Defence Wins Championships

24^th May 2008, a day that will forever be remembered in the city of Kingston upon Hull, as Hull City A.F.C. gained promotion to the top tier of English Football for the first time in their 104-year history.

There is no doubt that this is a remarkable achievement for a club that were competing in the fourth tier of English Football a mere five seasons ago. It is clear that this is a meteoric rise, similar to those of Fulham and Wigan Athletic. Another parallel with one of those clubs, Wigan Athletic, is that both Wigan and Hull are predominantly Rugby League cities and as a result they have struggled to produce talent from within their cities boundaries, and yet the 2008-2009 season will see them both plying their trade in one of the best Football leagues in the world.

In a Championship season that saw plenty of teams having it’s ups and downs, Hull City were no exception, however they stayed firm and anchored by veterans who give it their all, Nicky Barmby and Dean Windass, the club as reached ‘The Promised Land’. And, how fitting that local lad (of 39 years) and professional nuisance on the Football pitch should step up to score one of the finest goals ever in play-off history in order to secure his team’s progression into the big time. Despite the pivotal efforts of these men going forward, the Hull City faithful must pay a great deal of gratitude to the always tight defence who, to put it simply, were never going to let Bristol City find a way through. Even when a Bristol City goal seemed imminent, the likes of Sam Ricketts and Michael Turner flew at the ball with little to no regard for their own well-being. All that matters is the opportunity to play games at Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, The Emirates Stadium, Villa Park and St. James’ Park and those lads knew that their dreams of playing at these great arenas couldn’t be relinquished without doing everything in their power to stop the ball entering the Hull City goal.

Today’s game was a testament to how Hull City have earned their place in the Premiership, safe goalkeeping, not pretty but effective defending, dogged midfield play and potent striking when given a glimmer of a chance. That is how they have secured promotion, but will that be enough to survive relegation next season? Only time will be able to tell us all the answer, but with the fighting Dean Windass, hard working Nicky Barmby and the ever present Ian Ashbee, I wouldn’t want to write them off at this moment in time, so here is Luke Broadbent wishing Hull City A.F.C. all the best in their endeavours for their upcoming Premiership campaign.

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