HEDNESFORD CUP DEFEAT Depths of despair please log in to view this image The 1990s was a long procession of debasement and debilitation for those of a Tiger persuasion. Humiliations jostle with one another for supremacy in our scarred memories, with no clear winner, no definitive top ten possible, just an unending slurry of dismay. However, while we may never be able to select for certain our lowest point, few have a more vigorous claim than an afternoon of shame that’ll be forever known simply as “Hednesford”. They were our opponents in the First Round of the FA Cup in 1997/98, a match played one chilly November day, a rancid affair replete with squalid cheating, loathsome officiating and a City side more mind-meltingly hopeless than anyone new to the support nowadays could believe ever turned out in amber and black. Those who do remember need only consider that Gage and Rioch were our full-backs that day, or wing-backs, as manager Mark Hateley attempted to mould them. Match of the Day were there too, featuring the Tigers on that evening’s show and fervently hoping for a “giant-killing”. They got one. City started poorly, as was their wont. Hednesford now ply their trade in the Southern League, but at the time were a progressive Conference team, only a handful of places below the Tigers in the football pyramid. They probably had the better of the first half as a cold, sullen Boothferry Park crowd of 6,091 sighed with displeasure. Mick Norbury, veteran striker of virtually every crap northern team in existence, scored with a penalty shortly before half-time, comically awarded by Mr D Laws, a name not easily forgotten – for he turned in one of the worst refereeing displays ever witnessed. The Pitmen led at the break, and City’s attempts to rescue the game in the second half were pitifully inept. Memories include Gregor Rioch (described as ‘barrel chested’ by Mark Lawrenson on MOTD) shooting from about fifty yards, as he did almost every game, Hateley bringing on the attacking duo of Ellington and Fewings (seriously) in bid to level matters, and Rioch tumbling in the area and Mr Laws waving it away before being almost jubilant as Hednesford scored again in injury time. The 1,000 Hednesford fans celebrated their cup final victory, their cretinous fat oaf of a manager pranced on our pitch, and we slunk away into the night in utter disgrace, wondering if we’d ever see the sun again. http://www.ambernectar.org/blog/2015/11/the-soul-of-hull-city-15-hednesford-cup-defeat/
Indeed that was an awful afternoon. If I remember rightly, the grass looked very nice for the television. Cut in a circle pattern? My memory isn't great but that seems to ring a bell. I still think the Donny away game of the same era (possibly same season) was the very low point though.
Good summing up of an awful day in the history of Hull City. Made worse in a later publication which raked over those dark days when 'Hednesford' somehow turned into 'Hereford' via ****ing spell check, and everyone missed it, Publisher, Proof readers and author until it appeared in print.
Those were the type of eras, of which there have been more than a few, that spring to my mind when individuals are not very appreciative of better times.
I was there but the match report doesn't ring any bells - I can only remember the disappointment and the fact that the pal that I always go to matches with had to miss the game because he was heading down to Luton to buy a Triumph Stag and, as he was driving home, he'd just heard the final score when a front wheel detached and rolled off into the middle of the A1. A bad day all round.
Interesting the bottom of the Football League that season (1997-98) were clubs who have all gone on the better things in a new stadium: 88. Swansea City 89. Cardiff City 90. Hull City 91. Brighton & Hove Albion 92. Doncaster Rovers
Maybe so, I did not intend to be confrontational, there has been too much controversy and bad feeling in recent times.
I can remember losing at home 0-1 to Kettering. Think they scored just after half-time unless my memorys failed me. That was a ****e awful match as well.
Mentioned this before on another thread but that was the game whe my youngest lad discovered a football match could turn his dad into a ranting lunatic, incandescent with rage, who needed copious amounts of alcohol to cslm him down before sulking for days. Funny how the team in those days brought out more passion and feeling than now. Maybe because I felt more of a connection with what I felt was my and a small band of like minded people's club. Now the feeling is one of detachment with fans who don't share the attitudes people towards their club that was present then. And possibly old age.
you rotten S-d I have been trying to forget those times and you bring them up again. That's another 20 years of bad dreams for me.
I'd blocked out that game & many others over the years - though never ' the barrel chested defender' comment - recently used as a descriptor on a friends (the groom) wedding photo's ...
I remember us drawing 3-3 with Torquay at home that season. We were 3-0 up with about ten left, they scored twice in ****ing injury time.
They were truly bad times from a footy achieving perspective. So why do I look back on them with fond memories? Honestly, I have no idea. Id hate to be like that again, truly. I think at the time, I just didn't care. I had an almost gallows humour about us. We were **** but I didn't care. I never came away from a game we'd lost feeling despair or angst, I just chuckled, me dad would say "typical bloody tigers", we'd laugh. My missus never understood why I told her I enjoyed it too. I don't think I did. I still don't.
That is my worst memory - Maybe my memory has painted a bleaker picture than the reality! We were without doubt ****e though. Didn't come without the occasional surprise though - beating Swansea 7-4 at home. Jumpers for goal posts and all that. City have had more hard luck stories than most, which is why we all love it at the moment, not without the odd grumble though of course.
