A fitting tribute to Hull FC’s greatest ever player.
Hull FC great Johnny Whiteley looking at a picture of himself when the club opened their 150th anniversary exhibition, at the Streetlife Museum, Hull Old Town
Hull FC will officially unveil the MKM Stadium’s East Stand in honour of club legend Johnny Whiteley MBE before Saturday’s Super League opener against Bradford Bulls.
The greatest player to ever play for the Black and Whites, the renaming of the stand creates a permanent tribute to the former loose-forward, who had an incredible 70-year association with Hull FC before sadly passing away on this day four years ago.
Announced by club co-owner Andrew Thirkill at last month’s Fans Forum, the East Stand will now be known as The Johnny Whiteley Stand on all Hull FC matchdays, with members of the Whiteley family in attendance as the club’s guests of honour on Saturday, with Johnny’s great-grandchildren, Leo and Jack, delivering the match ball ahead of kick-off.
Signing for Hull upon the completion of his national service in 1950, Whiteley made 418 appearances for the club, scoring 156 tries – the club’s sixth highest total of all time. He won championship titles with his beloved Black and Whites in 1956 and 1958 and led Hull out at Wembley in 1959 and 1960, retiring in 1965. He coached Hull to Yorkshire Cup success in 1970.
Internationally, Whiteley played for Yorkshire, England, and Great Britain, winning World Cups and scoring decisive Ashes tries as a player against Australia and coaching GB to their last series victory in 1972. He is one of the British game’s all-time top forwards, building an incredible legacy through Hull and the sport of rugby league. He resides in both outfits’ Hall of Fames.
As a child, Whiteley grew up off hessle-road>Hessle Road during the 1930s and 40s in the midst of the Hull Blitz. He signed for Hull from Hull Boys Club, and after his time in the professional game, played a pivotal role in the community at various amateur clubs, particularly West Hull A.R.L.F.C.
He also had a spell as coach of Hull KR and returned to the Black and Whites in 1992 in an assistant coaching role. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 91.
Hull FC Chief Executive Richie Myler, said: “We are honoured to have been granted permission from Johnny’s family to create a permanent tribute at our home in his honour.
“Unfortunately, my time at the club began too late to have spent much time in his company, but I can confidently say that his legacy lives on through the huge impact he had on the entire community across his seventy-year association with Hull FC, through the incredible stories that will forever be told about him, and the lives of those he positively affected.
“Johnny was the epitome of everything that is great about this club and our community – a local lad who rose to the very top of the sport through pure dedication, resilience and an unwavering love for rugby league.
“We are delighted to welcome Johnny’s family to the MKM Stadium on Saturday evening in what I’m sure will be an occasion worthy of honouring ‘Gentleman John’, as we officially unveil the Johnny Whiteley Stand ahead of kick-off.”
Head coach John Cartwright also paid tribute to Whiteley, adding: “It’s great recognition for a club legend.” It’s a very old club, Hull FC, and it just adds to the legend of the club.
“To be able to show respect to your past champions, and with a lot of his family still living in the area, it’s a great story, and it will be celebrated on game day.”