It is definitely very fair to say that I shed a tear when I saw the news this morning that legendary Hull FC coach John Kear had passed away so suddenly; in fact, it was more than just a tear.

I first encountered John in 2015 when my rugby league reporting journey really began, while I was studying my journalism degree, and my perception of him never changed in all the times I saw and spoke with him, which was every now and again in various media suites and press boxes.

John reminded me a lot of Johnny Whiteley MBE, a great rugby league man, a delight to talk to, a world of experience and knowledge about the game and somebody who always had time for everyone, including me.

My fondest memories of this iconic coach stem from the week leading up to the 2016 Challenge Cup Final, when I was a media intern as part of my degree at Hull FC Media, and I was asked to interview him over the phone about the 2005 Challenge Cup Final, I was so nervous, as a student journalist, about interviewing a Challenge Cup winning coach, he told me he could tell I was nervous, and just told me to take my time, and I had nothing to worry about.

We spoke at length about his 2005 cup final experience, he told me the full ins and outs, about the blow of losing Shaun Briscoe on the eve of the final to appendicitis and the changes he had to make to the team as a result, it was like having a Hollywood Blockbuster film described to me, but it was done with reverent care and attitude, he literally took me on a journey on the phone that day, and at the end he said he had thoroughly enjoyed speaking to me, and he expected me to not make any mistakes with what I wrote for the Hull FC website and social media platforms.

On the Saturday afternoon at Wembley, after we beat Warrington, my first thought was, how excited will he be up in the press box with the BBC, and was there any chance of him coming down to pitchside and falling backwards over the 50 Metre marker, just like he did in Cardiff after the 2005 final.

Beyond that day, I would see him fairly regularly in whichever press box, and he always had time to speak to me and remind me of that telephone interview in 2016. It was like that’s all it took to bind us together, sure we would chew the fat about Hull FC at whatever time we were meeting, either good or bad, and the 2005 Challenge Cup Final was a regular feature of our conversations, but the 2016 interview was the one subject that always got broached, and it usually ended up causing giggles between us, because there were things said over the phone, that only we knew, and which will never be spoken about again, now he has gone.

What I will also always remember about John was his infectious smile, as well as his inevitably encyclopedic knowledge of the game. He would also mention the fact that he promised to win a trophy within 3 years of taking the helm after Shaun McRae left, and in fact delivered on that promise in his first season as head coach.

Another favourite topic for us, whenever we caught up with each other, was the 2005 semi-final against St. Helens, when he would always talk about his pride in that performance in particular, and how it was arguably the greatest team performance he had personally ever been involved with, whenever I spoke to him about it, his face would tell me a thousand words, even before he opened his mouth.

The last time I saw him was at the World Club Challenge at the MKM Stadium this year, he saw me in the Media Suite, walked straight up to me with a big grin, shook my hand and put his arms round me, in his usual friendly manner, and told me he was thrilled to see me, just because that’s the sort of man he was, and will always remain for me.

All that remains for me to say is, thank you John for so many outstanding memories for me as a Hull FC supporter, as a rugby league supporter, and for being so pleased for me when I graduated with my BA (Hons) degree in Journalism and Digital Media in 2017, but mostly thank you for your encouragement, and that 2016 telephone interview, R.I.P Old Faithful pal of mine.

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