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
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 where 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 R.U sides in the North of England broke away to form a league of their own, comprising 22 clubs, Rovers were promoted to the second division of the R.F.U and finished joint second, Rovers moved to their first East Hull ground on Craven Street off Holderness Road.
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.
Rovers topped the league for the first time in 1978/79, and in 1979/80 rovers beat neighbours Hull 10-5 in the final of the RL Challenge Cup infront of 95,000 fans.
In 1989/90 Rovers moved to a new ground called "NEW" Craven Park, the first match played was against Trafford Borough and 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 there rightful place in the top flight.
In 2002 Steve Linnane became the clubs 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 clubs 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 playoff semi-final before leaving once the season had finished. Nick Halafihi also left the club.
Harvey Howard was appointed first team coach and Paul Larkin appointed Chief Executive in late 2004.
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
Current playing squad (March 2004)
Makali Aizue - Dwayne Barker - Mark Blanchard - Jamie Bovill - Andy Ellis - Matt Emerson - Kane Epati - Paul Fletcher - Byron Ford - Phil Hasty - Dale Holdstock - Paul Mansson - Alasdair McClarron - Jason Netherton - Paul Parker - Paul Pickering - Craig Poucher - Andy Raleigh - Jonathon Steel - Jimmy Walker - James Webster - Loz Wildbore -
External link
- Hull Kingston Rovers official website (http://www.hullkr.co.uk/main.asp)
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