GRAND FINAL WIN WOULD BE HUGE FOR CITY
LAST SAYS FC SUCCESS CAN PROVIDE A LIFT FOR EVERYONE
ANDY Last knows exactly what Hull FC success in 2020 could do for the city as he prepares his side for the Super League play-offs.
This season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for FC, who have been forced to contend with a series of setbacks, but it can still end on a high.
With Last at the helm, Hull finished sixth in the regular season and claimed the final spot in the play-offs which they kick off tonight with a clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium against Warrington Wolves.
Last’s men know they’ll have to do things the hard way if they are to win their first Super League title, with Warrington, Wigan and potentially St Helens to beat over the next fortnight.
At the start of the week some bookmakers were offering prices of 33/1 for the Black and Whites to be crowned Grand Final winners.
But Last has instilled a spirit in his side and those odds won’t stop the interim head coach, the players and supporters from dreaming of reaching the end of season showdown at the KCOM Stadium.
It would mean a lot to Last should he manage to lead FC to glory, but he also knows what it would mean to the fanbase and the city.
Last remembers the club’s Challenge Cup wins in 2005, 2016 and 2017 and the celebrations and he would love to give the city another chance to celebrate.
“It would be huge,” Last said. “I think the impact of Covid on the city has been a big one. You don’t realise how important the sports teams actually are, but now you really realise it. Hull Kingston Rovers, Hull FC and Hull City are all very well supported by the local people. Sport plays a big part in our community and it was evident in ’16 and ’17 how much it meant to the people of Hull when we came back with the trophy and it was lovely to be part of it.
“I remember in 2005 when we won at Cardiff, the support was absolutely unbelievable when we came back but it went up a level in ’16 because we’d won at Wembley.
“Some of our overseas players and West Riding players weren’t expecting many people to turn out when we got back for the open-top bus parade but as we pulled up to the stadium, the streets were lined on the Anlaby Road flyover and down the Boulevard. Going past the old Boulevard, the old dears were coming out of their care homes with their Hull FC scarves, they were out in their wheelchairs, grown men and women crying and grandmas and grandads crying and our overseas and West Riding players were blown away by it but I knew it was coming.
“Then down Hessle Road all the locals come out of Rayners and the pubs and Freetown Way was full and going past Hull Royal Infirmary there were people hanging out of the windows waving you by.
“It’s special, that’s why coaching this club is special and that’s something I’m very proud of.
“The players have certainly bought in to how they have to play with the passion and emotion because this city demands it.
“It is the be all and end people, it defines a weekend.
“We’re rubbish if we lose and we’re heroes if we win, I understand that as I’ve been a fan myself, I’ve stood on the terraces and I know what it’s like and there’s nothing better than being part of it when you’re successful.
“If we were able to get past Warrington and win that semi-final and get to the Grand Final, I can only imagine what it would be like, there’ll be goose pimples, but it’s certainly something I’d love to be a part of.” all for