1980 Challenge Cup final

Rugby league match in England April 2022 July 2026 1980 Challenge Cup Final The old Wembley Stadium (cropped).jpg 200px The final took place at Wembley Stadium Hull F.C. Hull Kingston Rovers HUL Hull FC 16 HKR Hull KR 16 3 2 5 8 2 10 3 May 1980 Wembley Stadium London, United Kingdom Abide with Meand God Save The Queen Windsor DaviesMelvyn Hayes Band of the Welsh Guards Lance Todd Trophy winner Brian Lockwood Fred Lindop 95,000 BBC 1 (Grandstand) Eddie WaringAlex Murphy Finals The 1980 Challenge Cup Final was the 79th final of the Rugby Football League's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The match was contested by Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers on 3 May 1980 at Wembley Stadium in London, and was the first ever Hull derby cup final, contended between the two cross-city rival rugby league clubs of Kingston upon Hull. Background Hull derby point yes Q3503233 The Boulevard point Q7083792 Old Craven Park left 53.7645 -0.3323 11 The Boulevard and Old Craven Park, the home venues of the two rugby clubs of Kingston upon Hull in 1980, were located on the west and east sides of the River Hull respectively Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers (originally Kingston Amateurs) were founded as rugby union clubs in 1865 and 1882 respectively on the west and east sides of Kingston upon Hull. Hull F.C. were founding members of the Northern Rugby Football Union and the breakaway code of rugby league in 1895, with Rovers joining two years later in 1897 after controversy over alleged professionalism (which was banned in rugby union) in their Yorkshire Cup win in 1897.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79255730/ Alleged professionalism in Yorkshire The Manchester Guardian Newspapers.com 15 January 1897 7 21 March 2026 The first meeting of both teams was at Rovers' Craven Street Football Ground on 16 September 1899, which ended in a 8–2 victory to Rovers.Tomlinson Daniel Smailes James Dalton Bill Definitive history of Hull derby between FC and KR as hostilities resumed for 249th clash https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/hull-fc-kr-records-derby-2766105 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 16 April 2019Hull footballers' derby https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-evening-news-hull-footballers-derb/193644415/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily News 15 September 1899 6 Newspapers.comKingston Rovers v. Hull https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-evening-news-kingston-rovers-v-hul/193644429/ 18 March 2026 Hull News 16 September 1899 12 Newspapers.com Hull F.C. had won their first Challenge Cup at Thrum Hall in Halifax in 1914, appearing as runners-up in 1908, 1909, 1910 (which necessitated a replay), 1922, 1923,A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-Hull-FC-s-Challenge-Cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 22 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140418055130/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/complete-history-Hull-FC-s-Challenge-Cup-finals/story-19692285-detail/story.html 18 April 2014 1959 and 1960, the latter two being their first Wembley appearances.Kingstonian Hull's pack will never be any worse https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-hulls-pack-will-never-b/193869164/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 11 May 1959 8 Newspapers.comBarlow Dave Hull F.C.'s fantastic ill-luck haunts them to the end https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-hull-fcs-fantastic-il/193869886/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 16 May 1960 8 Newspapers.com Hull Kingston Rovers, meanwhile, had previously been runners-up in Challenge Cup Finals in 1905 and 1925 at HeadingleyEclipse R.L. cup for Lancashire https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-rl-cup-for-lancashire/193870324/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 27 April 1925 2 Newspapers.com and in 1964 at Wembley.Gosse John Widnes' concrete defence shatters gallant Rovers https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-widnes-concrete-defence/193868220/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 9 May 1964 1 Newspapers.com There had been nine Hull derby Challenge Cup ties ahead of the 1979–80 Challenge Cup, with fixtures played in 1902, 1922, 1939, 1959, 1961, 1972, 1974, 1977 and 1978.Head to Head – Hull FC vs Hull Kingston Rovers: Challenge Cup https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/head2head/hull-fc-vs-hull-kingston-rovers/challenge-cup/results.html Rugby League Project 18 March 2026 The two clubs had also met in the finals of the Yorkshire Cup (1920 and 1967)It is Rovers' cup https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-it-is-rovers-cup/193867756/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 29 November 1920 2 Newspapers.comGosse John K.R. refused to get into flap https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-kr-refused-to-get-into/193867414/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 16 October 1967 16 Newspapers.com and the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy (1979).Tingle Richard Teamwork triumph https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-teamwork-triumph/193866879/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 19 December 1979 14 Newspapers.com Route to the final 1979–80 Challenge Cup Hull F.C. Having been promoted from the Second Division a year prior, after a first half in which Cumbrian amateur side Millom opened a shock early 5–0 lead at The Boulevard, Hull F.C. won their home first round fixture 33–10 with a hat-trick of tries from Ron Wileman as well as tries from Graham Evans and Clive Pickerill and five goals from Sammy Lloyd,Tingle Richard Hull through after nightmare 40min. https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-hull-through-after-night/193653733/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 11 February 1980 14 Newspapers.com and were drawn into the second round at home against York. York also initially led Hull F.C. to a shock lead in the first half, however F.C. overcame the York defence and won 18–8 through attacking play by captain Steve Norton and six goals, three of them penalties, by Sammy Lloyd.Tingle Richard Hull get over sticky hurdle https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-21775-see-double-cup-tr/193654545/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 25 February 1980 14 Newspapers.com Entering the quarter-finals of the competition, Hull F.C. travelled away to Odsal Stadium to play Bradford Northern, a team they had not won against for the past four years. A highly defensive match saw only a penalty scored by Sammy Lloyd 12 minutes into the first half after an illegal tackle on Ron Wileman, followed by a decisive drop goal in the 75th minute by Clive Pickerill, allowing F.C. to win 3–0 and qualify them for the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1961.Tingle Richard Hull shatter that hoodoo https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-rovers-on-final-threshol/193654842/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 10 March 1980 16 Newspapers.com Travelling to the neutral venue of Station Road in Pendlebury, a week after Rovers' qualification for the final, F.C. faced 'cup kings' and defending 1979 winners Widnes. Following another defensive game in which F.C. were behind the favourites 0–5 at half-time, an early second-half try by Graham Bray, two penalty kicks by Sammy Lloyd and a match-winning try by Ron Wileman in the last ten minutes saw Hull F.C. overturn the deficit and win 10–5, setting up the first Hull derby Challenge Cup final and returning F.C. to Wembley for the first time since 1960.Tingle Richard Hull's pressure sets up a Wembley derby https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-hulls-pressure-sets-up/193655249/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 31 March 1980 14 Newspapers.com RoundOppositionVenueScore Round 1Queensland 16 MillomThe Boulevard33–10 Round 2York RLFC 16 YorkThe Boulevard18–8 Quarter-finalBradford 16 Bradford NorthernOdsal Stadium3–0 Semi-finalWidnes 16 WidnesStation Road10–5 Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers opened their Challenge Cup campaign with a dominant 18–13 victory over Wigan away at Central Park, featuring tries by Steve Hartley, Clive Sullivan and Phil Lowe as well as goals kicked by Steve Hubbard,Sexton John Rovers knock out confident Wigan https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-rovers-knock-out-confide/193653959/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 11 February 1980 13 Newspapers.com followed by a 28–3 thrashing of Castleford in Round 2 at home at Craven Park.Sexton John Rovers' second-half blitz shatters Cas. https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-21775-see-double-cup-tr/193654545/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 25 February 1980 14 Newspapers.com Rovers played at home again for the quarter-final against Warrington, in which following an evenly-matched first half, Rovers won the match 23–11 with the contributions of man of the match Steve Hubbard, scoring two tries and kicking five goals, qualifying Rovers for their second Challenge Cup semi-final in three years.Sexton John Rovers on final threshold again https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-rovers-on-final-threshol/193654842/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 10 March 1980 16 Newspapers.com Rovers travelled to the neutral venue of Headingley Rugby Stadium to face Halifax in the first semi-final of the Challenge Cup. A dominant display by Rovers over Halifax saw the match virtually won by half-time, with tries by Clive Sullivan, Mike Smith and Steve Hartley, two goals by Steve Hubbard and a drop-goal by player-coach and captain Roger Millward ending the match at 20–7 and sending Rovers to Wembley for their first Challenge Cup final since 1964.Sexton John The Wembley formula: pace, power and class https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-the-wembley-formula-pac/193655152/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 March 1980 14 Newspapers.com RoundOppositionVenueScore Round 1Wigan 16 WiganCentral Park18–13 Round 2Castleford 16 CastlefordCraven Park28–3 Quarter-finalWarrington 16 WarringtonCraven Park23–11 Semi-finalHalifax 16 HalifaxHeadingley Rugby Stadium20–7 Pre-match Teams Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers finished the regular season in mid-April placed 3rd and 7th respectively, qualifying them for the Premiership but narrowly avoiding a first round derby fixture, which neither team wanted to play, on points difference.Groak 2017 150–151 Both teams departed from their home stadiums on coaches for London on 30 April. Hull F.C. stayed at the Royal Chace Hotel in Enfield and trained at the Botany Bay Cricket Club, while Hull Kingston Rovers stayed at the Runneymede Hotel in Egham,Groak 2017 138 establishing a training base within sight of Windsor Castle at the home of rugby union club Windsor R.F.C.Union opens its door to Rovers https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805509/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 3 Newspapers.com Both squads were largely unchanged from their last First Division fixtures. Hull Kingston Rovers sr Phil Lowe suffered a dislocated arm from an off-the-ball tackle in a First Division fixture against St Helens two weeks before the final, but was eventually ruled fit to play 48 hours before the final.Sexton John Phil Lowe's Wembley hopes high https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-phil-lowes-wembley-hope/193807837/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 25 April 1980 24 Newspapers.comSexton John The shoulder's no good said Lowe https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805608/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 6 Newspapers.com Hull F.C. ce Gareth Evans, however, tore a muscle in training and was ruled out of F.C.'s squad.Brave words from unlucky Airlie Bird https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805509/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 3 Newspapers.com Both teams were cleared to wear their traditional home kits for the final, with Hull F.C. playing in jerseys with irregular black and white hoops and white shorts and Hull Kingston Rovers playing in white jerseys with a broad red band; F.C.'s previous Challenge Cup final losses in 1959 and 1960 had seen them wear white jerseys with a black 'V' and hoops with black shorts, while Rovers made their 1964 Wembley appearance in all-red shirts.Groak 2017 151 Transport thumb|A tribute to the 'Last one out, turn the lights off' banner displayed at the Connexin Live Arena prior to Hull Kingston Rovers' appearance at the 2023 final By 1980, the city of Kingston upon Hull had a population of 327,000,Kingston upon Hull, UK Metro Area Population (1950–2026) https://www.macrotrends.net/datasets/global-metrics/cities/22856/kingston-upon-hull/population macrotrends 20 March 2026 and it was estimated that up to a quarter of the city's population travelled to Wembley. Both teams had ticket allocations of 22,000 each, however, club retailers soon found themselves out of their depth as demand outstripped supply, with fans queuing for general admittance tickets overnight at both The Boulevard and Craven Park. Within two weeks, both allocations were mostly sold out,It's just the ticket! https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-everyones-a-rugby-winne/193813891/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 14 April 1980 1 Newspapers.comGroak 2017 132–135 and a fortnight before the final, the RFL announced that all 95,000 tickets had sold out in record time, only the fourth Challenge Cup final to do so.It's a sell-out https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-its-a-sell-out/193808684/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 21 April 1980 1 Newspapers.com British Rail organised twelve special trains that departed in fifteen-minute intervals on the morning of 3 May from Hull Paragon railway station to various London stations, operating alongside the eight regular trains chartered for a Challenge Cup final day. Three also departed Hull Paragon on the Friday night before, with further departures occurring on Thursday. Tickets were worth £12, colour-coded to segregate rival fans, and no refreshments, transfers or open returns were offered.Groak 2017 137Wembley stampede https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-wembley-stampede/193809294/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 31 March 1980 1 Newspapers.com As the first trains arrived on Thursday to take supporters to Wembley, Hull Paragon railway station was described as being "like a refugee clearing centre", with fans travelling in mixed groups of families and friends despite British Rail's attempts at segregation.Groak 2017 164–165Burgess Alan We're all going to Wembley https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805485/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 2 Newspapers.com Ten car transporters were also brought to Hull to deliver hire cars for those who wanted to drive to Wembley.Groak 2017 137 On the night before the final, supportersWhich team? March 2026 Fred Lewis, Dean Lewis and Charlie Grantham placed an improvised cardboard sign reading 'Last one out turn the lights off' against a lamppost on Boothferry Road near the under-construction Humber Bridge.Grove Alex The story of Hull's famous 'Last One Out' Challenge Cup sign in 1980 https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-kr-last-one-out-362645 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 3 May 2020Groak 2017 172 Guests and entertainment Dignitaries and guests in attendance included Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who greeted both teams on the pitch before kick-off and later presented the Challenge Cup trophy to the winning Hull Kingston Rovers player-coach, Roger Millward.Groak 2017 143 Among other attendees included members of the Labour-run Kingston upon Hull City Council – sitting council leader Pat Doyle, former leader Leo Schultz, councillor Louis Pearlman and town clerk Basil Wood – and politicians and celebrities from across the North of England and beyond, including Dave Allen, Bernie Clifton, Brian Glover, Richard Harris, Emlyn Hughes, Bernard Manning, Bill Maynard, Cliff Morgan, Peter O'Toole, Michael Parkinson, Alan Plater, Jean Rook, Jimmy Savile, Cyril Smith, Ed Stewart, Bill Tidy, Colin Welland and Kenneth Wolstenholme, some of whom had attended previous finals.Groak 2017 183 Pre-match entertainment at Wembley was provided by actors from the BBC 1 sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum Windsor Davies and Melvyn Hayes,Pye Steven When Hull Kingston Rovers beat their city rivals in the Challenge Cup final https://www.theguardian.com/sport/that-1980s-sports-blog/2023/aug/10/hull-kingston-rovers-city-rivals-challenge-cup-final 20 March 2026 The Guardian 10 August 2023 London who also sang the traditional Challenge Cup anthem Abide With Me with the backing of the Band of the Welsh Guards. The Queen Mother's appearance at the final meant that the national anthem, God Save the Queen, was sung immediately on her entry with the instrumentation of the Band of the Welsh Guards, as opposed to after both teams were greeted on the pitch.Groak 2017 190–192 Match Summary After Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother left the pitch following a lengthy greeting of both teams, a coin toss was won by Hull Kingston Rovers and referee Fred Lindop whistled for play to get underway, with Rovers sh Allan Agar kicking into Hull F.C.'s half of the pitch. F.C. fb Paul Woods received Agar's kick and made a drive against Rovers' defensive line, eventually being tackled by srers Phil Lowe and Paul Rose. After further drives into Rovers' defence by pr Keith Tindall and prop forward Charlie Stone, passes by lf Steve Norton and second-rowers Charlie Birdsall and Sammy Lloyd allowed sh Clive Pickerill to cross the halfway line into Rovers' half, however he lost the ball under pressure from a tackle by Rovers hk David Watkinson, handing possession to Rovers in the first of many errors from both teams; in the first five minutes of play, six errors and three penalties were conceded.Sexton John How the cup was won – and lost https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805540/ 31 May 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 5 Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-hubbard-points-rovers-way/193569062/ Fitzpatrick Paul Hubbard points Rovers' way home The Guardian London 5 May 1980 13 31 May 2026 Newspapers.comGroak 2017 195 Steve Hubbard opened the scoring for Hull Kingston Rovers after nine minutes; in a tactic nicknamed 'oranges' by the Rovers squad during training, when Watkinson restarted play at the 35-yard line after F.C. ce Graham Walters conceded a penalty for being offside, he passed to pr Roy Holdstock, who passed to Agar, who then made a dummy pass that was then received by Hubbard, breaking through F.C.'s defence and scoring the first try in the left-hand corner of F.C.'s tryline.Groak 2017 196–201 His conversion kick attempt went wide left of the posts, leaving the score at 0–3.Until 1983, tries in rugby league were worth three points.Sexton John Referees back the new rules https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-referees-back-the-new-ru/198649026/ 20 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 21 July 1983 22 Newspapers.com As the squads lined up for the restart, referee Lindop then awarded Rovers a penalty due to Woods tackling Hubbard over the try-line after the ball had been grounded; Hubbard, in front of the posts, kicked the penalty to score two more points, with the scoreline now 0–5 in Rovers' favour after over ten minutes had been played. A breakdown in Hull F.C.'s discipline followed. Rovers were awarded a penalty after F.C. hk Ron Wileman was found to be offside, and play restarted on the 12th minute at the halfway line following the penalty. Agar passed to captain and so Roger Millward, who proceeded to take a high tackle and a right-arm hit from Wileman that broke his jaw for the third time in six months. Wileman was confronted by referee Lindop but was not sent off for the offence, and Millward continued to play, moving into the defensive line while Agar moved to dummy half; after spending a few minutes in a state of concussion, in a tackle by rival captain Norton, his jaw was knocked back into place from a hit by one of Norton's legs.Groak 2017 221–223 At the restart, play was stopped again almost immediately when Stone punched Holdstock, conceding another penalty kick being awarded to Rovers. Hubbard kicked from the 20-yard line to further lift Rovers' advantage to 0–7 before 20 minutes had been played. Hull F.C.'s first point-scoring opportunity came when Lowe conceded a penalty for tackling lf Sammy Lloyd late, with Lloyd setting up to kick from the centre line against a heavy, swirling wind. However, the ball skewed left again of the posts. After Rovers conceded further penalties, passes to Tindall, Stone and Birdsall then drove the ball deep into Rovers' defensive line, however their attacking set came to an end when Birdsall was tackled, forcing a scrum halfway between Rovers' posts and the right-hand touchline. F.C. won the scrum, with Pickerill passing to so John Newlove behind the scrum, who then passed to Tim Wilby for him to score F.C.'s first try. Lloyd, after the ball had blown off a divot dug into the pitch four times, failed to convert, leaving the score 3–7 with 30 minutes of the first half played.Groak 2017 204 Further errors allowed Rovers to claim the ball back at the halfway line as the first half came to its conclusion. As the first half entered injury time, Millward scored a drop-goal at the 25-yard line to bring the score to 3–8. After two minutes of injury time, the half-time hooter sounded.Groak 2017 204 Sammy Lloyd kicked off the second half with a long kick into Hull Kingston Rovers' half, which was fielded by wg Clive Sullivan. The first tackling set of the half saw Rovers make little ground, with Agar attempting a long kick of his own at the last to put the ball into touch. However, the ball was caught Woods, who ran into the Rovers defence and was only stopped by a tackle from pr Brian Lockwood. During further attacking play from F.C., a quick pass from Pickerill resulted in Newlove knocking on and conceding a scrum. Rovers were penalised for a scrum infringement and Lloyd kicked his second penalty attempt, which swung wide again towards the right-hand side of the posts.Groak 2017 205–211 With 46 minutes played, Steve Hartley found open space and broke through F.C.'s defensive line and ran underneath the posts to score a try, however it was disallowed due to the final pass from Roger Millward being ruled a forward pass, the first of five disallowed tries in the match. A few minutes later, F.C. wg Graham Bray ran to the Rovers tryline after another attacking effort, but that try was also disallowed due to obstruction from Lloyd. A few minutes later, another scrum infringement gave Lloyd another penalty attempt from the 20-yard line, which went over the sticks for Lloyd's only successful kick of the match, bringing the score to 5–8 and bringing F.C. back into the match. The 65th minute saw Tindall make a well-timed run to score another try that would have levelled the scores, however his try was also disallowed due to a forward pass from Norton, and a few minutes after that, Wileman then ran in for another try, however he was tackled onto his back on the tryline by Holdstock, Smith and Agar and was unable to ground the ball.Groak 2017 205–211 With ten minutes left of the second half, Rovers went on the counterattack and played deep into F.C.'s half, allowing for Steve Hubbard to run in for his second try attempt, however it was disallowed due to insufficient grounding. Substitutes Vince Farrar and Brian Hancock were brought onto the pitch to replace Newlove and Stone, with Lloyd then missing his fifth and final penalty attempt. After the missed kick, Rovers substituted Rose for John Millington. Lloyd conceded a penalty for tackling Millward off the ball, and Hubbard successfully kicked the penalty, settling the score at 5–10.Groak 2017 205–211 On the 78th minute, Hubbard turned awkwardly and broke his leg, resulting in him being stretchered off and replaced by Phil Hogan. Hull Kingston Rovers then went on to defend a last-ditch attacking attempt by F.C. from a penalty before the final hooter sounded, securing them their first ever Challenge Cup final victory.Groak 2017 205–211 Details Saturday, 3 May 1980 3:00 pm BST (UTC+01:00) Hull F.C. 5–10 Hull Kingston Rovers 1Wilby 1Lloyd 1/5 (1 pen.) 1Hubbard 3Hubbard 3/4 (2 pen.) 1Millward Wembley, London 95,000 Fred Lindop (Wakefield) Brian Lockwood Report n center Hull Kingston Rovers red red white Hull F.C. black white #white 15 N y Arthur Bunting Paul Woods 1 Graham Bray 2 Graham Walters 3 Tim Wilby 4 Paul Prendiville 5 John Newlove 71 6 Clive Pickerill 7 Keith Tindall 8 Ron Wileman 9 Charlie Stone 71 10 Charlie Birdsall 11 Sammy Lloyd 12 Steve Norton (c) 13 Vince Farrar 71 14 Brian Hancock 71 15 Roger Millward David Hall 1 Steve Hubbard 79 2 Mike Smith 3 Steve Hartley 4 Clive Sullivan 5 Roger Millward (c) 6 Allan Agar 7 Roy Holdstock 8 David Watkinson 9 Brian Lockwood 10 Paul Rose 72 11 Phil Lowe 12 Len Casey 13 Phil Hogan 79 14 John Millington 72 15 Post-match and legacy thumb|The 1980 Challenge Cup final scoreline replicated at New Craven Park in May 2016 following Roger Millward's death I looked up at the scoreboard. It read 10–5... the most famous result in Rovers' history. Roger Millward Roger: the autobiography (2005), p.160 After embracing one another in celebration, the victorious Hull Kingston Rovers squad ascended to the royal box and the Challenge Cup trophy was presented by the Queen Mother to player-coach Roger Millward, with Clive Sullivan following behind and Steve Hubbard eventually following with the help of a pair of crutches; Millward, who moved to the club from Castleford in 1966 and who had taken up coaching in 1977 following the sudden death of Harry Poole, said that lifting the trophy "was a moment I'd waited my whole career for and one that I'll remember for the rest of my life".Millward Roger Roger Millward Sterriker Mike Roger: the autobiography 2005 Riverhead Publishing Kingston upon Hull 0-9550237-0-X 161 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Roger_The_Autobiography/Q3qcYgEACAAJ 18 March 2026 PR Brian Lockwood was named man of the match and was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy. A month prior to the final, Kingston upon Hull City Council had organised an open top bus parade through the city for both teams on the day after the final, with a civic reception following at the city's Guildhall on 12 May.Day no other city can match! https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-day-no-other-city-can-ma/193813960/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 15 April 1980 1 Newspapers.com After rendezvousing with Hull F.C. at the village of Newport, where both teams changed from coaches to separate open top buses,Groak 2017 237–238 Hull Kingston Rovers took part in the winners parade on 4 May, initially driving via west Hull to Craven Park before returning along Holderness Road to Hull City Hall, where they were received on the balcony by acting Lord Mayor Alex Clarke and a crowd of over 4,000 fans in a televised event at Queen Victoria Square.Cheers and tears as the cup comes home https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805670/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 8 Newspapers.com Hull F.C., meanwhile, held their own bus parade that returned them to a crowd of supporters welcoming them at The Boulevard.Tingle Richard I let you down says sad Sammy https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-1980-challenge-cup-wembl/193805634/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 May 1980 7 Newspapers.com Following pitch invasions that occurred at the end of both clubs' semi-final fixtures, as well as at Craven Park at the end of that year's Championship derby match held traditionally on Good Friday, there were fears that the final could be a cause for hooliganism, as was common in association football at the time; perimeter fencing had been erected at Wembley three years prior following the 1977 British Home Championship final that resulted in a mass pitch invasion and Wembley's goalposts being torn down.Groak 2017 112 In all, the Metropolitan Police reported only four arrests at the final for public drunkenness,Groak 2017 244 praising both sets of fans praised for their good behaviour. Nearly a year after the final on 17 April 1981, however, a Good Friday derby at The Boulevard during the 1980–81 Championship was marred by fighting in the stands and bricks being thrown, resulting in the derby being stopped for 14 minutes, 40 injuries and up to 13 arrests.The city of shame https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-the-city-of-shame-hull/157292487/ 3 June 2026 Hull Daily Mail 18 April 1981 1 Newspapers.com Players and coaches With the 1979–80 season now concluded, F.C. so John Newlove and Rovers sh Allan Agar chose to retire from rugby league after the final.Groak 2017 247 Keith Tindall, the only Hull-born player in the F.C. squad, called the final "the biggest disappointment of my life. [...] it'll go to the grave with me".Groak 2017 259 Rovers player-coach Roger Millward was ruled out of the opening rounds of the subsequent 1980–81 Championship due to the fracture to his jaw sustained during the final. After undergoing surgery to remove three wisdom teeth during July,Millward out of hospital https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-millward-out-of-hospital/193583668/ 17 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 4 July 1980 9 Newspapers.com he returned to playing with Rovers' 'A' team the following October. However after sustaining another broken jaw in a late tackle during a match against Batley's 'A' team, his fourth such injury in ten months, Millward was forced to retire from playing rugby league.Sexton John The end for Millward? https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-the-end-for-millward/187290535/ 17 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 6 October 1980 10 Newspapers.comSexton John Sad end to a great career https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-fourteen-glorious-years/187290574/ 17 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 11 October 1980 18 Newspapers.com F.C.'s coach Arthur Bunting, meanwhile, who had last appeared at Wembley in Hull Kingston Rovers' squad as a sh during their 1964 Challenge Cup final defeat to Widnes, initially planned to step down following the final due to struggles balancing coaching with his business commitments.Another Fartown final? https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner-another-fart/193855392/ 17 March 2026 Huddersfield Daily Examiner 6 May 1980 10 Newspapers.com However, a meeting with the Hull F.C. board on 4 May resulted in him securing a deal for three further years as coach.Groak 2017 247–248 Sammy Lloyd, a record-scoring goal kicker at Hull F.C and previous club Castleford, was visibly distressed by his unusually poor kicking performance, stating in tears that he had let his family and F.C.'s fans down, drawing comparisons to Wakefield Trinity's Don Fox missing the match-winning conversion at the 1968 Challenge Cup final, and felt that he could not bear to return to Hull. However, Lloyd was greeted by a rapturous reception from fans upon his return to The Boulevard a day later, convincing him to stay on with the team. Lloyd would later score four goals but ultimately missed one match-winning goal at the 1982 final against Widnes, ending the match 14–14 and sending F.C. to a replay,Play it again Sam... https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-play-it-again-sam/193647292/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 1 May 1982 1 Newspapers.com however as a result of injuries, he was not picked to play in the replay and was replaced by Lee Crooks. F.C.'s only try-scorer Tim Wilby later became the chairman of both Hull F.C. and the city's association football club Hull City A.F.C. in March 1997. Under his tenure, Hull F.C. were renamed 'Hull Sharks', with plans explored to merge both F.C. and Rovers, the latter of which had fell into administration, into one Humberside team, to groundshare with Hull City for the latter to cut operating costs, and in association with Hull City's owner, leisure centre proprietor David Lloyd, to play Hull's sports teams in one central 'super stadium'.Hadfield Dave Wilby the new man in charge at Hull https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wilby-the-new-man-in-charge-at-hull-1275153.html 21 March 2026 The Independent 26 March 1997 LondonTingle Richard Now for Rovers? https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-now-for-rovers/193856192/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 16 August 1997 32 Newspapers.com Amid controversy over "interference" with F.C., who were pushing for promotion to the newly created Super League, Wilby resigned in September 1997 citing "exhaustion" and moved to Australia, handing control of Hull F.C. and Hull City to David Lloyd.Goodbye, Mr Wilby! https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-goodbye-mr-wilby/193856163/ 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 17 September 1997 1 Newspapers.comTomlinson Daniel Phil Sigsworth opens up on Hull FC stint, 1997 promotion year and Tim Wilby drama https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/phil-sigsworth-opens-up-hull-8996072 21 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 24 December 2023 Subsequent finals 350 Hull FC Welcome Home Party - geograph.org.uk - 5094359 (cropped).jpg A packed open-top white double-decker bus with the lettering 'Wembley Winners 2016' and 'Hull FC 12, Warrington 10' Hull Kingston Rovers 2025 Challenge Cup Victory Parade Elliot Minchella Trophy Lift 01.jpg Men in red and white shirts gathered around one (Elliot Minchella) stood on a balcony and holding the Challenge Cup trophy aloft. A banner below reads 'I'm so in love with you'. The Challenge Cup returned to Hull a further five times, with Hull Kingston Rovers claiming the latest title in 2025 Hull Kingston Rovers returned to the Challenge Cup final a year later in 1981, losing 18–6 against Widnes.Sexton John Elliott Andrew Rovers slump in cup double bid https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-rovers-slump-in-cup-doub/193647089/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 2 May 1981 1, 12 Newspapers.com The club continued as runners-up in the 1986 final against Castleford,Sexton John Heartbreak https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-heartbreak-wembley-prov/193647951/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 5 May 1986 6 Newspapers.com the 2015 final against the Leeds Rhinos,Scott Ged Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0–50 Leeds Rhinos https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/34086760 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 29 August 2015 and the 2023 final against the Leigh Leopards,Newsum Matt Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 16–17 Leigh Leopards – Leigh claim first Wembley final win in 52 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66463438 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 12 August 2023 and would not win another Challenge Cup final for 45 years until 2025, winning 8–6 against the Warrington Wolves, the club's first major trophy since 1985, as part of a treble-winning season.Freeman Jay Hull KR beat Warrington to end 45-year Challenge Cup title wait https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cn4qdpnq32wo 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 7 June 2025 As defending champions, Hull Kingston Rovers made a first back-to-back appearance at Wembley since 1981 for the 2026 final, however they were heavily defeated by the Wigan Warriors 40–10.Jackson William Hull KR's grip on Challenge Cup ripped away by dominant Wigan Warriors in Wembley heat https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-krs-grip-challenge-cup-10991730 31 May 2026 Hull Daily Mail 30 May 2026 Hull F.C. returned to the Challenge Cup final in 1982 and, after initially playing to a 14–14 draw, won the final replay at Elland Road, the first held since 1954, 18–9 against Widnes.Ascough Phil Every fan a winner for Hull! https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-every-fan-a-winner-for-h/193647305/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 20 May 1982 1 Newspapers.com After appearing as runners-up at the closely-contended 1985 final against Wigan,Tingle Richard One that got away https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-one-that-got-away/193647863/ 18 March 2026 Hull Daily Mail 6 May 1985 6 Newspapers.com Hull F.C. won the 2005 final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff,Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/4169230.stm 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 27 August 2005 were runners-up at the 2008 final against St Helens and the 2013 final against the Wigan Warriors at the new Wembley Stadium,Hudson Elizabeth St Helens 28–16 Hull FC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7580148.stm 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 30 August 2008Scott Ged Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 0–16 Wigan Warriors https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/23794947 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 24 August 2013 and won back-to-back finals in 2016 and 2017 against the Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors respectively.Scott Ged Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12–10 Warrington Wolves https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37169016 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 27 August 2016Scott Ged Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 18–14 Wigan Warriors https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41012717 18 March 2026 26 August 2017 Both teams did not face each other in the Challenge Cup for 45 years until 2025, when Hull F.C. were drawn to play Hull Kingston Rovers away in the quarter-final round at their home MKM Stadium venue on 5 April.Challenge Cup quarter-final draw features Hull derby https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cx291n9ype7o 18 March 2026 BBC Sport 17 March 2025 The match, which saw Hull F.C. defeated 16–32 by Rovers, drew a crowd of 20,226, the highest-attended non-final Challenge Cup fixture since 1989.Olawumi Ben Challenge Cup attendance watch: Hull derby draws huge crowd as quarter-final showpiece https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/challenge-cup-attendance-watch-quarter-finals-2025 17 March 2026 Love Rugby League 7 April 2025 Notes References Groak Vince Last one out... when Hull invaded Wembley 2017 Scratching Shed Publishing Leeds https://www.google.com/books/edition/Last_One_Out/06HOswEACAAJ?hl=en 978-0993510175 External links 'All Hull Let Loose', 1980 Calendar special programme produced by Yorkshire Television of the build-up to the Challenge Cup final 1980 Category:1980 in English rugby league Category:1980 in sport in London Category:May 1980 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:Hull Kingston Rovers matches Category:Hull F.C. matches