I've read several times a claim that in the past, the Hull area had the largest number of Sunday league teams in Europe. Can anyone put any numbers to it historically and at the present?
When I was playing prior to '87 there were around 20 divisions (off my head 21 & a premier league springs to mind) with around 12 teams in each. Returned to play around '93 & can't remember if the numbers had started to drop
I have also heard that it used to be, certainly isn't any more though. I believe there are 12 leagues now, and then 3/4 cup competitions. I believe there used to be double that number of leagues. We had a team last year but didn't have the numbers to keep going this year.
I played for Costello as a kid, then moved to Leicester with my dad when my parents separated so missed out on being able to play in the senior Sunday League.
Won't one of the reasons to blame for his be the sudden increase of teams and leagues in Hull's Saturday Leagues?
Withernsea Youth Club (Surf City) & then we started from scratch as Spread Eagle (best pub for aftermatch grub ever) & then Youth Club again when I came back for a year or so. After Surf City disbanded & rebranded we wanted to call ourselves Withernsea Town(or similar) but found we got to use the School pitches & Youth Club Minibus for free if we had "Youth" in our name, so WYC it was. Saturday I played for Withernsea, then Hedon Utd & then Patrington Utd. How about you Chazz?
You used to live in Withernsea then? I have family there and go down pretty much every weekend. Been to Spread Eagle a few times.
Don't get there often now but back then Spread had a Sunday football team & a couple of RL teams. It was a great place for a pint on a Sunday afternoon.
Can't blame you. It's not too pleasant anymore really. Went to the Summertime Special and Carnival week though with the kids, that's what it's still good for: Good weather, keeps the kids happy and I have beer.
i remember it having about 20 divisions then they split the city so about 8-9 east hull leagues and 8-9 west hull. Overtime its decreased probably due to a few reasons younger kids not playing (happy playing fifa) the standard is poor now aswell and its not a cheap hobby running a team.
Was that when Lee ******* was the landlord? Used to be a singer as well? When he had Pilot he ripped us off for our kit. We didnt realise he'd got on the gear. Died a few years later after losing the lot. Loads of different clubs, pub teams. Gardeners, Pilot cross Keys Bridges Nightjar. Remember playing Hedon and With a few times, always a battle. Hedon always used to put a spread on at that pub out the way a bit, cant remember the name.
Think he came after I'd moved down South, (did he end up in a pub in Old Town?) it was Harry & Maureen then Simon when we was there. Maybe another in between. My brother played in the resident band, The Johnny Allan Set. Early stage, live karaoke. Good times. Only played for Hedon (2nds) for one season, we got to a cup final & they dropped 9 of us & stuck ****ers from the first team in so I ****ed 'em off. ****s lost anyway. Went back the season after in the South Holderness Cup & beat their first team in the final with Pat. Think the pub was Brough Arms?? Staying at Kingstown Hotel on Saturday, coming over for my parents 50th Anniversary do.
After Pilot he went to Biarritz i think. Haven Arms just googled it. They used to have a lot of lock ins if i remember.
That's the one, Think most round the villages kept their own hours in those days. Lock ins were part of the culture. Getting him mixed up with Colin ........... who used to have The Bonny Boat.
What were you all doing playing in the Sunday league when you should have been at church!!!! To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. I thought better of you all.
Funny(ish) story. Our eldest was born when we lived in Ware. Prior to her Christening we had the lay church bible bashers round every night grooming us. They mentioned a church football team & I offered to play as they were short & I was nice. Turned up, put the kit on & lined up against the local Methodists. To say it was strange is an understatement. Apologising after going in for a tackle & generally being nice. I was "**** this" "useless ****er" "soft ****" "hack the ****" "go through the t**t, let him know you're there" all over the pitch, Mrs said there were gasps of shock on the touchline. I was the best player on the pitch but was never asked again. Weirdos.
