Tigers' league prestige vital to East Yorkshire
FANS and business leaders have united in their backing for Hull City's fight for Premier League survival.
They are urging people across the region to rally round both the team and new Tigers manager Iain Dowie, as the club battles to continue in the top-flight of English football.
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Iain Dowie at the KC.
Sitting second from bottom of the league, City have just nine games remaining to avoid relegation and losing millions of pounds.
And it is not just football fans who realise the importance of the Tigers staying up.
East Yorkshire has felt the economic benefits – and prestige – of hosting a Premier League club.
Now, business leaders have said it is time everyone supports the team's survival bid.
Economic development company Hull Forward has seen first hand the vast benefits having a Premier League club brings to the area.
Deputy chief executive Andrew Hirst said: "Being in the Premier League has allowed Hull to raise its profile at a national and international level, creating more positive perceptions and undoubtedly bringing new investment – it would be fantastic to remain in the top flight and to continue building on this opportunity."
Hull City Council leader Councillor Carl Minns has called for everyone to back Dowie.
He said: "The club has put Hull on the map for all the right reasons. You cannot buy some of the publicity we have had, such as beating Arsenal 2-1 last year.
"Some of the benefits are almost intangible and it is something of a status symbol. It is vital people get behind the team until the end of the season ."
Ian Garmston, secretary of the Cottingham branch of the Hull City Official Supporters' Group, said: "I support the decision of Adam Pearson and wish Iain Dowie the best success.
"All Hull City supporters don't need to be told to get behind him. We will need to raise the roof though and act like a 12th and 13th man both home and away.
"Iain Dowie is a confident person and we have put all our eggs in his basket. Without him we will be in the Championship.
"He wasn't my first choice, though he comes across as a passionate and rough diamond."
See today's Mail for more on Iain Dowie's appointment, in words and pictures, including:
- Read about Iain Dowie's thoughts on what City have to do to survive
- Why he thinks he's the right man for Hull, and what he will demand from his players
- Adam Pearson on why he will stand by his gamble of sacking the club's most successful manager
- The Mail's Phil Buckingham on his first impression of City's new man at the helm
36 Comments
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by chris, East Yorkshire
Friday, March 19 2010, 8:24AM
“Why support a team that is a load of crap, I woudn't go to the end of the road to support them”
by phil, East Hull
Thursday, March 18 2010, 10:36PM
“R.stounded - I did point out that the only businesses who are gaining anything from the influx of 2500 supporters from outside of Hull are the hotel and leisure industries ( i.e. pubs & hotels ) and the other 20,000 people who attend the games are here anyway so my point is that it does not bring in much outside investment.”
by R.Stounded., Hull
Thursday, March 18 2010, 7:28PM
“Dee luded. Nice one, but you should have kept it for April 1st.
Phil, east hull; Virtually every football match at the KC for almost four years now has been a sell-out. Thats 24/25,000 people visiting West Hull every other Saturday. They all spend money on something, even if it's only on bus fares. When City play a Southern club every hotel room in the city is booked up. Fact.
When else does that happen eh phil?
Also your not taking into account that many pubs now show all the matches and are all packed out. When there is no City match on the same pubs are empty. I just do not see your point phil, every person visiting the KC spends something somewhere in the city. We would be a poor city without Premiership football.”
by Simon, Saltend
Thursday, March 18 2010, 6:03PM
“If hull city go down yorkshire will not have PREMIERSHIP taam how sad is that ???????
Yorkshire clubs that could go up this year are Sheff Utd , Boro', Doncaster and Barnsley.”
by jk, hull
Thursday, March 18 2010, 5:23PM
“Hey Mark! some of these businesses are small family businesses who supported the club when at boothferry park, when locked out of by bailiffs and facing the possibility of liquidation, trying to find every last penny to keep the club alive and supporting the club through the low's. Where were the 25000 fans then?”