Fans’ group launches bid to preserve part of Hull City’s original ground

LIVING HISTORY: How the restored terrace area could look

By Angus Young

Hull City Supporters’ Trust has launched a campaign to raise £100,000 towards a heritage project aimed at preserving part of the club’s original Anlaby Road ground.

A section of open terrace from the old ground still remains on a triangle of land close to the current MKM Stadium and is believed to be the only surviving Edwardian football structure of its kind in the country.

It dates back to 1906 when City played their first season there in what was then Division Two, having been formed as a club two years earlier.

The ground was used for training and fixtures for the club’s A-team and juniors after City moved to Boothferry Park after the Second World War.

However, it was abandoned and partially demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for a new rail loop.

Today what remains of the surviving terrace is largely hidden under dense undergrowth, while a large supporting wall is more visible immediately behind.

The trust’s new fund-raising drive is called the Spion Kop 1906 Club and has been designed to attract match-funding to secure a much larger £1m grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to uncover the terrace and create a new visitor attraction.

Ultimately, it’s hoped to include new seating, lighting and landscaping together with a series of heritage boards telling the story of the ground.

As well as providing access to the terrace itself, the project plans to feature a sponsored members’ Walk of Legends with fans and local businesses being invited to have their names included in the finished design.

Initially, progress will depend on the outcome of site surveys taking place over the next few weeks aimed at establishing the extent of the remains and their structural stability.

THE ORIGINAL TIGER NATION: Fans pack the ‘Spion Kop’

Trust chairman Nick Thompson explained: “The surveys are absolutely crucial because they will hopefully establish what is actually there and what needs to be done.”

City council leader Councillor Mike Ross has kick-started the project by authorising a £1,000 contribution from a contingency fund he oversees, while the council itself has facilitated a lease for the land in question.

Coun Ross said: “The trust’s plans are very exciting because this is not just about the fans of the club but the preserving a unique part of the heritage of the city.” 

Membership deals range from £75 for individuals to £500 for corporate supporters, with prices specially reduced until the new year.

For more details visit www.hullcityspionkop1906club.co.uk.