Ahead of Hull City’s clash against Wigan Athletic at the KCOM Stadium, a game that could seal the Sky Bet League One Title for Grant McCann’s side. We take a look back at the last Hull City side to emerge as champions, and that was 55 years ago in 1966.
This side was one glittered with some of the biggest names associated with the club, such as record goal scorer Chris Chilton, Ken Wagstaff, Ken Houghton & Ian McKechnie
The previous season ended with City ending 4th in Division 3 , only two points behind Carlisle United who went up as champions. The next season began with a Humber Derby at Boothferry Park against Scunthorpe United , a 3-2 win saw “Waggy & Chillo” get off the mark in front of 18,829 fans.
Cliff Britton’s side had managed to turn Boothferry Park into a fortress. However, both of City’s two home defeats came before mid September, a 3-1 defeat to QPR came on September 4th, before managing to lose 4-1 to York City in the next home game. By the time City’s deadly front line was shut out for the first time , a 3-0 defeat at Workington on October 22nd, Wagstaff and Chilton had notched up 17 strikes between them.
At this point, The Tigers were sat 3rd in the table, but the next game, a 3-0 victory at Boothferry Park against Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic began a remarkable run of just two defeats in 25 league matches. It was during this period that the cup run which is synonymous with this side began with a 3-2 away win at Bradford Park Avenue before destroying Gateshead by four goals to nil in Round Two.
One of the biggest league games of such a magnificent campaign came on December 27th. The Tigers vs The Lions in a top of the table clash at Boothferry Park. The game was played out in front of 40,231 spectators- Boothferry Park’s biggest league crowd in 15 years- with Millwall right-back John Gilchrist having the ignominy of scoring an own goal to give City a crucial two points. Ironically, the return fixture was played out at The Den the very next day with Millwall winning 3-0.
City’s biggest victory of the season would come just two weeks later, with a 6-0 demolition of Workington, a game which saw Alan Jarvis get his first of the campaign, as well as an Ian Butler double plus one apiece from Wagstaff and Houghton and an own goal. City at this point in the season were sat on 35 points, just two points behind Millwall having played a game more.
The Cup run was also back on Cliff Britton’s agenda, when Southampton -eventual promotion winners to the First Division- visited Boothferry Park the following week. A Ken Houghton goal set up a tie with First Division Nottingham Forest, where a Terry Heath double before a crowd of 38,055 secured The Tigers’ passage into Round 5, the club’s best cup run since 1953/54.
The side’s league form continued to gather momentum, with 3-0 and 4-0 wins against Gillingham and Mansfield Town, a game where Ken Wagstaff scored two against his old side. This came before an FA Cup 5th Round tie against non-league Southport, and a Chris Chilton double set up City’s first FA Cup Quarter-Final since 1949.
The Quarter-Final saw City pitting their wits against Chelsea, who’s side included legends such as Peter Osgood, Peter Bonetti and Bobby Tambling. The first game at Stamford Bridge saw the hosts go in 2-0 up at half-time, with goals from Tambling and George Graham. However, City were once again rescued by goal scorer extraordinaire Ken Wagstaff. His first goal from an Ian Butler cross gave City some hope, then unbelievably in the final minute he went round Bonetti to equalise and set up a replay in Hull.
Some 45,238 fans packed into Boothferry Park, however Chelsea made it one step too far for The Tigers who went out 3-1, in spite of a Chris Simpkin thunderbolt.
The defeat didn’t dishearten the side , as 5 straight wins including a 4-2 win at Brentford which saw Wagstaff net all of City’s goals, as well as a 6-1 home thrashing of Exeter were quickly followed by back-to-back defeats against Grimsby and Peterborough
Another victory against Brentford, this time by four goals to one saw City reclaim top spot and go 12 points clear of third placed QPR, meaning a victory at Bristol Rovers would end a 6 year exile from English football’s second tier.
City won at Eastville 2-1, with goals from ‘Waggy and Chillo’ again, which secured promotion. Now was the chance to seal the Third Division title.
A draw with Bournemouth, followed by a win against Peterborough set up the chance to clinch the title in a Friday night game against Southend United, who were still fighting for survival. 30,371 was the attendance as Ian Butler got the only goal, cue celebratory scenes as City finished 1st on 69 points, 4 clear of nearest challengers Millwall.
Ken Wagstaff ended up top-scorer with 27 for the season, with his strike partner Chris Chilton ending up with only two less on 25.
So, can the class of 2020/21 achieve the same feat as Waggy, Chillo, Houghton et al, and secure the League One title this weekend? It remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, if they do, they’ll be in good company!
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