The 1905–06 season was the second season in the history of Hull City Association Football Club and their first season in the Football League, having been admitted into the Second Division. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup.

Summary Hull were one of five new teams to be admitted to the Football League for the 1905–06 season, joining alongside Chelsea, Clapton Orient, Leeds City, and Stockport County. To help prepare themselves for their league debut, the Tigers recruited various players from across the British Isles. The most high profile of these was veteran full-back Ambrose Langley, who was signed in April 1905 and later promoted to player-manager prior to the upcoming campaign. Other new arrivals included future club legends Davy Gordon and Jacky Smith.

Overall, Hull's first fully competitive season was an overwhelming success, with the newcomers finishing 5th in the now 20-team Second Division. The tone of the campaign had been set as early as their opening fixture, a 4–1 win at home to Barnsley marking the first of their 19 league wins. In terms of where the place the Tigers called home was, it changed several times during the course of the season. The club had temporarily relocated to The Circle, a local cricket ground, after a dispute with their landlords at The Boulevard meant they could only play a handful of games at the stadium. By this time, though, their first permanent home was being built, eventually opening on 24 March 1906 with a 2–2 draw against Blackpool. Known as Anlaby Road, Hull would remain at the ground until the Second World War.

Competitions Second Division

League table

Matches

#DateHomeResultAwayVenueAtt.Scorers102.09.05Hull City4–1BarnsleyH8,000Spence, Gordon (2), Wilson209.09.05Clapton Orient0–1Hull CityA3,000Howe311.09.05Chelsea5–1Hull CityA6,000Howe416.09.05Hull City1–1BurnleyH7,000Raisbeck523.09.05Leeds City3–1Hull CityA13,654Wilson630.09.05Hull City1–1Burton UnitedH6,000Howe711.10.05Hull City3–0Chesterfield TownH4,500Raisbeck, Howe, Jo. Smith814.10.05Hull City2–0Gainsborough TrinityH3,500Howe, Wilson921.10.05Bristol City2–1Hull CityA7,000Jo. Smith1029.10.05Hull City0–1Manchester UnitedH12,0001104.11.05Glossop3–1Hull CityA1,000Jo. Smith1211.11.05Hull City3–0Stockport CountyH3,000Jo. Smith (2), Ja. Smith1325.11.05Hull City5–2Bradford CityH5,000, Jo. Smith (2), Gordon, Robinson1402.12.05West Bromwich Albion1–1Hull CityA11,203Gordon1507.12.05Leicester Fosse1–2Hull CityA3,000Raisbeck, Manning1616.12.05Hull City0–1Grimsby TownH8,0001723.12.05Lincoln City1–4Hull CityA1,500Jo. Smith, Rushton, Spence, Manning1825.12.05Burslem Port Vale1–3Hull CityA4,000Gordon, , Rushton1926.12.05Burton United0–3Hull CityA4,000Rushton, Gordon (2)2006.01.06Hull City3–1Clapton OrientH3,000Rushton (2), Manning2120.01.06Burnley1–3Hull CityA2,000Rushton (2), Gordon2227.01.06Hull City0–0Leeds CityH10,0002310.02.06Hull City4–3ChelseaH6,000Rushton, Jo. Smith (2), Gordon2417.02.06Gainsborough Trinity3–1Hull CityA4,000Raisbeck2524.02.06Hull City0–3Bristol CityH7,0002603.03.06Manchester United5–0Hull CityA16,0002710.03.06Hull City1–2GlossopH7,000Howe2814.03.06Blackpool1–2Hull CityA5,000Howe, Ja. Smith2917.03.06Stockport County2–1Hull CityA5,000Howe3024.03.06Hull City2–2BlackpoolH2,000Howe (2)3131.03.06Bradford City0–2Hull CityA9,000Ja. Smith, Hedley3207.04.06Hull City4–0West Bromwich AlbionH9,033Jo. Smith, Gordon, Wright, Raisbeck3313.04.06Chesterfield Town1–2Hull CityA6,000Gordon, Ja. Smith3414.04.06Hull City0–0Leicester FosseH10,0003516.04.06Hull City3–2Burslem Port ValeH7,000Browell, Howe (2)3617.04.06Barnsley2–0Hull CityA4,0003721.04.06Grimsby Town1–0Hull CityA5,0003828.04.06Hull City2–1Lincoln CityH4,000Ja. Smith, Jo. Smith

FA Cup

Matches

#DateHomeResultAwayVenueAtt.Scorers1Q07.10.05Hull City8–1Grimethorpe UnitedH2,000Howe (2), Jo. Smith (3), Wilson (2), Robinson2Q28.10.05Denaby United0–2Hull CityA3,000Ja. Smith (2)3Q22.11.05Hull City1–1Leeds CityH3,000Raisbeck3Q29.11.05Leeds City1–2Hull CityA7,186Rushton, Jo. Smith4Q09.12.06Hull City2–1Oldham AthleticH4,000Howe, Ja. Smith1R13.01.06Hull City0–1ReadingH9,000

Squad Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age) Previous club Date signed Fee GoalkeepersGeorge CookGKWelton-le-Wold3 September 1877 (age 27)Brunswick Institute1904UnknownMartin SpendiffGKNorth Shields24 June 1880 (age 25)Grimsby Town1905Unknown DefendersGeorge BrooksHBHull10 May 1880 (age 25)Unattached1904—George BrowellHBWalbottle21 November 1884 (age 20)West StanleySeptember 1905UnknownMichael CarneyHBBeverley8 December 1879 (age 25)Beverley TownApril 1905UnknownHarry DaviesFBTibberton13 December 1875 (age 29)Doncaster Rovers1 April 1905UnknownBen FrostHBHull17 March 1877 (age 28)Hessle1905UnknownWalter GoodinFBHull22 April 1883 (age 22)Beverley TownApril 1905UnknownDavy GordonHBLeith29 December 1882 (age 22) Leith Athletic1905UnknownEllis HallHBEcclesfield22 June 1889 (age 16)UnattachedJanuary 1906—George HedleyFBMedomsley24 June 1882 (age 23) Heart of MidlothianMarch 1906UnknownTom Jones (c)FBNewport30 September 1877 (age 27) Belfast Celtic1904UnknownAmbrose LangleyFBHorncastle10 March 1870 (age 35)The WednesdayApril 1905UnknownBill MartinHBPoplar27 April 1883 (age 22)Millwall AthleticAugust 1904UnknownAndrew RaisbeckHBSlamannan10 April 1881 (age 24)LiverpoolAugust 1904UnknownWilliam RobinsonHBPrescot1 October 1880 (age 24)Manchester CityMay 1905UnknownBilly ThorntonHBSheffield16 March 1883 (age 22)Doncaster RoversFebruary 1905Unknown AttackersHarry HallIFEcclesfield16 February 1887 (age 18)UnattachedJanuary 1906—Peter HoweCFSunderland18 October 1884 (age 20)Reading1904UnknownPatrick LaveryOFWalker28 February 1884 (age 21)Gateshead AlbionJune 1905UnknownJack ManningOFBoston8 March 1886 (age 19)Boston TownApril 1905UnknownGeorge RushtonOFStoke7 October 1880 (age 24)Brighton and Hove Albion1904UnknownHarry SimmonOFBearpark23 March 1879 (age 26)Leadgate ParkJuly 1905UnknownJacky SmithIFWardley29 September 1883 (age 21)Hebburn ArgyleJune 1905UnknownJoe SmithOFBoosbeck17 June 1886 (age 19)West StanleySeptember 1905UnknownGeorge SpenceIFRothesay27 September 1877 (age 27)Southampton1904UnknownDavid WilsonCF Hebburn23 July 1883 (age 21) Heart of MidlothianMay 1905UnknownGordon WrightOFEnglefield Green3 October 1884 (age 20)PortsmouthApril 1906Unknown

Notes

References Hull City 1905–06 Hull City match record: 1906 Hull squad