hull kr
The Robins – An Official Updated History of Hull KR
ON SALE LATE NOVEMBER – PRE-ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS
By Roger Pugh
‘From the first time I saw them I was a Rovers fan – for better or worse ―and always will be’ – historian Roger Pugh, of a life-long passion that began in 1968.
In this second, updated edition of his official history of Hull KR, Pugh takes us back to the founding fathers of a club whose name has become synonymous with rugby league, and traces their story up to the present day, culminating in their record-breaking treble of Challenge Cup , League Leaders Shield and Super League Grand Final wins of 2025.
Over almost 600 pages, this is a fascinating tale of the of their initial growth in the late nineteenth century against all the odds; of heady forces of economic depression in the city; of a renaissance and transition to becoming ‘nearly men’; the glorious breakthrough to the very top; followed by a slide into obscurity, administration before their rescue and return.
That Hull Kingston Rovers have survived at all through their dark periods is testament to the determination and dedication of men who simply would not let the club die, whose contributions should not be forgotten, their achievements and tribulations properly documented and celebrated. The book contains a new foreword by owner Neil Hudgell, who has done more than anyone to get the club to where it is today,
‘The Robins’ also contains profiles of iconic players through the eras; a focus on the great matches; a list of club honours; and club-by-club analysis. Putting the Robins in their social context, it is a meticulously researched volume that will appeal not only to fans of the red and whites of East Hull, but also sporting historians more generally and those who tales of defiance and social pride.
Last One Out…
When Hull Invaded Wembley
By Vince Groak
With an introduction by the Rt Hon Lord John Prescott
Hull, 1980. The fishing industry is in terminal decline, the Humber Bridge still unfinished. A depraved killer is on the loose and Hull City FC look doomed to relegation. But, on a long Bank Holiday weekend in May, all thoughts turn to Wembley … chance for ultimate bragging rights.
Against a backdrop of a dramatically changing city, Last One Out… traces the story of how Hull’s two rugby league teams emerged from mid-seventies gloom to take their place at the very top of the game – exerting a dominance over the sport that others would follow.
Featuring first-hand interviews with players, officials and supporters, this is the definitive history of the ultimate rugby league derby; the early rounds and the draw that kept them apart, the clamour for tickets, the divided families and that famous sign on the road heading south. It tells of Roger’s joy, Sammy’s despair and the story behind ‘that try’.
Later, there was the pride and emotion of the homecoming. Later still, the game entered history, spelling joy for one side, despair for the other and encapsulated in a song the losers were taunted with until another dramatic Wembley victory more than three decades on.
More than just a derby, more than just a cup final, this is the story of an exodus: the day Hull invaded Wembley.
