Hull City 0 v 1 Blackpool
Friday 5th August 2011
The Championship
Att 18,907
Tonight would be my first of the ninety two. Bearing in mind I live in Grimsby the decision to nip across the river to Hull on a Friday night was a relatively easy one to make, you could say I'm easing myself in gently. Still, being the painfully organised individual that I am, I left ample time to make the 45 minute journey down the A15 and over the iconic Humber Bridge, eventually arriving at the park and ride station approx 6.30pm in the basking sunshine. Being local-ish I'd driven this route before and knew relatively where I was going, therefore I'd say the journey was stress free made all the more comfortable by Arcade Fire on the CD player. A bus was waiting as I'd arrived so having parted with a very reasonable £2 (bearing in mind the car parking was free) I hopped on and relaxed into a short journey (as best I could in the stuffy conditions) across the city towards the stadium. The bus took a route I hadn't seen before and as we drew ever closer to the ground the amount of gold and amber shirts gradually increased. I enjoyed listening in on a few conversations on the bus. With it being the first game of the new season tonight there seemed to be an air of optimism amongst the Hull following and this was also evident once in the stadium. However, a few fans still had time to complain about the on going Jimmy Bullard wage debacle and this season's new home shirt which I agree lacks imagination to say the least. We pulled up to the stadium at approximately 6.45pm, a mere 50 minutes after leaving my house. I fear the ease of this trip may well be a false dawn...
On the way back the bus encounters inevitable traffic but once on the dual carriage way we move fast and are back at the park and ride station in no time. The slight delay allowed some time for me to again listen in on a couple of conversations, this time between both sets of supporters. A young Blackpool supporter and his Dad chat as if long lost relatives with two elderly Hull fans and it really is heart warming to see such friendliness between rival sets of supporters so soon after the game. Although I'm sure gritted teeth were visible throughout. I arrived home at approximately 11.00pm, just thirty minutes after leaving Hull.
The stadium is visible from several vantage points around the city and none more so than the Humber Bridge itself as you cross the river. Depending on your route to the ground arguably your view will vary and I was slightly disappointed I didn't have time to go a bit further away and get some good exterior pics. From where the buses drop you the stadium is only just visible by it's pointy roof stanchions above trees. However as you take the pleasant walk through the park more and more of the stadium comes into view until the West stand, the biggest of the four looms large above. It has a clean and modern exterior, grey stainless steel matched with blue and yellow trim on the four large external staircases. The majority of the club's offices appear to be housed in the West stand with numerous windows visible above and a large entrance for officials and dignitaries. The player's entrance is just to the right of this and the visiting team bus is parked alongside. As I walk around the opposite side of the ground to collect my tickets it becomes obvious there isn't a lot more to see from the outside of the ground and as is often the case with new builds there is a distinct lack of character to the exterior, albeit neat and tidy. The ground is in a bowl shape and a pathway goes right around the outside with spectator walk ways and bridges joining from several different angles. The ticket office and club shop are housed in the east stand where I have chosen to sit and both are spacious and easy to navigate. As I find my turnstile I catch a glimpse of the pristine green pitch through a corner entrance. I have always found such glimpses however big or small to feel wrong in some weird way, as if it shouldn't be that easy to see straight into the heart of a stadium, yet they are always childishly exciting.
I enter the ground and immediately climb a large staircase to the back of the stand. Here home supporter's congregate with their half drunk pints discussing tactics and predictions whilst watching match highlights on the TV screens above. A nice touch in this area is that on some of the bricks people have had messages for their loved one's engraved. For example birthday messages, remembrance plaques or simply die hard fans declaring their love for the club. I buy a drink from the near by kiosk and wander into the inner bowel of the stadium to try and find my seat. The impressive West stand is again visible straight away but this time from it's opposite side and the size takes me a back for a second. How ever many pictures you see of a football ground or how ever many times you see it on TV, nothing can quite prepare you for that initial view in real life. It's always obviously bigger than you anticipated but the grounds, especially those that are enclosed fully, always seem more compact despite their size. I'm very impressed with my seat which I find to be on the very back row, FF, and almost central to the touch line. I couldn't have asked for a better view quite frankly. The seats bend around the pitch like all new stadiums and three sides of the ground are at the same level with a single, yet high, tier. The West stand is a lot larger and the centrepiece of the stadium. It has another level built above and executive boxes stretch the length of the stand in-between the two tiers. The tunnel, changing rooms and dug outs are also located in this stand, as are the press desks which are at the very top of the stand and look almost precarious. It's not often you see the press boxes so high.
The away fans are housed in the North stand. The police box is above them as is the big screen showing the usual mix of match highlights, adverts and messages. During the game the screen shows both line ups which is handy as it means I don't have to keep checking the programme to distinguish who is who on the pitch. In both end stands the word 'Hull' is etched into the black and white seats. A yellow pattern is also noticeable on some of the seats in the West stand as are the letters 'KC', the stadiums main sponsor. There are no supporting stanchions to spoil the view within the ground, instead the stadiums roof curves perfectly at an angle round the pitch, obviously growing higher to meet the second tier of the West stand. The ground has an impressive design and symmetrical feel but arguably has more charm than some of the new generic builds. Some say it's official name is 'The Circle' and its obvious to see why that could be the case.
The PA is loud enough to create atmosphere with pumping music as kick off nears but not loud enough to distract you from a conversation. However at times in the East stand I did struggle to hear what the announcer was saying, even for substitutions. When turned on the floodlights are very bright and run along the top of the wets stand. On top of the East stand corners there are two sets of supported floodlights but these aren't visible from my seat.
Hull start brightly and take advantage of the perfect playing surface early with some neat passing moves. However no real chances of note are created until the impressive Tom Cairney hits the bar with a free kick from range. Blackpool begin to come into the game more as the half wears on but struggle to give the experienced Kevin Phillips any noteworthy service.
The second half begins tentatively, very much how the first ended, with neither side clearly wanting to lose the first game of the season. However the introduction of ex England international and home town boy Nick Barmby seems to lift Hull a level and by the mid way point two guilt edged chances have been spurred by forward Matt Fryatt. Blackpool rarely threatened the Hull half until the 81st minute when a loose ball is pounced upon by Gary Taylor-Fletcher and he rifles a stunning half volley into the top corner of the net from outside the box. The goal is very much against the run of play and despite the best efforts of Hull's tricky winger Robbie Brady (later voted MOTM) the visitors hold on for all three points.
On this evidence both sides will hold their own in the Championship this season and I'm particularly impressed with a youthful yet experienced Hull side with the likes of Liam Rosenior, and Robert Koran standing out.
