Snow is falling, all around me. Not really, although there was plenty of rain coming down in Hull. Jen and I had driven down for the weekend, and I’d dropped her off at the hotel before carrying on to the MKM Stadium. The draw for the World Cup had been on the radio, but after two hours of listening I still wasn’t any the wiser as to which teams Paul and I would be watching in Toronto next summer. Maybe England, maybe Sontje Hansen’s Curacao.
It had been a quiet week leading up to the game, although we had been to see Fatherson front-man Ross Leighton at the Courtroom in Middlesbrough Town Hall the previous Sunday. It was an early evening show with doors at 4pm and a planned 6.30pm curfew. Ross played for a while beyond that, but we were still out of there before seven. Perfect timing for old people.
It wasn’t easy to find parking near the stadium, and I ended up in a back street where a permit was required for anything longer than an hour. I gambled that the foul weather would deter any wardens from doing their rounds and I suppose I’ll just have to wait to see if I got away with it.
Kick-off had been delayed due to the weather causing the Boro to turn up later than they had intended and I took advantage of the additional time to join a lengthy queue for pie, mash and gravy. My seat was low down enough for the rain to blow in now and again. I was also at the very end of our section. It’s the place where the fourteen-year-old fans from each club congregate to take the piss out of each other across the divide and offer invitations to a fight outside that everyone knows will never take place. It was all pretty good-natured, no more than children playing, having fun.
We had a lot of injuries and Kim Hellberg surprised everyone by naming Alex Gilbert alongside Hayden Hackney in central midfield. He was a revelation and may now have a future at the club that very few people would have predicted under Carrick or Edwards.
Hull had Ryan Giles and Matty Crooks in their ranks. Crooks got a good reception and rightly so. Giles was jeered which seemed unfair when it’s the season of love and understanding. He was great in his first spell with us. Less so in the second but it seemed more a lack of confidence than effort.
It all went right on the pitch, and we were four up by half-time. It’s a shame that Tommy Conway wasn’t among the scorers as he worked his socks off again. We eased off a bit in the second half and Hull notched a consolation from the spot. That’s two wins from two games for the new manager. Merry Christmas Kim Hellberg.
Trail of the Lion King 
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