It was the summer of 1980 when an infamous banner appeared on the outskirts of Hull on the eve of the historic Challenge Cup final between the city’s two rugby league clubs. “Last one out, turn the lights off,” it read, a nod to the fact that supporters of both Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers would be heading to Wembley en masse.
This weekend it is only the red half of Hull going to the capital but the same mantra will apply for fans of both finalists, two working-class communities which stand on the brink of a novel recent experience. The fact this is the first final since 1986 which doesn’t feature any of Leeds, St Helens, Wigan or Warrington emphasises the rarity of what is in store.
