A Year To Remember

Football may be taking a back seat at the moment with most players and staff currently enjoying a well-earned holiday, but a significant date in the Tigers’ calendar didn’t pass by unnoticed at the weekend.

Saturday marked the first anniversary of Steve Bruce’s appointment as Hull City manager, and what a first 12 months it has been for the Tigers’ boss.

Rewinding back to his first day in the job, Bruce told the assembled press in the KC Stadium’s Media Suite that the challenge of guiding the club back into the Premier League is what had attracted him to the vacant position.

“I’ve signed a three-year deal and I hope we do it in that time,” he said.

Just 11 months later, jubilant scenes at the KC Stadium signalled that the goal had been achieved in double-quick time as Bruce became the first Hull City manager to lead the club to automatic promotion to the top flight.

A season filled with drama, tension, excitement, desire, commitment, spirit, resilience, a will to succeed and no shortage of top quality football had brought the ultimate reward, and a place in the history books for Bruce.

And history played a big part along the way. Traditional ‘hoodoos’ at places like Bristol City, Leeds United and Birmingham City were swept aside as the Tigers built towards a thrilling end to the season.

That came on a never-to-be-forgotten final day of the campaign when glory and automatic promotion eventually came the way of Bruce and his Tigers to close the book on an unbelievable first season in charge.

The next chapter will begin on Wednesday 19th June when the fixture lists for the 2013/14 season are released - with the Tigers back amongst English football’s elite.

Hull City AFC Adidas Away Kit 2013/14

Hull City Association Football Club have unveiled their new adidas away kit for their upcoming 2012/13 Premier League season. The Tigers won promotion to the top English division under the guidance of manager Steve Bruce, who guided the club to second place in the Championship.

The new Hull City away kit features a primarily blue shirt with white and red side panels. The adidas 3-stripes are in white on the shoulders and drop half-way through the sleeves with the adidas logo on the top right part of the chest. The club crest is on the top left part of the chest whilst club sponsor Cash Converters has its logo across the front.

“I was lucky enough to be chosen to model the new away kit for the photo-shoot and I really like it,” said the Tigers’ Irish international Robbie Brady.

“It’s a nice kit and a really nice colour. All of the lads who have seen it have said the same and we all can’t wait to wear it in the Premier League when the new season gets underway

Hull City make George Boyd deal permanent

Hull have made their first signing since winning promotion to the Barclays Premier League, turning George Boyd's loan deal into a permanent contract.

The 27-year-old Scotland international joined from Peterborough in February and was available on a free transfer after his contract expired at the end of the season.

He has agreed a two-year contract in East Yorkshire, the club confirmed in a statement on Twitter.

Boyd made a big impact upon his arrival at the KC Stadium, scoring four goals in five games in March to win the npower Championship player of the month award.

He did not score again as Hull stumbled slightly before sealing second place on the final day of the season, but ended the campaign with 11 goals - seven of which came for Posh.

Prior to arriving at Hull, Boyd was expected to sign for Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window but the move fell through due to an "inconclusive eye test" - much to the frustration of then Forest boss Alex McLeish.

Hull boss Steve Bruce is understood to have a transfer budget of up to ?15million, with a goalkeeper the next priority.

Another loanee, Fulham's David Stockdale, ended the season as the club's number one but Bruce is believed to be unwilling to meet the Cottagers' £3million valuation.