In the second of our series of interviews with former Tigers, www.hullcityafc.net chats with Terry Neill.
Neill will be at the KC Stadium on Saturday as City take on Arsenal. He has strong connections with both clubs having played for and managed both teams, and admits he will be sat firmly on the fence when they meet at the weekend.
www.hullcityafc.net: You're coming back to the KC Stadium on Saturday for the second time in as many years, are you looking forward to the occasion?
Terry Neill: Absolutely, I'm definitely looking forward to it as both clubs are very dear to me. First of all, 'The Arsenal' are like a second family as I joined them at the age of 17, and obviously Hull City are the team I began my managerial career at.
HC: How do you feel the match will go?
TN: It will be a massive game as both Arsenal and Hull will be desperate for all three points. Both sides at this stage of the season have their own concerns. Arsenal are up there with a chance of winning the league, whereas Hull City are involved in a battle at the other end of the table.
HC: Is the result a win-win situation for you given your history with both clubs?
TN: I'd describe it more as a 'no-win' situation! I will have to be a very brave man on Saturday and sit uncomfortably and precariously on the fence.
HC: Ideally, where would you like to see both sides at the end of the campaign?
TN: We're coming within sight of the finish line, and obviously I want the best for both sides. In an ideal world I would love to see Arsenal win the league and Hull stay up. If ever there was a time I could wish both teams to win, Saturday would be it.
You win some and you lose some in football, but more important than that to me is the love I have for both clubs. That love will remain until they nail me into the coffin...I hope that doesn't happen anytime soon mind you!
HC: You were at the corresponding fixture last season to help mark the opening of the Harold Needler Suite. Given that he was the man who brought you to City; it must have been an honour to take part in the commemorations.
TN: Without a doubt, as Harold Needler was instrumental in my transition into management. I'm one of the most fortunate individuals in the history of the game, having worked with three of its best chairmen. Those chairman include Arsenal's Peter Hill-Wood, his father Denis, and of course Harold himself.
I really enjoyed myself last year, and it was fitting that the rest of the Needler family were present. The whole family are very dear to my heart and always will be.
HC: Harold Needler was in charge of City for three decades, how important a figure do you feel he was in the Tigers' history?
TN: He was massive for the club, It wasn't a quirk of fate that I joined Hull City as my first managerial job, it was because of Harold Needler.
There's no better testimony to his chairmanship than from my old Arsenal team-mate Tommy Docherty, and what he doesn't know about football club directors isn't worth knowing. After the few months Tommy was with us, he went on record to say that Harold was the best football director and chairman he'd ever come across.
HC: After 11 successful years at Arsenal, how big of a gamble was it to take charge of Hull City at the age of 28?
TN: It was never a gamble in my eyes as I didn't rush into it. I gave myself a few months to find out everything I possibly could about the club. I always want the best in everything, that's why it took me about six months from applying for my first managerial position to joining Hull City. It was a first step for me so I wanted to be absolutely sure that it was the right one.
I had a delightful six months meeting up with Harold Needler in London. We got on so well that after a couple of months of regular meetings we almost forgot what we were there to talk about!
HC: You had a baptism of fire, as your first game in charge was against Manchester United in the old Watney Cup.
TN: It's interesting you should mention that, as I happened to look at footage from that game only a few weeks ago. We gave a very good account of ourselves against a Manchester United side that included the likes of Bobby Charlton and George Best. After finishing at 1-1, it was the first time a game was decided by penalties in England. We ended up losing the shoot-out, though I managed to score my penalty thank God!
HC: You came close to promotion during your first season in charge; do you still regret not bringing top flight football to the club?
TN: I definitely regret not being able to guide them into the top flight. You get over disappointments, that's life and that's football, but I would have dearly loved for Harold Needler's sake to have achieved promotion.
I have to say though, with due respect to the squad, and by that I include myself, we were all getting towards the veteran stage of our careers. It would have been a big task if we had gone up, but as I said, I would have loved to have taken them up.
HC: You were in charge of some City greats during your time with the club. How do you feel the likes of Ken Wagstaff and Chris Chilton would have fared given a chance to grace the top division?
TN: They had the ability to have played in any era, no doubt about that at all. In fact, that was shown by some of our FA Cup successes against what were then First Division sides.
HC: City played at Boothferry Park during your time in charge, but what is your impression of the new stadium?
TN: I was very impressed by the KC Stadium, I think it's worthy of gracing any league in the world. To be fair, Boothferry Park in its prime was a fine stadium, but times move on. Hull City, like Arsenal with the Emirates Stadium, have moved with the times.
Given the quality of the stadium, I'm surprised and disappointed that Hull wasn't nominated as a host city for the 2018 World Cup. It would have been massive for the area. Occasionally, though, who can understand the workings of the FA!
City Factfile
As A Player
Played: 122
Goals: 4
As A Manager
Played: 207
Won: 77
Drew: 61
Lost: 69
Goals Scored: 267
Goals Conceded: 248
[Pictured: Terry Neill during his visit to the KC Stadium last season]
