The FA Cup final on Saturday 17 May 2014 will see a showdown between Arsenal and Hull City. This is the first time Hull have reached the final.
Hull City’s greatest achievement in cup competitions up to this point was in 1930, when they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Rather strangely, they also faced Arsenal in that match.
The British Newspaper Archive is a great place to research football history as you’ll find original match reports and reactions to the games.
See Arsenal vs. Hull match reports
Hull Daily Mail – Thursday 27 March 1930
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Hull City have lived up to their name of ‘the shockers’
Arsenal and Hull City initially drew 2-2, so the semi-final was replayed on 26 March 1930 at Villa Park, Birmingham. Judging by the newspaper accounts we’ve found, the replay was an exciting match to watch.
Though Arsenal clinched a 1-0 victory, the Dundee Courier reported that ‘Hull City have lived up to their name of “the shockers”.’ This was because Hull were only defeated by a single goal, even though they had a player sent off.
Dundee Courier – Thursday 27 March 1930
Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The goal that dashed Hull City’s cup hopes
Arsenal took the lead early on, with David Jack scoring in the 11th minute of the game. The Hull Daily Mail printed this photo of David Jack’s winning goal:
Hull Daily Mail – Thursday 27 March 1930
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
There was much indiscriminate kicking
Hull City’s centre half, Arthur Childs, was sent off at the beginning of the second half for kicking an Arsenal player. He was the first football player ever to be sent off in a semi-final.
The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette’s write-up of the match mentioned that ‘Hull City’s vigorous tackling lowered the standard of play, and there was much indiscriminate kicking’.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Thursday 27 March 1930
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Never heard such continuous booing before on a football ground
The Hull Daily Mail reported a very different version of the sending off. The newspaper commented that no one but the referee seemed to have any idea of what Childs was supposed to have been guilty of.
The journalist stated that ‘for the remainder of the game, the official in charge got no peace from a crowd that obviously resented his action. I have never heard such continuous booing before on a football ground’.
Hull Daily Mail – Thursday 27 March 1930
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Arsenal went on to face Huddersfield Town in the final at Wembley, winning 2-0. You can find original match reports from the FA Cup final and thousands of other football games at The British Newspaper Archive.
