office Road, which that year Featherstone Rovers were making a real fortress. It was always a good trip and on 13th October despite a deal of disappointment about the place, as always the FC Army went in numbers, and took over the South terracing which backs onto that little row of houses. There, as usual, folks were stood in their bedroom windows, with one or two even sat outside on their flat ‘dorma’ roofs, getting a free view of the game.

In addition to having lost a lot of early season promise the team was riddled with injuries. Already without Andy Dannett, Ian Marlow and Steve Durham, we also lost both Steve McNamara and Jon Sharp, just 24 hours before kick-off, when both failed

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fitness tests. If that wasn’t enough, what we as fans didn’t know until we read the papers next day was that we also had Richard Gay (Hamstring), Russ Walker (Calf Strain), Lee Jackson (Bruised toe), Chico Jackson (Ligament injury) and Paul Eastwood and Mark Jones (Back injuries) all struggling to make it out onto the field.

It was said that under normal circumstances Lee Jackson, Gay and Walker simply wouldn’t have played but a small squad and those injuries meant that Cleal had to take a massive gamble. Such were the problems on the training field, Cleal had to bring Steve Crooks, who had not played for the first team in two years, back into the fold. Crooks in fact had only played two Alliance games since he retired, but emerged as the ‘fairytale’ hero that day.

When the game started we were all heartened to see that the rain was holding off and that Hull FC were playing with more commitment and adventure than we had seen for weeks. We could so easily had scored twice in the first quarter, when Walker and Gay were held inches short in last ditch tackles by Paul Newlove. However, after 20 minutes, all we had to show for all our efforts was three penalties from Paul Eastwood. What amazed all of us lot though, was the way that Steve Crooks was playing, as he took the big Featherstone pack on down the middle. He was certainly proving a steadying influence and with so many youngsters in the team he was with some telling passing, able to point all their youthful energy in the right direction.

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As often happens when you are down and short of luck, Featherstone scored right against the run of play as Andy Fisher broke a tackle, Newlove took the ball on strongly and Owen Simpson finished the move off to score near the posts. But almost immediately Hull struck back in amazing style as a superb move started by Greg Mackey, saw Portlock brilliantly dummy past three bemused Featherstone players. He fed onto Welham who set Lee Jackson tearing away down the left hand channel to pass to young Dean Busby on his shoulder, who strolled over. Three minutes later we were back in the Featherstone half and superb handling and support play by Portlock and Crooks sent Ronson through a gap. He drew the full back before just running through him, to touch down. We danced on the terraces as we simply couldn’t believe what we were seeing. At half time we led 18-6.

Obviously Hull needed a quick score to demoralise Featherstone at the start of the second half and we got one when Lee Jackson broke and sent Ronson side stepping past Chris Bibb, to score again. An amazing string of penalties (which saw the final count 16-6 to the home team) had us rocking at times. However Crooks held us together but when we were caught a bit short of cover on the left the wily Derek Fox and Fisher laid on a great try for Paul Newlove. This caused some amount of delight for the home fans who scented a comeback. But, that was it for the hosts, as Hull and Steve Crooks took control. A dazzling break out by Richard Gay split the defence and Eastwood showed amazing pace as he ran 60 yards hugging the touchline and heading local flyer Simpson, all the way to touch down in the corner, from where a panting Paul, brilliantly converted his own try.

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Then substitute Mark Jones, who had since his introduction in the 58th minute, battered the Featherstone front row relentlessly, broke a tackle, stood in another and passed out to Busby who set Lee Jackson scorching towards the Featherstone line to touch down with four players trailing in his wake. Then came what I suppose was the standout moment for me when Featherstone’s Fisher who was now getting really rattled, waited till Bibb and Newlove had tackled Portlock into touch before picking our stand-off up and throwing him bodily into the perimeter fence. A massive scrap broke out, which culminated in Portlock receiving treatment from the St John’s Ambulance boys and Fisher being sent off. Then just to rub salt into the home sides wounds Eastwood landed a brilliant touchline conversion, which sent the home supporters that were left in the Ground, scurrying for the exits.

Then, in a season that was so disappointing, to crown one of those rare, rare afternoons that makes all the heartache and fretting so worthwhile, we finished in style. Paul Harrison broke loose and left a flat footed home defence grabbing thin air as he cut through and released Russ Walker who crashed in to cap a towering performance. As the hooter went Crooks who was back on the field again, could hardly walk off the pitch, as we sang and danced and ‘Old Faithful’ rang out across the little mining town. It was a rare afternoon in what was a disappointing season, when our walking wounded, inspired by Crooks totally destroyed and demoralised a proud side in front of their own fans. Our form picked up in the next few weeks but we were soon on the back foot again and Cleal went before we

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had to grind out a 12-8 win at Caravan Park at the end of the campaign, to stay in the top Division!

Well, this is the last Diary before Christmas and this year I have shied away from a dedicated Christmas Edition idea I have used in the past, simply because after last year’s story telling exploits about inflatable dolls, sex shops and Christmas surprises, I thought I’d give it a rest (if anyone didn’t read it, but is feeling a bit festive, you can find it in Edition 230 of the Diary, in the Archive) Anyway after Roamin’, I thought you had all read quite enough of me!!! However it would be totally remiss, at this point not to mention all the fantastic support I have received from you lot, the loyal readers of the Diary over the past year, because it has been simply phenomenal. I have made so many friends (and a few enemies from ‘you know where’) from this weekly rubbish, but what was the most rewarding of all, was finally self publishing my book and your kind response to it.

Roamin’ has certainly jogged a few memories, brought folks together and made me realise just how special the great family of Hull FC really are. Amazingly I have made a bit of money, (all of which I will be spending on buying another supply of books after Christmas) and the kids that are helped by the Clubs excellent Foundation will have benefitted to the tune of around £2000 too. However the greatest ‘Buzz’ I have got out of it all, is the new friends I have made and all the camaraderie that it has engendered amongst the supporters, who have enjoyed talking about the past, bringing back the memories, ‘questioning the facts’ and just remembering our fabulous heritage! For me personally it has just been unforgettable and

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has made me realise that in Hull FC we have a fabulous Club that means so much to so many people and that is so worth supporting, defending and even, if needs be, fighting for.

You see, for me, there is a distinct difference between a team and a Club. You would never ever say that we have the best team in the Country because that would be foolish, simply because a team is, in the end, judged solely on its performance. We have had some great teams in the past, but of late, quite frankly, we’ve been pretty naff really, haven’t we? However I believe that the importance and status of a Sports Club, in the hierarchy of its peers, is not judged by its performances or its players. Instead I believe, it is measured by its heritage, its history and more importantly still the number and passion of its supporters, the sacrifices they make and the adversity that the Club and those fans have been through together over the years.

Although I would shy away from saying that we are the best Rugby League Club in the World, writing this Diary, producing ‘Roamin the Range’ and hearing the feedback from you the readers about them both has at least convinced me of one thing; there is without doubt no greater a Club than ‘The Famous Hull FC’.

Take our heritage; all clubs in our game and the relative communities they serve, have been through hard times, the Great Depression, the loss of life in two World Wars, the collapse of local employers etc. etc. etc. But here at Hull FC our Community and fan base has been through all that and so

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much more. Just consider the numerous Trawling disasters and the loss of life over the years, the decimation of large swathes of the Hessle Road Community, in the name of ‘Slum clearance’ and the subsequent scattering of the fan base to the four corners of the City. Plus there is the demise of not just the Fishing Industry but also the many auxiliary industries and the thousands of jobs that supported it. Then there’s the merger and David Lloyd, the closing of the Boulevard, the numerous times over the years that we have had just hours away from bankruptcy, or from finding a payment to stop us going out of business, and so it goes on.

Many Clubs can no doubt list their own tragedies and problems, but few can boast so many and indeed such a lot of loyal folks sticking with them through so many lean times. It’s the weight of support that we sustain no matter what is happening that is so significant!

Look at the last three seasons on the field and the dross (let’s not beat around the bush here) that we have been served up. Many Clubs would have seen their gates halved by that and yet despite it all, each year the season ticket sales have been as good if not better, than the best in the Competition, we have lost a few ‘floaters’, I grant you, but not that many. Then as was the case on Saturday in Savile Street, it’s amazing when you find that you can’t get into the Club shop because it is crammed with fans scrambling to buy memorabilia, shirts etc. at a time when economically we are all feeling the pinch. We are without doubt, a special bunch and I hope that the new owner realises just how lucky he is and just what he has inherited. I believe the last Chairperson, Auntie Kath, recognised everything I outline

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above and just how committed we all are, but instead of appreciating and nurturing it, I think personally she milked it!

For my part, I also think that there is no better a community to be part of when the chips are down in your own personal life too. In times of trouble I have always thought how great it is to have so many kindred spirits around you. When you’ve broken up with a partner, lost someone close to you, fallen out with a lifelong pal, or lost your job and the subsequent friends that brings, you can certainly find yourself pretty bereft and lonely. There are few of us who haven’t been there sometime in our lives, but ‘normal souls’ have then usually to start from scratch and rebuild a circle of aquaintences with similar interests and that’s never easy.

However if you’re a long standing fan of a Sports Club, particularly one like Hull FC, then that task is always a lot easier, because there are always folks, wherever you go, who share that same undying passion. You have something in common and something that you all care passionately about. It’s always been the same down the years. You could always walk into a pub on your own and someone would shout out, “Knocker was great on Sunday” or “What a bloody Referee Eh?” and immediately you’re ‘home’ in that fantastic fraternity where you’ve always got friends.

Despite the many emotional hurdles entailed in all that ‘Supporter till I die” stuff, one of the benefits of having such an all consuming ‘hobby’ is that you’re never on your own for long. It must be so different for those with other past times, like stamp collectors, or matchstick modellers. I bet over the years they’ve rarely gone into a pub and heard someone shouting

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“Have you got a six penny Mauritus, with fractured perforations”, or “Here, I’ve been saving these for you in the ashtray, how’s the leaning Tower of Pisa coming along!” This, of course just goes to prove that when you’re hopelessly entangled with YOUR club, however much that Club frustrates you at times, you always have the security of knowing that you’re amongst a vast fraternity of like minded souls. After defeats and disappointments they are probably just as ‘suicidal’ and disheartened as you are, but are also, just like you, desperately looking for some positives whilst always having that ‘crumb of comfort’ that in the end, they’re not on their own.

If you really love your Club and I mean really love them, I honestly believe, as I have said before, that it is little different to having wayward kids. They are volatile, unpredictable and often frustrate you, they let you down, upset you, abuse your faith in them and yet just occasionally they make you so, so proud. However, like problem kids, in general most of the time, they make you reflect on one simple sentiment and that is that it’s best to prepare yourself for the worst, because that’s what you variably get and as is the case with problem kids most of the time “It’s a Good job you love ‘em!” When those ‘Kids’ are playing up however, the whole family gathers round and try to support each other, no one deserts those kids and so it is in Sport.

Writing this Diary and the book has been a personal ‘Epiphany’ for me, it’s made me realise what a fabulous group of supporters we have and how lucky I am to be part of it. I was petrified about actually having something I had written, paid for by folks and read as a book! However the greatest thing about ‘Roamin’ is that so many folks have associated with the sentiments it includes, and for me, even setting aside the amazing sales it has achieved in such a short time, the way

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that people come up to me and say “I remember that” or better still “You missed that out” is so rewarding. At the end of the day, that was what it was all about in the first place, “Keeping the memories alive”.

You know, I am now convinced that as long term Hull FC fans we forget hundreds of games but mark out our very lives in those we remember. Yes the book was about putting down in writing what it was like experiencing it all, but it was also about encouraging people to remember some great times and some wonderful milestones in all our lives. It was also to ensure someone writes down those things before our generation is no more and they are forgotten in the mists of time. At least now ‘Roamin the Range Together’, an ordinary ‘Raggy arsed’ gardeners attempt at writing a book, will remain on the dusty shelves of the British Library so that there will always be a record of what it was like for us all, ‘Being there’.

So, I think this Christmas before we are once again thrust into a new season with all its doubt, disappointment, injuries, defeats and occasional moments of euphoria, we should all sit back with a nice long drink and a mince pie resting easy in the fact that we are privileged to be FC fans and as such surrounded by a group of amazing people that make up the family of ‘The Old Faithful’. At the end of this year and after my recent personal exploits, I have definitely come to the conclusion that at Hull FC, we are so lucky!

Thanks for all your kindness and support over the past twelve months, the Diary will be back next year no doubt in less philosophical mood, but, in the mean time, it just remains to wish you all a wonderful, peaceful and Happy Christmas!!!

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Keep Believing!!!!!! ..............And

COME ON YOU HULLLLLLLAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

Faithfully yours

Wilf

P.S. They say what goes round comes round! Those who have been around the Diary for all those 6 years will remember in the early days when I was just learning and RLfans was full of complaints and mocking from readers from the ‘dark side’ about my spelling and use of English in here? Well, should you ever wonder how their own literacy programme at Caravan Park is going, here’s an all time favourite of mine and proof of the progress they are making!!!!

Page 21:  · Web viewYour heart says “Great” but in your head you have to worry a bit, because it’s a big risk especially with so many new players in there, but I for one will look forward