Throwback: When Hull FC said farewell to The Boulevard

It is coming up to 17 years since Hull FC left their traditional home of The Boulevard to move to their new now-KCOM Stadium home.

After the end of the 2002 Super League season, the Airlie Birds would have one more game at the ground – hosting the touring New Zealand test team, with a Hull and Great Britain masters game as a curtain raiser.

The same ground had hosted the first test match played by the iconic 1907 Kiwi touring party on their first ever tour.

A crowd of 12,092 crammed in to the ground for a final time on October 22 2010, as New Zealand – who had provided three of the clubs greatest players in Dane O’Hara, Gary Kemble and James Leuluai in the 1980s – won 28-11.

Hull had led 11-10 at half-time, courtesy of an incredible Graham Mackay drop-goal.

Home winger Paul Parker got the honour of scoring the final ever try at The Boulevard.

The teams that night were:

Hull: Steve Prescott, Paul Parker (T), Richard Horne (T), Graham Mackay (DG), Matt Crowther (G), Jason Smith, Tony Smith, Craig Greenhill, Lee Jackson, Adam Maher, Scott Logan, Sean Ryan, Chris Chester. Subs: Paul King, Craig Poucher, Richard Fletcher, Paul Cooke.

New Zealand: David Vaeliki (T), Henry Fa’afili (2T), Joe Vagana (T), Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli (T), Motu Tony, Lance Hohaia (4G), Nathan Cayless, Monty Betham, Paul Rauhihi, Tony Puletua, Shane Wiki, Logan Swann. Subs: Craig Smith, Richard Swain, Awen Guttenbeil, Stephen Kearney.

Remarkably, all but two of the New Zealand side that night would go on to play in Super League – with Motu Tony (2005-2009), Richard Swain (2004-2007) and Stephen Kearney (2005) all turning out in the famous black and white.

Two of them would play in the Kiwis’ victorious 2008 World Cup team – Lance Hohaia and Nathan Cayless, while Kearney was of course coach.

The Boulevard itself, which was built in 1895, remained open after Hull FC departed with greyhound racing taking place briefly before demolition in 2010.

It played host to 18 tour matches, 16 of which involved Australia, games at four different World Cups, the last of which saw Australia beat Russia 110-4 in 2000.

After Hull’s departure, The Boulevard did host rugby league once more in 2003 – when York City Knights beat Skirlaugh 20-8 in a Challenge Cup tie in front of a crowd of 943.