I was genuinely impressed when Peter Taylor prised Shaun Smith away from Crewe Alexandra. Smith, a player schooled through his formative years by ubercoach, Dario Gradi, played 400 odd games for them but looked like a poor mans Greg Rioch whenever he played for us.
Thank you Tait and Lyall was my weak attempt at a joke BUt I was genuinely excited with Ken Knighton when we signed him from BLackburn Dave Roberts was commanding against us when he played for Oxford and we signed him not too long after that Those days I was easily impressed! Forgot Garry Parker
Ian Ormondroyd was an exciting signing at the time! I also remember Ternent smashed the transfer record twice I think in 2 days, signing Ian McParland 150k & then Peter Swann 200k. Steve Terry was an exciting signing at the time too!
I think most fans, from whatever era, are geed up when a new signing is made by the club and its only later that when the promise of a new signing fades that the discontent sets in. Most of the signings I witnessed over the years led to great expectations on the pitch which needed time to blend in with team but sometimes its painfully obvious that a given signing is not going to hack it. Ken Houghton was considered as one such signing of no consequence when he arrived but many fans of the day didn't appreciate his quite work in defence and his split second long passing he wasn't a Waggy, Chillo or Butler (Ian) but he was a good addition to the side at the time.
Ken Wagstaff, Ken Houghton and Ian Butler who all cost £40,000 each in 1965. At the time for a third division to spend £40k on one player was unknown and we did it three times. I remember one national newspaper at the time had a cartoon of Hull City running out at one game and they called us the 'The Bank of England' club. As for effect those three signings tripled our crowds, won us the Third Division title breaking countless record on the way, reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup and nearly got us into the First Division. Keith Edwards. 21, £50k from Sheffield United, instant impact, scored a hat trick on his home debut against top of the league Walsall. Scored 20 odd goals in a relegation season. One man forward line. Jeff Wealands, cheap buy, from memory by Mike Smith, never let he club down, played hundreds of games, never injured and eventually sold for big money. Ian Ashbee, probably the greatest signing of all time. Free transfer from Cambridge by Jan Molby, captained the club through all four divisions a feat you will never see again and an achievement yet to be acknowledged by the club. Billy Whitehurst, from non league to the First Division. Turned down by virtually every non league club in the area until City took a gamble. A colossal of a man, fearless, feared and just the type of centre forward every club searches for. He wouldn't finish a game today, sadly. Stuart Elliot, again signed by Jan Molby, this time for big money from Motherwell, fabulous free scoring winger, his goals were a massive factor in our back to back promotion push. Another one who didn't get he recognition that he deserved from the club. Nicky Barmby, he's one of own, huge signing of intent, pity we lost him as a schoolboy. He should have played for England as a Hull City player. That would have been fitting. Dean Windass second time around, we should have signed him four or five seasons earlier. If only Peter Taylor would have taken the chance. Michel Dawson, as was his brother Andy, He would walk into any Premiership side and the best is yet to come. As for local lads, Chris Chilton should have played for England. No doubt about that. Andy Davidson wasn't a bad signing either, record appearances for the club, fearless captain and not a mention of him anywhere at the KC Stadium.
Like I said 'From memory' Maybe getting Wealands mixed up with Tony Norman, who, I'm sure Mike Smith DID sign. Everything said about Jeff Wealands could equally apply to Tony Norman.
Emlyn Hughes. Although he only played a handful of games & was at the arse end of his carear in 1983, he must have been our most successful signing ever in terms of previous honours won.
Peter Swann was the record signing for ages until we broke it with someone for 450k before Marney at 500k with 500k add on. Who was the 450k player? Elliott, Burgess, Alexander?
I'd definitely agree with that, it was great to see Crazy Horse in the black & amber, and those trademark sock hold ups of his. Remember them?
I remember it being a big deal at the time & feeling a little startstruck when I first saw him play, but not the hold ups. On my part, at that time I was 16 & usually pissed for days on end.
Don Robinson also made Hughes a Director of the club. A position he held until he finished playing us, which wasn't long. Inspired signing at the time all the same.
As for local lads, Chris Chilton should have played for England. No doubt about that Lots of doubt I'd say. Clearly not good enough for England at that time. Greaves Hurst Lee Astle Clarke etc etc far far better players.
Your suggestion of Pearson doesn't fit with the thread topic but then neither do half the other posts.
Clearly not good enough for England? And Mick Jones was ? Mick Jones who Leeds signed from Sheff Utd when they couldn't afford Chilton. I'd question if Jeff Astle was better then Chilton in his prime, maybe played for a more fashionable club, yes, but better ?
I'd trust Alf Ramsey over you sorry. Mick Jones only got as couple of caps as he wasnt good enough. Neither was Chilton. WBA were hardly fashionable.
