Let The Drink Talk

[pete]

The better side won :D though very close

[Johnny]

09:30 - 30 August 2005

The Challenge Cup will soon be taken on the road as Hull FC plans a big thank you to its fans for their massive support.

The club hopes to hold a day where fans can visit the cup and players at Hull City Hall, as well taking the trophy to hospital patients and amateur clubs.

TRIUMPHANT Hull FC are planning to reward their army of loyal fans by taking the Challenge Cup on the road.

The club wants to fix up a day at Hull City Hall where fans can mingle with the victorious players and see the cup close up.

It also wants to take the trophy around the city's amateur clubs - the breeding ground of many of its past and present players.

And to give patients a real pick-me-up, they want to visit wards at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Finally, the thousands of people who flock to Hull Show in east Hull on Saturday, September 10, will also be able to see the cup.

No firm plans have yet been put in place, but the club wants to say a huge thank you to fans.

Martin Dunn, Hull FC's Community Development Officer, said: "We made tentative plans for the cup before the final, but when we've all calmed down we will decide exactly what will happen.

"We want to share this with as many people as possible.

"It's the fans as much as the players who make this team, and we wouldn't exist without them."

The cup was taken by security guards after Sunday's celebrations from the steps of the city hall and locked inside a vault in the Guildhall.

In the long term officials hope a cabinet will be constructed for the cup so it can sit at the KC Stadium.

Mr Dunn said: "We'd like the cup to be on display in the foyer so everyone can enjoy it."

He said the club wanted to recognise fans who would have loved to have been at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch Hull FC beat Leeds Rhinos by one point, but had to watch the game from their hospital beds.

"We tried to put this in place before the game because it is important to involve everyone," he added.

Today fans and amateur club officials said the club's plans were a fantastic gesture.

Audrey Morton, 48, from west Hull, a fan who watched the game at home, said: "I would definitely go if they had it on view at city hall.

"I enjoyed celebrating in Queen Victoria Square after the match, but this would be more personal.''

Tony Spence, coach at Ideal Isberg Rugby Football Club, the junior club which coached Hull FC player Richard Horne, said: "It will be a fantastic gesture from the club.

"It shows they recognise the importance of rugby from the grassroots end and it will be great to share their joy with the amateur children who train there."

h.drakakis@hdmp.co.uk

Links

Hull FC

www.hullfc.com.

Rugby Football League

www.rfl.uk.com
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/Let-the-drink-talk-675586225966432/

[Old Faithful]

What a day Saturday was!! It was amazing!! The centre of Cardiff was like the centre of Hull after the match, with people singing and shouting!! The good thing was there was no trouble too!! Not like the football lot. It was really good natured, the Leeds fans where disappointed, but very gracious in defeat. We where stood with a couple from Leeds at the end, and they said we where the better team, and deserved to win. My sister even got a kiss off one of them!!