The Hull City AFC history tells the story of a proud Yorkshire club built on resilience, promotion battles, and one unforgettable trip to Wembley. Founded in 1904, the club has spent much of its existence fighting through the lower divisions of English football, only to break through in the 21st century with its first-ever taste of the Premier League. Known for their black and amber stripes and passionate East Riding support, Hull City has built a reputation as a club that never stops fighting for its place among England's elite.
Hull City AFC Origin
Founded
1904
Location
Kingston upon Hull, England
Team History
1904 - Present / Hull City Association Football Club
Nickname
The Tigers
Hull City AFC got their nickname, "The Tigers," as a direct result of a formal rebranding by the club's management in the early 20th century.
The story begins in the early 1900s, when the club's players wore black-and-white striped shirts, leading the local press to nickname them "The All Blacks" after the famous New Zealand rugby team. The club's directors, however, felt this nickname lacked a local connection and wanted something more unique and representative of the city of Hull.
In 1905, the directors made a decisive change. They adopted the amber-and-black striped kit, a color scheme that remains the club's identity to this day. Along with the new colors, they officially adopted the nickname "The Tigers." The choice was symbolic; the tiger, with its amber and black stripes, matched the new kit and was seen as a fierce, powerful animal representing the fighting spirit they wanted the team to embody.
The nickname was cemented that very season when the club achieved its first-ever promotion, securing its place in the Football League. From that point on, "The Tigers" became the official and enduring identity of Hull City AFC, a name proudly displayed on the club's badge and embraced by generations of supporters.
Championships
Premier League / 0
FA Cup / 0
Premier League - FA Cup Double / 0
Stadium
2003 - Present / KCOM Stadium / MKM Stadium
1946 - 2003 / Boothferry Park
1904 - 2003 / The Boulevard (Anlaby Road)
Owner
2022 - Present / Acun Medya
2010 - 2022 / Assem Allam
2007 - 2010 / Russell Bartlett Partnership
2001 - 2007 / Adam Pearson
1904 - 2001 / Needler Family, Christopher Needler
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Hull City AFC History
Hull City Association Football Club was formed in 1904 and joined the Football League Second Division the following season. The Hull City AFC history stretches back over a century, shaped early on by a fight for local support in a region where rugby league dominated the sporting scene. Despite that, the Tigers built a loyal following that carried the club through decades of second- and third-tier football.
The Hull City nickname Tigers comes from the club's traditional black and amber colors, worn in a striped design that has defined the team's identity since its earliest years. The club's best cup run in its first century came in 1930, when Hull reached the FA Cup semi-finals before falling to Arsenal. They followed that with Third Division North title wins in 1932–33 and again in 1949, during a period that also saw future England manager Don Revie turn out for the club.
The most significant chapter in Hull City promotion history arrived in 2007–08, when the club won the Championship play-off final at Wembley to reach the top flight of English football for the very first time. That achievement was followed by an even more memorable run in 2013–14, when Hull recorded their highest-ever league finish of 16th in the Premier League while also reaching the FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Arsenal. The club has moved between the Premier League and Championship several times since, most recently earning promotion back to the top flight through the 2025–26 play-offs.
Hull City AFC Achievements
Across its history, Hull City AFC has built its reputation less through major trophies and more through moments of breakthrough. The Hull City AFC history includes two Third Division North championships, a Championship play-off triumph in 2008, and a run to the 2014 FA Cup final — still the club's only appearance in the competition's showpiece match. The Tigers have also made the step up to the Premier League on multiple occasions, cementing their place as one of Yorkshire's most followed clubs.
Hull play their home matches at the MKM Stadium, which they moved into in 2002 after 56 seasons at Boothferry Park. Under current ownership, the Hull City AFC history continues to unfold, with the club once again competing among English football's top tier and looking to build on the promotion breakthroughs that have defined its modern era.
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