1965–66 Hull City A.F.C. season

Hull City
1965–66 season
ChairmanHarold Needler
ManagerCliff Britton
StadiumBoothferry Park
Third Division1st (promoted)
FA CupSixth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ken Wagstaff (27)
All: Ken Wagstaff (31)

The 1965–66 season was the 62nd season in the history of Hull City Association Football Club and their sixth consecutive season in the Third Division. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Summary

The campaign has since been regarded as one of the most successful in the club's history.[1] This is largely because the Tigers won their third-ever league title, which coincidentally would be their last for another 55 years. The drought was eventually broken in the 2020–21 season, when they won EFL League One.[2]

Elsewhere, Hull endured a memorable FA Cup run, defeating First Division side Nottingham Forest prior to a sixth round exit. Even then, the Tigers only lost to another top flight opponent, Chelsea, who they heroically forced to a draw at Stamford Bridge, before bowing out at home in the replay.

Aside from on-pitch results, this season was also notable due to the many iconic figures who were within the Tigers' ranks. Led by long-serving manager Cliff Britton, Hull operated with a formidable attacking unit, affectionately known as "the Front Five". Of the 109 league goals the club scored in 1965–66, 100 of them were attributed to Ian Butler, Ken Houghton, Chris Chilton, Ken Wagstaff, and Ray Henderson.[1][3]

Irishman Maurice Swan was entrusted as the team's goalkeeper for the majority of the campaign,[4] whilst legendary captain and eventual club record appearance maker Andy Davidson anchored the defence from right full-back.[5] Dennis Butler often featured to the left of him,[6] with future Wales international Alan Jarvis and local lads Mike Milner and Chris Simpkin tending to service as the Tigers' half-backs.[7][8][9]

Competitions

Third Division

Main article: 1965–66 Football League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Hull City 46 31 7 8 109 62 1.758 69 Division Champions, promoted
2 Millwall 46 27 11 8 76 43 1.767 65 Promoted
3 Queens Park Rangers 46 24 9 13 95 65 1.462 57
4 Scunthorpe United 46 21 11 14 80 67 1.194 53
5 Workington 46 19 14 13 67 57 1.175 52
Source:

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

# Date Home Result Away Venue Att. Scorers[a]
1 21.08.65 Hull City 3–2 Scunthorpe United H 18,829 Houghton, Wagstaff (2)
2 24.08.65 Watford 1–1 Hull City A 10,648 Chilton
3 28.08.65 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–2 Hull City A 16,560 Wagstaff, Henderson
4 01.09.65 Hull City 1–0 Swindon Town H 23,163 Wagstaff
5 04.09.65 Hull City 1–3 Queens Park Rangers H 20,478 Chilton
6 11.09.65 Mansfield Town 1–2 Hull City A 14,081 Houghton, Chilton
7 18.09.65 Hull City 1–4 York City H 20,554 I.Butler
8 25.09.65 Hull City 3–3 Reading H 14,686 Houghton (2), Chilton
9 02.10.65 Exeter City 1–4 Hull City A 7,125 Chilton, Houghton (2), Wagstaff
10 06.10.65 Hull City 5–1 Oldham Athletic H 17,028 Wagstaff, Houghton, Chilton (3)
11 09.10.65 Swansea Town 4–2 Hull City A 7,949 I.Butler, Henderson
12 13.10.65 Oldham Athletic 2–2 Hull City A 5,883 Houghton (2)
13 16.10.65 Hull City 3–2 Walsall H 15,931 Henderson, Wagstaff, Chilton
14 22.10.65 Workington 3–0 Hull City A 5,482
15 30.10.65 Hull City 3–0 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 12,440 Henderson, Chilton, Wagstaff
16 06.11.65 Southend United 0–2 Hull City A 8,088 (o.g.), Henderson
17 20.11.65 Shrewsbury Town 2–2 Hull City A 5,316 I.Butler, Wagstaff
18 24.11.65 Hull City 3–1 Watford H 15,511 Houghton (2), Chilton
19 27.11.65 Hull City 1–1 Grimsby Town H 20,681 Wagstaff
20 11.12.65 Hull City 6–1 Bristol Rovers H 16,349 Simpkin, Houghton (2), Henderson, (o.g.), I.Butler
21 17.12.65 Walsall 2–4 Hull City A 8,617 I.Butler (3), Chilton
22 27.12.65 Hull City 1–0 Millwall H 40,231 (o.g.)
23 28.12.65 Millwall 3–0 Hull City A 17,184
24 01.01.66 Hull City 4–1 Swansea Town H 22,700 Wagstaff (2), Henderson, Chilton
25 08.01.66 Swindon Town 3–1 Hull City A 15,875 Houghton
26 15.01.66 Hull City 6–0 Workington H 14,704 (o.g.), Jarvis, I.Butler (2), Wagstaff, Houghton
27 29.01.66 Scunthorpe United 2–4 Hull City A 15,570 Henderson (2), Houghton, Chilton
28 05.02.66 Hull City 1–0 Brighton & Hove Albion H 25,374 Wagstaff
29 19.02.66 Queens Park Rangers 3–3 Hull City A 12,327 Wagstaff, Chilton, Houghton
30 23.02.66 Gillingham 0–3 Hull City A 10,527 Wagstaff, Houghton, Chilton
31 26.02.66 Hull City 4–0 Mansfield Town H 28,214 Wagstaff (2), Henderson, Houghton
32 09.03.66 Hull City 1–0 Gillingham H 30,122 Wagstaff
33 12.03.66 York City 1–2 Hull City A 19,420 Wagstaff, I.Butler
34 18.03.66 Reading 0–1 Hull City A 14,196 I.Butler
35 08.04.66 Oxford United 0–2 Hull City A 14,359 Wagstaff, Houghton
36 09.04.66 Brentford 2–4 Hull City A 9,919 Wagstaff (4)
37 11.04.66 Hull City 2–1 Oxford United H 31,992 Wagstaff, Chilton
38 16.04.66 Hull City 2–1 Shrewsbury Town H 24,333 Chilton, Jarvis
39 20.04.66 Hull City 6–1 Exeter City H 28,055 Chilton (3), Henderson (2), Houghton
40 23.04.66 Grimsby Town 1–0 Hull City A 18,018
41 25.04.66 Peterborough United 4–1 Hull City A 9,547 Chilton
42 30.04.66 Hull City 4–1 Brentford H 25,039 Chilton, (o.g.), Jarvis, Henderson
43 06.05.66 Bristol Rovers 1–2 Hull City A 9,234 Wagstaff, Chilton
44 10.05.66 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 Hull City A 7,861 I.Butler
45 17.05.66 Hull City 2–1 Peterborough United H 28,255 Houghton, Chilton
46 20.05.66 Hull City 1–0 Southend United H 30,371 I.Butler

FA Cup

Main article: 1965–66 FA Cup

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

# Date Home Result Away Venue Att. Scorers[a]
1R 13.11.65 Bradford Park Avenue 2–3 Hull City A 11,487 Houghton, Chilton, I.Butler
2R 08.12.65 Gateshead 0–4 Hull City A 5,935 Wagstaff, Henderson, I.Butler, Houghton
3R 22.01.66 Hull City 1–0 Southampton H 28,851 Houghton
4R 12.02.66 Hull City 2–0 Nottingham Forest H 38,055 Heath (2)
5R 05.03.66 Hull City 2–0 Southport H 38,871 Chilton
6R 26.03.66 Chelsea 2–2 Hull City A 46,324 Wagstaff (2)
6R 26.03.66 Hull City 1–3 Chelsea H 45,328 Simpkin

League Cup

Main article: 1965–66 Football League Cup

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

# Date Home Result Away Venue Att. Scorers[a]
2R 22.09.95 Hull City 2–2 Derby County H 15,601 Houghton (2)
2R 29.09.95 Derby County 4–3 Hull City A 9,645 Wagstaff, Chilton, Simpkin

Squad

Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age)[b] Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Maurice Swan GK IRL Dublin 27 September 1938 (age 26) Cardiff City June 1963 £5,000
Mike Williams GK ENG Hull 23 October 1944 (age 20) Youth June 1960 –
Defenders
Mick Brown FB ENG Walsall 11 July 1939 (age 25) Youth October 1958 –
Dennis Butler FB ENG Parsons Green 7 March 1943 (age 22) Chelsea June 1963 £10,000
Les Collinson HB ENG Hull 2 December 1935 (age 29) Reserves August 1953 –
Andy Davidson FB SCO Douglas Water 13 July 1932 (age 32) Youth September 1949 –
Paddy Greenwood FB ENG Hull 17 October 1946 (age 18) Reserves October 1964 –
Alan Jarvis HB WAL Wrexham 4 August 1943 (age 21) Everton May 1964 Free
Mike Milner HB ENG Hull 21 September 1939 (age 25) Youth July 1957 –
Len Sharpe FB ENG Scunthorpe 29 November 1932 (age 32) Scunthorpe United June 1962 £750
Chris Simpkin HB ENG Hull 24 April 1944 (age 21) Youth April 1962 –
Gerry Summers HB ENG Birmingham 4 October 1933 (age 31) Sheffield United April 1964 £12,000
Attackers
Ian Butler WF ENG Darton 1 February 1944 (age 21) Rotherham United January 1965 £40,000
Chris Chilton CF ENG Sproatley 25 June 1943 (age 22) Youth August 1960 –
Norman Corner CF ENG Horden 16 February 1943 (age 22) Horden Colliery Welfare August 1962 Unknown
Terry Heath IF ENG Leicester 17 November 1943 (age 21) Leicester City May 1964 £8,000
Ray Henderson WF ENG Wallsend 31 March 1937 (age 28) Middlesbrough June 1961 Unknown
Ken Houghton IF ENG Rotherham 18 October 1939 (age 25) Rotherham United January 1965 £40,000
Ken Wagstaff IF ENG Langwith 24 November 1942 (age 22) Mansfield Town November 1964 £40,000
Billy Wilkinson IF ENG Stockton-on-Tees 24 March 1943 (age 22) Stockton May 1962 Unknown
Ron Young WF ENG Dunston 31 August 1945 (age 19) Youth August 1963 –

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Hull scorers only
  2. ^ Players' ages listed as they were on 1 July 1965, the official start date of the 1965–66 season

References

  1. ^ a b "Through The Years: 1964-1969". Hull City A.F.C. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Hull City 3-1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ^ "The Front Five". Hull City A.F.C. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  4. ^ "502 Maurice Swan". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  5. ^ "427 Andy Davidson". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  6. ^ "500 Dennis Butler". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  7. ^ "510 Alan Jarvis". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  8. ^ "476 Mike Milner". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  9. ^ "493 Chris Simpkin". oncloudseven.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
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