A Hull FC legend in every sense of the word.
Hull FC legend Danny Houghton. (Image: Hull FC)
Danny Houghton has become just the 35th former player to be inducted into Hull FC ’s Hall of Fame – the highest individual honour at the club.
Houghton was inducted at Sunday’s Challenge Cup 2016 squad reunion dinner, with the club celebrating the tenth anniversary of their first Wembley triumph over Warrington Wolves.
A one club man, Houghton played an incredible 451 games for Hull between the 2007 and 2024 seasons. He won the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award as the best player in the Super League competition in 2016 and played a crucial role in the Wembley win with ‘Tackle 52.’
Houghton was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame with Kirk Yeaman and Gareth Ellis in attendance. The duo were indicted back in 2023 alongside Jack Harrison and Arthur Bunting, who were also post-humouesly honoured.
“I’m taken aback to be honest – the family have done well to keep it a secret,” Houghton said on his induction. “It’s a massive honour – as a kid, all I ever wanted to do was to pull the shirt on once.
LTo do it 451 times, to achieve what I have achieved in the game, and now to be inducted alongside some stalwarts of this club is pretty humbling.
“I was pretty emotional – for the club to put me into this category of players is truly special. This club means everything to me and for them to recognise me as being amongst that group is incredible.
“If I’d have only ever got to represent this club once, I’d have been a happy man. But to have had the chance to create the memories I did is remarkable.”
Asked about the 2016 team and his Man of Steel honour, Houghton added: “You’re only as good as the players around you – that was the case in 2016. Three of four of those teammates could have won that award that year.
“It’s a huge honour, particularly with it being named after Steve. I dedicate that to my teammates. The group we had, we couldn’t have done it without that collective group.
“The game gives you so much in terms of memories, but the ones you hold onto are your first game, your last, and moments like those in 2016 – other than the birth of my children, I don’t think anything else will get close to that day in 2016, and 2017 too.
“It was a special group of players and to have everyone back together today was a special feeling.”