Farewell 2 Division 3 By Nicholas Boldock

It may have taken nineteen years to come along, but Hull City's promotion party was a celebration well worth the wait, and one that will be remembered for a long time yet. The official festivities may not have started until the day of the final league game against Bristol Rovers, but for City fans the euphoria began the week before - when the win against Yeovil Town confirmed promotion to Division 2.

How fitting that the winning goal that day came - spectacularly - from the boot of City's revered captain, Ian Ashbee. His top-corner stunner sent City's travelling army into raptures. Back in Hull, the 2000 fans watching on the big screen inside the Vulcan Arena went wild. Finally, after eight years in the basement division, City were on their way up - their first promotion for 19 very long years.

And so to the KC Stadium and the last game of the season against a Bristol Rovers side featuring former Tigers John Anderson and Ryan Williams. The KC was a riot of noise as over 20,000 fans prepared for a party like no other. The atmosphere was so intense it was almost possible to forget that there was actually a football match going on as well.

Football-wise, the first half of the game wasn't much to write home about. City were going through the motions, playing good, solid football without really stretching themselves. Stuart Elliott went close to opening the scoring with a shot which flashed just wide of the post, but other than that most of the entertainment was taking place in the stands. Two minutes before the break ecstasy turned to agony as Danny Allsopp buried the ball in the back of the net only to be flagged offside. Bristol breathed a sigh of relief as the the score stayed at 0-0 going into half-time. After the break, City erupted into life. Jason Price replaced Richard Hinds after 51 minutes, and then just seven minutes later he met Andy Dawson's corner to head home the opening goal and give City the lead.

Just a minute later, Damien Delaney increased the lead with an absolute peach of a goal. The Irishman started the move in City's half, coming forward and offloading to Jamie Forrester, who charged toward the opposition area and then passed it back to Delaney. Delaney cut inside, rounded a defender, and slotted the ball into the top corner with the skill of a seasoned centre forward. Only the fourth goal of his career, and, like the last, a contender for goal of the season.

The crowd were in full voice now and the KC Stadium must have been shaking as the black and amber faithful got behind their team. The icing on the cake came after 74 minutes when - interrupting an impressive Mexican wave which had already gone once round the ground, Bristol fans and all - Elliott took possession twenty yards out and smashed it into the net past a hapless Kevin Miller in the Rovers goal. Elliott celebrated in front of the South Stand with his trademark acrobatics.

It was dream football. In the final stages, France, Green and Forrester all had chances to get on the score sheet, but in the end it was academic. The match finished 3-0 to City and a packed KC Stadium celebrated in style. Even the Bristol fans entered into the spirit of the occasion - some even stayed behind to watch City's players as they were presented with the Division 3 runners-up trophy immediately after the game. The lap of honour followed as the triumphant players walked the perimeter of the pitch and soaked up the appreciation of the fervent crowd. The massive grin on Peter Taylor's face said it all.

The festivities didn't end on Saturday of course, because the following day the Hull City squad and management boarded two vintage open-top buses for a parade of the city. Thousands of people lined the streets of Hull to pay tribute to their heroes. The parade ended at the Guildhall. The roads in front of the hall were closed off to traffic and were instead packed with somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand fans who had all gathered to applaud the players. The Guildhall's balcony - last used in 1982 when Hull FC won the Challenge Cup - was opened specially for the occasion and Radio Humberside's David Burns (more commonly known as Burnsy, of course) introduced the team individually. Each and every member of the squad was given a rapturous reception.

Last man out was chairman Adam Pearson. In front of a crowd singing "There's only one Adam Pearson", Hull City's benefactor looked as if he might burst into tears of joy at any moment. With a grin a mile wide he raised his fists in triumph. The City faithful lapped it up.

A day to remember for everyone involved, including the players. Many of them - including Danny Allsopp and Alton Thelwell - were taking photos of the crowd, and all of them wore smiles which were at least a mile wide. On, then, to next season - Division 2 football and the company of teams such as Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Oldham and Wimbledon. City have the players to challenge strongly - even with Ben Burgess now out through long-term injury - and this time next year, we could just be celebrating promotion to Division 1. Believe. © Nicholas Boldock, 2004. thisisull.com Links: Faith & Football: Stuart Elliott speaks. External Links: Hull City official website - www.hullcityafc.net BBC Humber local sports news - www.bbc.co.uk/humber/sport/index.shtml Coming Soon: thisisull.com previews the Tigers' Division 2 campaign..

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