Hull of a success
Challenge Cup curse is ended
AT LAST. Congratulations are due to Hull FC for finally ending the club’s Wembley curse with a heroic comefrom-behind victory over Warrington Wolves in one of the great renewals of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final.
The first time that the Airlie Birds have won at the sport’s showpiece venue in nine attempts, the team’s resilience after trailing 10-0 with just 13 minutes exemplified the new confidence, and swagger, in Hull as it prepares to become UK City of Culture.
Yet it is sporting success which is helping to drive the revival of this proud port city. Both Hull FC and Hull KR are formidable forces in rugby league while it took an injury-time winner by Manchester United’s superstars to beat Hull City’s threadbare squad of footballers.
In many respects, these successes on and off the pitch can be traced back to the enlightened decision in the early part of this century to build the KCOM Stadium. Without it, Hull would be all the poorer.