Hull Kingston Rovers
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Hull Kingston Rovers are a rugby league team currently playing in League One of the National League. They play at Craven Park in Hull in red and white home shirts, and blue and white away shirts, and are nicknamed 'The Robins'.
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History
1882-1962
Hull Kingston Rovers began in 1882 when a group of boilermakers in the Hessle Road area of Hull came together. Originally named Kingston Amateurs, the club colours were agreed to be red jerseys with a blue band across the chest, white shorts and red socks. The first ground that was used was a piece of waste land in Albert Street, and in the Autumn of 1883 a new club was founded when Kingston Amateurs kicked off the season playing in the Hull and District league.
By 1885 Kingston Amateurs had played at three grounds, Albert Street, Anlaby Road and now Chalk Lane. The club name was also changed to Kingston Rovers as they entered the Times Cup in the 1885/86 season.
The club won its first trophy in the 1887/88 season by winning the Times Cup, beating Selby A in the final.
In 1895 the Northern Football Union was founded, when the leading Rugby Union sides in the North of England broke away to form a league of their own, comprising 22 clubs. Hull Kingston Rovers were promoted to the second division of the R.F.U and finished joint second. Rovers then moved to their first East Hull ground, on Craven Street off Holderness Road.
1963-present
In 1963/64, Rovers reached the final of the Challenge Cup at Wembley, losing the final 5-13 to Widnes in front of 84,488 fans.
Rovers topped the league for the first time in 1978/79. Plus, in 1979/80 HKR achieved a famous defeat of neighbours Hull FC, by a margin of 10-5 in the final of the Challenge Cup in front of 95,000 fans.
In 1989/90 Rovers moved to a new ground called the "new" Craven Park. The first match played was against the now defunct, Trafford Borough, and it saw a full 8,500 pack in to watch the match. Rovers started the new era convincingly, and were crowned Second Division champions with promotion back to the top flight.
In 2002 Steve Linnane became the club's first overseas coach, as the Robins came within 80 minutes of their first Grand Final appearance after an exciting and successful end to the season. Whilst the arrival of former player Nick Halafihi as Chief Executive, boosted the club's off field activities.
In 2004 the club appointed Mal Reilly and Martin Hall as director of rugby and first team coach. Mal Reilly left the club mid way through the season, while Martin Hall took the club to the play off semi-final before leaving once the season had finished. Nick Halafihi also left the club.
Harvey Howard was appointed first team coach, and Paul Lakin appointed Chief Executive in late 2004. Harvey Howard was dismissed shortly before the Northern Rail Cup Final, which Rovers went on to win (see 2005 Northern Rail Cup).
Taking over from Harvey Howard was ex Toulouse coach, Justin Morgan. October 2005 saw the club still in the National League, after failing to get past the semi final stage of the NL1 play offs. Rovers also started a number of ground improvements, including the laying of a new pitch, and widening of the playing surface. Hull Kingston Rovers also made some big signings for the 2006 season.
Major honours
- Championship: 1922-23, 1924-25, 1978-79, 1983-84, 1984-85 (5 times)
- Challenge Cup: 1979-80
- Yorkshire League: 1924-25, 1925-26, 1966-67 (3 times)
- Yorkshire Cup : 1920-21, 1929-30, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1974-75, 1985-86 (6 times)
- BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: 1977-78
- Northern Rail Cup: 2005
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