Hull City A.F.C.

Hull City Association Football Club, known as the Tigers, plays in the Premier League after winning the 2026 playoff final against Middlesbrough. The club was founded in 1904 and joined the Football League the following year. Based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, they play at MKM Stadium, their home since 2002. Their traditional black and amber striped kits give the team its nickname. Hull contests the Humber derby with Grimsby Town and Scunthorpe United.

The club's history is a rollercoaster of promotions and relegations. After early years in the Second Division, they won Third Division North titles in 1933 and 1949 under Raich Carter. Cliff Britton led them to the Third Division championship in 1966. The 1980s brought a Fourth Division promotion and an Associate Members' Cup final appearance in 1984. Back-to-back promotions in 2004 and 2005 set the stage for their first Premier League ascent via the 2008 playoff final against Bristol City. They reached the FA Cup final in 2014, scoring twice early but losing 3-2 to Arsenal after extra time. Relegations and promotions followed, including a drop to League One in 2020, but they bounced back as champions in 2021. The 2026 playoff win marked their fourth Premier League promotion.[edit]

Hull City was established on 24 June 1904 by local businessmen and sports enthusiasts, playing its first professional match in September 1904. The club was elected to the Football League's Second Division for the 1905-06 season. Early decades were spent in the second tier, with the first major silverware arriving in 1933 as Third Division North champions. A second Third Division North title came in 1949 under player-manager Raich Carter, a former England international.

The 1960s brought the Third Division championship in 1966 under Cliff Britton. The club reached the Associate Members' Cup final in 1984, losing to Bournemouth. A period of financial difficulty followed, but recovery began with back-to-back promotions from the Fourth Division to the Championship in 2004 and 2005. The 2008 Championship play-off final saw Dean Windass score the only goal against Bristol City at Wembley, sending Hull to the Premier League for the first time. Three seasons in the top flight across two spells followed, with an FA Cup final appearance in 2014. After relegation to League One in 2020, the club won the League One title in 2021, then returned to the Championship. The 2025-26 season ended with a play-off final victory over Middlesbrough, securing a fourth Premier League promotion.[edit]