People over a certain age will know what I’m writing about here, those magical days when, instead of the usual suspects of Wigan, St. Helens etc, the two Hull clubs ruled the rugby league roost.

Obviously the 1980 Challenge Cup Final gets spoken about a lot, especially by those of the red and white persuasion, while for me, the 1984 Yorkshire Cup Final was just a thing of beauty as my team in Black & White came from behind to blitz our cross-city rivals and wrap up a third consecutive Yorkshire Cup title.

At the time, both sides could call on some great names for their playing squad, names like George Fairbairn, Steve ‘Knocker’ Norton, Gavin Miller, David Topliss, Roger ‘The Dodger’ Millward, Peter Sterling and, of course, who could forget Clive Sullivan!

In those halcyon days, each squad looked like a who’s who of rugby league with star names, plus coaches like the above-named Roger Millward and Arthur Bunting and there was a diet of regular trophies for both sets of fans in the divided city to feast upon, as well as the well-known intensity of the rivalry between the two teams.

For several years since then it has been the black and white side that has dominated proceedings in Hull, more trophies and quite a few near misses, more time in the top flight of rugby league than the near neighbours, but then in recent times a resurgent Hull KR have definitely put their stamp on the game including major finals in the last two seasons and with a burgeoning reputation off the field as well with developments like a new 3G pitch and, of course, buying their Craven Park ground.

While the Airlie Birds have somewhat fallen by the wayside, the Robins have had their tails up and made everybody sit up and take serious notice for the first time in nearly 40 years, but while the downward spiral has taken FC to within spitting distance of relegation, a big takeover by ambitious new owners has breathed new life into the sleeping giant on the west side of Hull.

There are new players, new facilities, a new coach and obviously a new chairman, all added to the mix of a club which this year blooded some impressive young talent, a new mix which now seems to give the Airlie Birds a whole new edge and reasons to be genuinely optimistic, as any good Hull FC will point out, nobody really beat a full Hull FC team in 2024, what they beat was a mainly Hull FC reserves team, but nonetheless a reserves team which learnt a lot of very harsh lessons this season and who are now backed by the genuine quality that has walked in through the door in this pre-season including proven winners like John Asiata, Jordan Rapana and Zak Hardaker.

So, are we now on the cusp, with certain facilities and people in place at both clubs, of seeing a return to the days of Hull FC and Hull KR dominating the sport again, as they unquestionably did in the late 70s and early 80s?

Only time will tell of course, but as things stand, within the next few years, I certainly believe myself that those days, those sort of successes for both sides, are definitely a very viable option for fans to be able to believe in again, who knows, maybe it can also bring another dimension to that age old debate of Hull FC v Hull KR or Wigan v Saints?

Written by Ian Judson (site contributor & Hull FC fan)