Damien Delaney (2003/04)
Twenty seasons ago, Hull City began their meteoric rise through the Football League that would see many highs and many records smashed. The first of these seasons was 2003/04 as Peter Taylor’s side began in the fourth tier.
A first full campaign in the freshly built KC Stadium brought optimism. Taylor had already brought a number of key players in that would play a big part, with his first Hull signing being Damien Delaney from Leicester City in October 2002. Making 30 appearances in his debut campaign for City, the defender was ready to begin his first full season in East Yorkshire.
“The club had signed exciting players and there was a good feeling. The new stadium helped with it being the first full season in the KC Stadium as well and Adam Pearson, who was chairman at the time, Peter Taylor and Colin Murphy really had an enthusiasm and it was not just in the football club but the entire city,” said Delaney.
“I felt that the whole city couldn’t wait for the season to start and there was a sense of anticipation that we were going to do something great and that momentum from all those factors from the club, the city and the players were all aligned. It is very, very rare that you get that and you just felt that momentum and energy; something good was going to happen.”
A 4-1 opening day victory over Darlington provided a statement win to the rest of the league that Hull City meant business. A narrow defeat away at Oxford United in the second fixture was then followed by a 15-game unbeaten run, the first of many strong runs that saw the club earn promotion.
The Irish international pinpointed one game in particular that saw the anticipation become a reality even that early in the season. On 30 September 2003, first-placed Swansea City turned up in East Yorkshire for a top-of-the-table clash. Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to the large crowd as over 20,000 packed into the KC Stadium. A Stuart Elliott finish saw City come out 1-0 victors on the night, with Delaney remembering the clash.
“It was our first real big test. I remember it was a cold and misty night and it was just a damp and northern winter. It was cold, but you could sense the anticipation. Swansea were challenging at the top of the table so we knew it was an opportunity to lay down a marker and we did.
“Stuart (Elliott) was fantastic that year with the amount of goals he scored and Jason Price as well. Ian Ashbee in the middle of the park and Ben Burgess upfront. Andy Dawson, Boaz Myhill; there was just a really good feeling with every win that ticked by and then you get a big win like that against Swansea, we just gathered momentum.”
A winless run of four games came at the beginning of November, with only one victory coming in seven ahead of a Boxing Day meeting against Yorkshire rivals York City. A 2-0 victory over the Minstermen began a seven-game winning streak before a 1-1 draw away at Carlisle United on Valentine’s night saw City top the League Division Three table.
However, three defeats on the spin saw City slide back to second place ahead of victories against Scunthorpe United and Leyton Orient.
On 27 March 2004, Peter Taylor’s side welcomed Rochdale to the KC Stadium. As the clock ticked towards the final 10 minutes of the test with the game goalless, up stepped Delaney to break the deadlock with one of the most iconic goals scored in recent history. Receiving the ball on halfway, the now 42-year-old evaded the challenges of three Rochdale defenders before rifling his left-footed strike from 30 yards into the top corner.
“It was one of those games where we weren’t playing well. The game was destined for a 0-0 draw and you could feel it. They weren’t posing much of a threat and we couldn’t really get much going ourselves and it took something a little special I suppose. I had never done anything like that before and have never done anything like that since so I thought it was pretty special!”
Returning to the victory against Scunthorpe two games prior, the Tigers suffered only one defeat in 11 from that fixture as City closed in on promotion from the fourth tier. At the beginning of May, the club had made the long trip to Somerset to face Yeovil Town in a fixture that could decide promotion.
Stuart Green put the club ahead as he fired home from the penalty spot to give City a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break. However, just past the hour mark, Yeovil fought back as 6ft 8in Hugo Rodrigues climbed the highest to head home from close range, a moment that Delaney remembers far too well.
“It was from a free-kick and I was marking my man and the cross came in and I lost him and all of a sudden he scored. I was standing and remembering all the Hull City fans were right behind the goal and I thought that I had blown it,” reminisced Delaney. “It was the biggest game the club had had for a long time and it was my man that scored, but luckily we rallied well and ‘Ash’ (Ian Ashbee) scored that goal.”
The finish from Ashbee 12 minutes from time restored the lead and when referee Lee Cable blew the full-time whistle, celebrations began as City had secured promotion.
“I think it was a sense of destiny. I didn’t feel nervous. I always felt like it was going to happen, because we were in such a good place. I remember ‘Ash’ scoring that absolute worldie to get us over the line and then the celebrations ensued.”
With promotion secured, the Tigers had one final fixture as Bristol Rovers arrived to the KC Stadium. With over 22,500 fans attending the promotion party, three second-half goals, with one coming from Delaney, saw City close the campaign with a 3-0 victory.
“It was a free game, which many teams don’t get. We were already up so we got to show up to that game with a different mindset. It was a full house and we could go out there and just enjoy ourselves and to score was fantastic just to top off the season too,” said Delaney.
With a promotion winning campaign secured, making 48 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice, the defender was rewarded for his stellar performances by winning the prestigious Player of the Year award.
“Usually in seasons like that, the attacking players get the player of the season so I wasn’t expecting it. I thought probably Stuart Elliott would get it or ‘Greeny’ (Stuart Green), so I would be lying if I said I wasn’t taken back a little bit and surprised when it happened, but it was fantastic, it was absolutely brilliant!”
The rest is history for Hull City fans as the following campaign saw back-to-back promotions for the club to reach the second tier for the first time since 1991.
“It was all about if we were motivated to do it all over again and to add pieces to the jigsaw to follow that up and go back-to-back promotions and Peter (Taylor) and Colin (Murphy) did that,” added Delaney. “I remember after the game against Bristol Rovers saying to the lads could we do it again? That was our mindset and that was where we were and Peter Taylor and Colin Murphy were big drivers of that. Sadly, Colin has recently passed away, but they were the ones that were pushing that. Peter Taylor is an incredible man and an incredible manager and played a huge part in my life.”
Making 239 appearances for the club before departing for QPR in 2008, the 42-year-old ended the interview by speaking of surreal moments in the tunnel at the then-named KC Stadium anytime he played.
“I remember coming back when I was at QPR to play there and just standing in the tunnel was an incredible feeling because you could feel the atmosphere outside. The fans were incredible. You could feel the anticipation of going out and winning games of football and I remember just standing there waiting to go out. I was nervous, excited and just really pleased and happy to get to do that and be a part of my life. Anytime I was stood in that tunnel before a game, I got an incredible feeling and it was a great time.”
