Extract from 'A Century Of City' by Mike Peterson 'Many of the existing structures left over from the land's former use as a golf club and then a military depot were carefully dismantled and reused, wherever possible, to provide the new structures and facilities for spectators. Seating in the West Stand was nothing more than benches and it would be some years before Boothferry Park would compare with the futuristic plans outlined by the new Board of Directors. They envisaged a stadium with a capacity approaching 80,000 with subways to car parks and a dedicated railway service. It was not only the accommodation that required substantial work to prepare it for the new season, but also the pitch. Boothferry Park's wartime use as a tank building and storage depot had left the ground in a sorry state, and it fell to an army of volunteers - responding to an appeal by the Directors - to carry out a variety of tasks such as weeding, painting and labouring to ensure that City's first home game would go ahead; indeed that 'army' was still working on the pitch just hours before it made it's debut. That debut arrived on 31st August 1946 with a local derby, of sorts, against Lincoln City. In the souvenir programme issued for the game the Chairman opened his notes with the words: "Saturday 31st August, 1946 will always be a Red Letter day in my life as it is the culmination of an idea which originated in my mind some years ago." It was a sentiment that would have been shared by many in the crowd of 25,586.'
Cheers Craigo, golf club? Not a golfer myself but the golf courses that I have seen usually cover a large area and what with North Road being on one side, Hawthorn Ave on the other it's hard to imagine how a golf club would fit in. Then the railway embankment, but the information is interesting, I have a copy of the opening day match it is my avatar along with a programme of the last game at Boothferry Park.
The golf course northern boundary was Anlaby High Rd, the southern boundary was Hessle High Rd, the Eastern boundary was the H&B goods railway embankment that connects Calvert Lane coal sidings and the old H&B line out of Hull with Neptune St goods depot.
There were plenty of matches at BP where City strolled around as if they were playing golf. Another poignant point I didn't add to that extract was the reason the military depot was carefully dismantled and reused to build BP was because there was so much devastation after the war that building materials were strictly rationed by the government. It all goes together to paint a picture of the time and how important Boothferry Park was beyond being just a football stadium.
Which makes it all the more puzzling why the former site isn't recognised more by the new housing development that occupies the site. I remember when the plans went in for the housing estate a provision was made to leave a piece of open land where the centre circle used to be and have some type of memorial or plaque in recognition to the old stadium. Last time I looked there was nothing.
I aren't being funny but did a City keeper ever wear that jersey that John Davies has got on? Looks very unfamiliar.
An ode to Hull City legend Stuart Elliott... http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/02/28/an-ode-to-hull-city-legend-stuart-elliott/ That video brings back some great memories.
The first para in your lad's article states that we didn't trouble the Dramas' keeper for 80 mins before Elliott came on. The main reason why that game was remembered was the fact that they cheated/timewasted/fluked/ ran down the clock for the whole game, and the goals were great poetic justice. His 2 goals v Brentford the previous season were much better (if less dramatic).
So many fantastic goals he scored. Such a shame he never managed to play in the top league. I believe he could have made the top grade - a natural scorer and his timing/positional sense was exquisite.