THE HULL FOOTBALL CLUB TRAINERS-COACHES.

Photographs of some of the trainers who gave great service to Hull FC Teams

Hull Daily Mail 08 Jan 1894

JIMMY GRAY TRAINER IN CHIEF TO THE HULL F.C.

My previous chats having, for the most part, been with well-known lights of the football world, I decided that, so as not to cause a monopoly, I could not do better than interview some well known authority on the game who was not himself a player.

Several of my friends, who are in the secret to who the Great? Steffite is, made special request should, it possible, interview Jimmy, and so once more chance my life.

I decided that I could not do better, because Jim is, without doubt, an authority on the play of the Hull first team. Inasmuch as he, as a spectator, is always present at their matches. He is also known to be a great supporter of the Hull Club.

If you don't believe, me, ask 0-E-(Old Ebore). Then again he has been one of many greatest Whitefriargate-end critics, and It was only the other night that he was speculating as to who it was who had been 'cracking.' He little thought, however, that it was himself. Others beware

I have in no uncertain manner been complimented on my previous interviews. It has been no uncommon experience for me to heat myself criticised in various places. Only the other night I was greatly amused to hear 'Stellite' criticised in the football barber's, in W'-street. Everyone will admit that it is not very pleasant to hear different people expounding what they would do it only they knew you.

With, however that cheek for which I am specially noted, I joined in the conversation, and so threw suspicion off myself. You often hear people who say that the life of an Interviewer is not 'all beer and skittles.' Next time you are informed this, just, from me, inform them that to a certain extent they are wrong, because it not all 'beer and skittles,' the life of an Interviewer is not always entirely free from the 'bottles' which have contained the beer.

How I came to this conclusion is like this: I have occasion to go through Naylor's-row at different periods. I was on my usual journey on Wednesday night when, suddenly, I felt a shock at the back of my head and then I have reason to know that I received quite a shower of bottles, all over my body.

Upon getting myself together some half an hour or so later, I was in no way surprised to see both Jack Chaffer and Will Mansell with an armful of bottles each, whilst both were shouting, 'Have you had enough?'

Not being quite a glutton, I replied in the affirmative. After this, dear reader, I have no doubt that you will also come to the conclusion, that if an interviewer's life is not all 'beer and skittles,' it can at least lay claim to having been associated with 'bottles.'

'Oh, my poor back.' I have also not the slightest doubt that you can understand me when I Inform you that I was unusually careful ament pumping the 'bag carrier in chief to the Hull F.C.'

It is like this, 'I knew Jim to a great pal of both Mansell's and Chaffer's, and also did I know that Jim is a regular attender at the Gymnasium, and has for some considerable time been doing great practice on the bars. He has further had a good many lessons with the gloves.

As I myself am a bit off in this respect, you can readily understand how it was I was so slow to work my speaking powers upon James.

I felt must make a dash for it, however, because its like this: Had I failed in my mission, as at first I thought likely, I am confident I should never have heard the last of it. However, plucking up courage and watching his boots (which have rather thick soles) as a cat watches a mouse, I commenced my series of questions In a somewhat roundabout manner.

My first was:

'Now, Jim, you have seen my Interviews in the Times, have you not?' 'Well, I have been asked to have an Interview with you, because I have been informed that I could not get a better authority on the Hull Club.' 'I therefore want to know if you have any objections to me so doing. I shall not detain you long.'

'You have never played the game have you?'

'Now, look here, Mr Interviewer-in-Chief to Hull football, as you call yourself, I shan't stand It. You need not come trying to get over me the same as you have done others because, as I said before, I will not stand any of your Interviewing.'

This was Jimmie's reply, emphasised with a stamp of the foot, which was rather discouraging to me. I, however again ventured with

'Now, Jim, It will be a great disappointment if you will not allow me to torture you. I will not do It too thick.'

'Well,' replied James,'on condition that you have a bit of mercy, I do not mind giving you a few of my Ideas on the Hull Club and Hull football in general. Now, what do you want?'

'Oh, I shan't be long with you. I want first of all to know what is your present opinion of the Hull team taken all through?'

'My present opinion of the Hull team is this:' ' l think (In fact, I am sure) to take them on form, we have the best nine forwards in Yorkshire, whilst our backs are a fairish set. That is all I care to say on that subject.'

'What do you think of the League?' 'Do you think it has been of benefit to the Hull Club?' 'Where also do you think you will finish in it?'

'In my opinion,' replied Jim, slightly pulling his mustachios, 'The League has been of great benefit to Yorkshire football generally' and has also been of great benefit to the Hull Club, as it has caused greater interest to be taken in the matches, not only by the players, but by the public In general.

'As regards the position in which I think they will finish, I am, of course, only one, but I think we shall be about half-way at the winding up of the table.'

'How do you account for the difference of form between the playing at home and away of the Hull Club!' was my next query.

'Look here, now, I have beard enough of that before. They have played as well away as at home this season. It is the treatment they receive from the chief foghorn blower that makes the difference.'

I acquiesced to this, and ventured with:

'About 75 per cent of the Hull Club are players who have at some time or other been members of Hull junior clubs. As you know, there are less junior clubs at present than for some time. How do you account for this?'

'Well,' replied Jimmie, 'my opinion is, after careful thought and consideration that the present scarcity of junior clubs is due to the lack of funds.'

'They are, for the most part, unable to get a ground. Also, because after they get beat in cup competitions, they have nothing to play for, and therefore lose all Interest.'

'To amend this, I think that benefit matches should be played for them, and that they should commence a league, as they would then have something to play for all the season.' ' I am also of opinion that two clubs should join together in obtaining a ground. That would save expense and could easily be done.'

'What is your opinion on training?' I next tremblingly queried.

'Well,' replied James, with a slight shrug of the shoulders, 'I do really think it rather In-fra-dig of me to say anything on that subject as my Ideas on training is well known, not only to the Hull football players, but to the athletic community at large.'

I am confident either Chaffer, Tommy Martin, or any of the Wilkinson's will testify, I don’t mind, however, telling you, as you appear so ignorant on such a subject, that I am a firm believer In the 'Gym.' 'Whilst, for running during the summer, I think nothing is better than a few good long walks each week.'

'I think my views, how ever, are too well known to dwell on this.'

'You have never played football yourself, have you, although you have done a small amount of running?'

I now experienced my greatest difficulty, as Jim is well known to be of a very modest nature. He did not seem at all pleased to have any publicity given regarding himself.

After having put my sweetest of smiles on (and I may inform you that I have been acknowledge as having an awfully winning smile!) Jimmie replied

'I once turned out in a practice match.'

'My play was made up of such bull-like rushes, however, that the committee never gave me another chance. As regards running I have won three prizes.'

'Although I do not, as a rule, pretend to go In for It. My chief fort lies in getting several men in form.' ' Although I do not want to in any way boast, I consider myself infallible In this respect. As a proof of that, you have only to ask any of the athletes I have mentioned to you.'

I may mention that Jimmie is as well known on the athletic ground as on the football field. It is no uncommon thing to see such well-known lights of the athletic world as Chaffer, Mansell, Fred Wilkinson, Giddy, Harry Wilkinson, Tommy Martin, Clark, the Carr's and Sammy Adams taking their breathings under the care of Jimmy.

I could now see what I had not noticed before, that Jim kept pulling out his watch, and as we were close to the 'Grand,' I have no doubt his intentions was to see' Aladdin,' and good nature can be put upon too much.

I hope that anything be wanting in the above my critics will put it down to the Christmas festivities and oblige.

INTERVIEW WITH A Charles Hunter Player and Trainer.

unquestionably there is a vast amount of disappointment that Hull are making such a poor show In the Yorkshire Senior Competition matches.

But those who shake their head despondingly lose sight of the main factors which have contributed to their downfall.

They never give a moments consideration to the distance the members of the team have to travel, to the inability of players to leave their work in consequence of having to depart early, and many other circumstances which tend towards disorganisation.

With the object of placing before the public a true statement of facts, a representative of the Mail this morning Interviewed Mr. Charles Hunter, who is a prominent member of the Hull Football club as a player and trainer.

What remedy do you suggest?

Payment for broken time, was the ready and emphatic answer.

Look, continued Mr Hunter, how Hull is handicapped in comparison with West Riding clubs?

We have to undertake fatiguing railway journeys with weak teams, and our Opponents, through being on top of each other, as it were, are able to gather their full strength and enter the enclosure fresh and ready for a sustained struggle.

Of course, there must be a big advantage resting with the club playing on its own ground?

Certainly, and In proof of that you have only to remember Hulls brilliant record on the Holderness-road ground last season.

It Is the same with Hull as other clubs. We invariably win at home and lose away, but I must admit that this season we have been more unfortunate on our own ground than hitherto.

It is said Hull play with quaking hearts when they are on foreign soil?

Bosh! You have only to look at their Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manningham form to sweep that absurd assertion away.

Do you think the Hull team Is degenerating?

Undoubtedly I do not. As a matter of fact, I think If we could play our full strength we could hold our own with most of the Yorkshire teams.

We have not had the best of luck away, and to add to our recent troubles Lempriere and Donkin have been on the Injured list and Townend suspended.

Can you give your opinion about the constitution of the team?

We have one of the best full backs in the county, and the halves and three-quarters, if not brilliant, are, at any rate, smart. The forwards are fast, but we lack one important thing all round-weight

What is the Inducement for so many players to leave the Hull Club?

Well, said Mr. Hunter, with a significant smile that is a delicate subject, upon which I will not enter.

In the course of a few further observations Mr. Hunter pointed out that the A Team had been considerably impoverished since the commencement of the season, but expressed the opinion that before long both Fifteen will come to the front.

He suggested as a means of bringing the players together, occasional convivial gatherings.

photograph I have of Charles Hunter the above interview was carried out on the 6 Dec 1894 when Charles was a regular first team player. The article below was published by the Daily Mail on th 25 February 1932

FORMER HULL SPORTSMAN

Charles Hunter shown as the trainer

Aug 1903 there will be no surprise about the appointment of Billy Mansell as attendant to the Hull F.C. in the place of Charles Hunter who has had to resign owing to the claims of business which prevent his travelling with the team.

He has been connected with the Hull F.C. for 13 years, and is deservingly popular with players and directors alike.

Funeral of Mr. C. Hunter of Withernsea

THE funeral took place at Nicholas Churchyard, Withernsea yesterday 25 February 1932 of Mr. Charles Hunter proprietor of the Alma Hotel, Queen street North, Withernsea, who died on Sunday at the age of 62.

Well-known in the licensing trade and in Hull and district sporting circles. He was for six years licensee of the Clarendon Hotel, Londesborough street, Hull,

twelve years at the Commercial hotel Withernsea and four years at the Alma Hotel, Withernsea. Before going there he was for two years beach inspector under the urban Council.

About 30 years ago he was a prominent Hull FC. player and played for the Hull Town Cricket Club. He was a playing member of Pyman and Bells C.C., holding a gold medal for the best average batting and bowling for that team in 1903, and he also played with the Hull Licensed Victuallers Cricket Club for many years.

_{Extracts from Hull Daily Mail 27 Dec 1949}

All things considered the Boulevard club are in a very satisfactory position as far as having promising talent on their books.

To ensure success there must always be a pool of the right kind of material maturing and as the young players gain in physique and knowledge of the game so do they become accustomed to one another's style, to the furtherance of good understanding in tactics.

In no position is this question of knowing the other man's mind quite so vital as at the base of the scrum

It is an elementary fact that to have a successful partnership, half-backs must be thoroughly conversant with each other's trick and manoeuvres.

This is more important than individual brilliance in either scrum half or stand off, or both as often been proved, In this respect Hull also appear to be blessed as far as the younger element are concerned.

George Northern and Bernard Conway often appear together at half-back in the 'A' team are a very effective combination and in time are expected to be well able to take their places in senior football.

_{Liverpool Echo 2 May 1959}

William Mansell Hull FC Coach

William (Billy) Mansell unfortunately sustained a serious accident whilst playing for Hull which ended a very good rugby career.

However he was very much involved with the club as assistant attendant to trainer Charles Hunter.

When Charles Hunter was forced to retire in 1906 Hull FC management had no hesitation in appointing the very popular ex player and attendant William Mansell as Hull FC head trainer.

This coincided with the Northern Unions changes in the rules that reducing 15 to 13 players by dropping 2 forwards.

The next year came the change which allowed a player who was tackled in possession to restart the game by dropping the ball at his feet; a move that became known as play-the-ball.

These changes gave Billy Mansell the opportunity to get Hull FC to open the game with the half-backs being able to get the ball to the centre and wingers.

The new formation of the 13 players rule change. 
		Number 1 Full Back
		Number 2 and 5 Wing-Three-quarter
		Number 3 and 4  Three-quarter
		Number 6 and 7  Half-backs
		Number 11 and 12 second-row
		Number 8 and 10 Front rows
		Number 9 Hooker
		Number 13 Loose-forward

Sid Melville Hull FC Coach

21 February 1933, it is with regret of the death of Mr. Sid Melville, the former trainer of Hull Football team. Mr. Melville, who occupied the position for a number of years,

Sid Melville Hull FC

At their meeting on Tuesday evening, 20 Apr 1912 Hull F.C. officials dealt with over a dozen applications for the position of a trainer.

After consideration the management decided to engage Sid Melville.

An Australian by birth who is 35 years old and been in similar appointments for 15 years.

Melville is a highly respected person and trainer who trained the Wallabies and Kangaroos in their successful tours in England.

_{Testimonial: by H M Moran M.B. M. C. L. captain of the Australian A.R. Team 1908-1909, 'I have much pleasure in testifying high worth of S A Melville as a trainer. And of recommending him to anyone who desires an industrious worker and an honest man. He was trainer to the Australian amateur team in 1908-09 for five months and during that time his services were highly appreciated by both players and management.
His willingness to give value of his assistance at any time, and his utter freedom from vices makes him a most desirable man for any similar position. There is no laziness in him and he has tact and discretion necessary for a man in the position of trainer'}

For some years Sid Melville was manager-trainer to Cyclist Marshall W. 'Major' Taylor who was the first internationally famous African-American athlete.

They both travelled all over the world for racing tournaments.

J W Hobbs Hull FC Coach

TRAINED ENGLISH AND COLONIAL TEAMS.

Mr. Hobbs commenced his duties with the Hull F.C. on August 1929.

Mr. J. W. Hobbs is an Englishman by birth, but has had several years' service in the Colonies. As a young man he was attached to the medical service of His Majesty Navy, and was twice commissioned for service in Australian and New Zealand waters before the outbreak of war.

From 1901 to 1904 he resided in Sydney, where he played scrum half in the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union team. He was trainer of the All Blacks team which toured England in 1924-25 and which included George Nepia. .

In 1926-27 he was in charge of the New Zealand Rugby Union Team of Maoris who toured Britain and France. .

He acted in a similar position to the Australian Rugby Union team the 'Waratahs' in 1927-28 .

When he was the trainer to the Dewsbury team they reached the final of the Rugby League Cup and played Wigan in the first final at Wembley in 1929.

July 1930, St. Helens Rugby League club appointed Mr. Hobbs as their trainer. .

_{Hull Daily Mail 16 July 1930}

Edgar Wrigley Hull FC Coach

Edgar Wrigley the one-time famous New Zealand and Huddersfield center-three-quarter took the Hull F.C. players under his charge, with what is hoped will be beneficial result. Arriving in Hull Aug 8 1925 the ex New Zealand International takes up his residence in St. George's road. The ex Fartowner lost no time in getting down to strict business, at the Boulevard.

At an early age of 14 years old he started his rugby career with Albion a well known New-Zealand team as a full back. His first international match was against Australia in 1905 and in 1908 with his team mate Albert Rosenfeld were the famous right flank of the Huddersfield team, Wrigley spent six years with the Fartowners. After WW1 he joined Hunslet but realised he wanted to go into coaching he took on the coaching mantle at St Helens which benefited on his systematic training methods which was shown in the success of St Helens team. Edgar Wrigley was the Hull FC Trainer/Coach from 1925 to 1931 with the honour of winning the Yorkshire Rugby League Cup in 1927.

Eddie Caswell Hull FC Coach

Eddie Caswell ex Hull FC half back, coached Hull FC in the 1930s and 1940s, Mr. Caswell who was 54 years of age and lived within a stone throw of the ground collapsed and died in the secretary office on Sunday 21 May 1949.

Edward (Ted) Tattersfield, International player, Hull FC player and now Trainer-Coach

The Hull Football Club has appointed 'Ted' Tattersficld as coach. He was chosen from among a number of applicants, and his selection will give satisfaction to all connected with the club.

Tattersfield, a strong and shrewd roving forward, formerly played for Hull Kingston Rovers for some seasons, but was later secured by Leeds, with whom he distinguished himself.

More recently he was transferred to Batley, with which club he was playing until last season. He will commence his duties on July 16 1946

Hull Daily Mail 21 June 1946

Joe Oliver Hull FC International Rugby League player, now Trainer-Coach

Hull Rugby League Club has appointed Joe Oliver, their former Cumberland County Centre and International, to be their new Trainer-Coach.

The appointment was offered to Don Ward, the Bradford Northern scrum-half, last month but on reconsideration he did not accept it.

Oliver who is 44 joined Hull as a player in 1928 and was with them for 10 seasons. Since 1946 he has been manager-coach with Hull Kingston Rovers.

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