UP
Herb Gilbert Hull FC 1914 Challenge Cup Winning Team Captain, and Australian International Forward.
Herbert Gilbert an Australian rugby league and Rugby Union International player, was reported in the New South Wales press as the Greatest player in the New South Wales v New Zealand match which was held a week before his arrival in England.
He signed for Hull FC and his debut was on 05 Sept 1912 and played for 3 seasons playing in 114 matches.
Hull FC was fortunate to acquire a player of such ability and one of the smartest signings known in Rugby League circles. He was the captain of Hull FC in the Northern Union Challenge Cup winning team played in the 1914.
He returned to Australia in 1915 and continued playing successfully with East Sydney then linked up with West Sydney and has the honour of being number 14 inductee into the Australian HALL of FAME
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Gilbert Interview
Hull Daily Mail 20 Apr 11 1914
'We Had To Do It'
'I dare not have come home if we had not won'.
said Gilbert the colonial captain, to the Mail, when he managed to snatch a few moments from the throngs of well-wishers surging around him.
'We all realised what a terrible disappointment it would have been to Hull if they had lost. I really think it not so much to Wakefield losing as it would have been to us.'
'We had to do it this time.' Under these trying circumstances how did you all feel when you stepped on to the field? 'Well, I must admit we all felt the tension, because we knew what the Hull people were expecting of us and as a team we owed it to our directors. I reckon the Board deserve special mention for the way they have built the team up.'
'They have spared neither time nor expense in getting the team together, and we are pleased they have got their due reward. As to the game it was a hard close game,' replied the captain, 'and I was beginning to feel anxious when well in the second half we had not scored and I always had the thought that Hull had been in so many finals before and had to win this time.'
Yet I thought we should win. The Hull captain had just come in from the balcony. Where he had been induced to carry the fine trophy and greet the multitude. It was evident that he had been impressed for breaking off the discourse about football he pointed to the window and remarked, I have
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT
'Before never in Australia and I am sure the players feel honoured by the public of Hull. The nearest approach to such a crowd was, I remember twelve years ago when the present King and Queen paid a visit, then as the Duke and Duchess of York.'
'We are all very pleased to have won the Cup,' reiterated the captain, 'and naturally we shall all be very proud of the medals that we shall get. Theses will be presented in a few days time.'
As showing the good feeling that is evinced directly the heat of the game is over one of the congratulatory telegrams received as a sportsmanlike one from the vanquished Wakefield. It ran:
Wakefield Trinity Committee and players assembled at the dinner to-night send heartiest congratulations to your club on winning the Cup today. Moorhouse secretary.
That is splendid said Gilbert, both sides did their best to play a clean game.
