JOHNNY CELEBRATES HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY
ONE OF THE CITY’S GREATEST SONS SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN
AN international sporting legend with firm roots in Hessle Road - Johnny Whiteley MBE is a true history maker, but shows no signs of slowing down as he celebrates his 90th birthday.
Whiteley made more than 400 appearances for his beloved Hull FC and is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time to hail from the city he quite rightly adores.
Despite plans for a family reunion to mark his big birthday being abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic, Johnny is still in fine spirits - celebrating his special day alongside his wife, Joan, 88,
Born within a stone’s throw of the city’s fish docks, his heart has never left the community he grew up a part of and ended up representing nationally and internationally with distinction.
After an almighty playing career, Johnny, who now lives in North Ferriby, went on to unite the city by coaching at FC, as well as local rivals Hull KR and even the Great Britain national team - leaving him showered with honours and fans across the globe.
Even on a chilly y November afternoon during a national lockdown, he was still a man in demand posing for photographs, taking calls and being called on by friends - from the safety of his driveway.
But despite his long list of achievements and honours, his overriding emotion on his special day is that of appreciation for the hand he has been dealt.
“When you get to this age, life feels like it has passed so quickly. I’ve I’ had an amazing i lif life. I’ I’ve b been lucky in marriage and with my family. It isn’t too bad,” he said during a moment of reflection.
“I’m just glad I’m still here. When you’ve got all your faculties, or at least think you have, it’s great.
“My intelligence hasn’t changed since I was playing. You’re just thankful you’ve got to an age.
“I was hoping to have a family reunion, but the pandemic has dropped that. It’ll just j be me and my
wife. We’re just accepting telephone calls and people pulling up in the driveway.”
After having an operation on an old rugby injury in January and having a fall, Johnny was in his own self-imposed lockdown before coronavirus reared its head in East Yorkshire.
However, despite reducing his social contact, nothing has been able to get the better of him as he remains as fit and active as ever - even embracing new technology to keep him going.
He said: “I get up every morning and weigh myself. My son-in-law has been round and just drilled two new holes in my belt so it shows I have lost a bit of weight.
“I pedal on my static bike, at the end of my bed, between 25km and 100km per day. I just get out of bed and do it straight away so I’ve got it under my belt.
“I have music attached to my bike. I sing the verse in front of the singer to it stimulates my brain.
“I’ve got an Alexa and I say it is great that she never answers me back. She plays everything I want. It’s been a real stimulus and takes you back.”
Despite the physical rigours of the
sport which have caused lasting damage to some of his peers, Johnny says he is blessed to have escaped relatively unscathed.
His infectious personality and willingness to engage led him to make life-long friends with many of Hull’s other most famous faces.
Recalling some of his brushes with fame, Johnny said: “Joe Longthorne used to li live next door to the Boulevard and would always sit with me and talk about the past. Norman Collier was my golf partner.
“David Whitfield used to watch the games as well. I’ve had an interesting time with those people, as well as with rugby. Sport opens those doors. Everyone loves sport by and large. If you’re a personality in that sport, it gives you access.
“I’ve been fortunate to speak to the Queen, presidents and ambassadors.
“I met her at Wembley and for my MBE. Years later I was invited to a garden party for everyone who had been a world champion during her reign.
“Tessa Sanderson was there. She comes to mind. We all posed for a picture in a scrum with her in the middle.
“The England football team was there like Bobby Moore and boxing world champions. It was at Buckingham Palace in the ground and she would come round and talk to people with Prince Phillip. It was a really informal afternoon. They are indelible memories.
“You can’t buy memories like that. It’s a privilege to look back.”
But his story started a million miles from there.
He was born beside one of Hessle Road’s fish docks and has fond memories of watching his dad’s trawler emerging at the end of his street, heralding his return home.
His place at the heart of the Hessle Road community led to him following suit, working as a filleter for seven years until he was eventually convinced to call time on the job and take on something a little less chilling to run alongside his burgeoning international career.
Johnny spent many years as a drayman running between jobs all over the city before taking on a role managing pubs and clubs.
“I had two clubs and I was running one club for a friend - the Gillett Street Club. That’s when the fishing industry was at its peak when we had hundreds of trawlers sailing out the city and we were the nearest club. We formed West Hull Rugby League club from there. That’s where it came from. I founded them in 1971.
“We had just beaten the Australians in the 1970 series. I said we couldn’t wear red, white and blue as you had to earn the Great Britain colours, but I thought we could wear a shirt that was green and gold. They still wear that now.
“When you still see young lads wearing the green and gold in
Hull today you look at them and still feel a sense of pride.”
Whiteley was the coach of the GB team in 1970 - the last time the side went Down Under and won.
In his playing career, he racked up 15 test and World Cup
appearances for Great Britain Britain, 417 appearances for Hull FC over 15 seasons and was also part of the 1959 GB squad that was the last to beat the Aussies in England.
But, taking a long look back through his list of accomplishments, it was not his international honours that he holds in the highest regard.
“We need an inspiration in every walk of life. As a rugby league player you want to play for Great Britain - not a sub part of it. If you are part of it, you are the best. You get much greater pride than if you just play for England,” he said.
“I’ve done most things in rugby league and in the community so I’ve learnt a bit about life and achievement.
“The real impact for me was signing for Hull FC in 1950. Going from Scarborough Street to Hull with 15,000 going every week to watch. Suddenly, I had emerged to that level. Everything I had achieved after that I attribute to Hull FC. It gave me the confidence and drive.”
In 2005, Johnny was awarded his MBE for his services to rugby league including his role founding the West Hull amateur side.
He has also been installed in t the rugby league Hall of Fame.
But despite his brushes with f fame and globe-trotting experiences, there was and is only one place he has ever called home.
Whiteley said: “Even in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, I always couldn’t get back to Hull and Hessle Road quick enough.
“There’s still a warmth about Hull. I played a lot with Australians, New Zealanders and South Sea Islanders and they always went away with a warmth and fond memories from the city.”
His love of the city ran into him running his own gym for several decades in Hawthorn Avenue - an opportunity to nurture the next generation of talent.
And, even though it has since been demolished, that has not stopped him being a voice of reason in the ear of all those who have ever relied on him. Better still, he is adamant that he could be a better coach today than he ever was in his illustrious career.
“In my own mind, this might sound stupid, but I think I am a better coach now at 90 than at 30-odd. I’ve got so much knowledge of the game. My life is already planned out. I have a wonderful house and a lovely family. In this moment I can dream 24 hours a day about rugby.”
“I still think, as a teacher, I’ve got something to offer.”