We held our 2026 AGM on Thursday 6th August in the Kingston Suite at the MKM Stadium. Allen Bagshawe, the Chair, led the AGM. The present Committee members were re-elected for the coming season, and the reviewed Senior Tigers Club Constitution was accepted by all members present. At the end of the AGM, Allen appealed for volunteers to come forward with a view to joining the Committee.
Following the AGM, Barbara read out her notices. Firstly, she asked members if they were willing to send in their photos from Wembley so they can be included in our next newsletter. She then announced there will be another of Andy Metcalf’s Hull City predictions competition. It is £3 to enter, with the funds going towards the Withernsea RNLI. Barbara will be emailing the details in due course. She said to have a go; it’s a bit of fun.
For the new members who have just joined the Senior Tigers, she told them that Acklams offer a 5% discount on their holidays if booked directly with them. We also receive a 10% discount on our meeting days in the club shop.
Finally, Barbara informed the members of upcoming outings for which emails will be sent out in due course with instructions and payment information.
Following Barbara, Richard took to the stage and welcomed our guest speakers to the meeting. He was pleased to introduce Geoffrey Needler and his son Alistair. Geoffrey is the nephew of Harold Needler, who was once the Chairman of Hull City, himself joining the board in 1970. Geoffrey is the son of John Needler, the eldest of three brothers, with Harold being the youngest.
Geoffrey spoke about the history of Hull City Football Club during Harold Needler’s tenure. Harold was a well-known businessman in Hull and the Chairman of the football club from 1945 until he died in 1975. Upon his death, his son Christopher became Chairman.
Under Harold’s tenure, the club’s financial worries following the Second World War were addressed. Harold’s investments in the football club paved the way for them to win the Third Division North title in the 1948-49 season and the Third Division title in the 1965-66 season.
It was Harold who oversaw the move from the old Anlaby Road ground to the then-newly built Boothferry Park, which he financed and built. It was Harold who inspired the creation of Boothferry Halt, with many members remembering the trains bringing supporters to the ground on matchdays. It was through him that Boothferry Park had floodlights installed.
Harold Needler is remembered not only in Hull as the football club’s Chairman but also as a benefactor of the city. He was the President of the Hull Philharmonic Society and sponsored a race at Beverley Racecourse. The Hilary Needler Trophy flat horse race is still run today. Harold was also responsible for most of the housing on Sutton Park, as well as many other building projects in the city.
Richard asked for questions from the members. Pat Ellis asked Geoffrey if he still supported the Tigers; his response was, “Yes, but only as an armchair critic.” Alistair was asked if he went to matches; he said not so much these days due to other commitments but remembers going as a youngster to Boothferry Park with his parents. He told the members that he used to travel to away matches with the players in the team coach. That would not happen today.
A Senior Tiger asked him whether his family were connected to Needlers Sweets. He said he often gets asked that, and said they are loosely linked if you go back a few generations.
We all remember the house Harold built for himself, which looked out over the River Humber and which you could see from the A63 heading west away from Hull. A member said that talking about the house brought back memories of his working life when he made the front door, which took four people to lift as it was so heavy and wide.
Another member gave an account of when her now-husband took her to Boothferry Park on their first date to watch City play Plymouth. Richard commented that it was not very romantic of him and asked whether there were any other romantic gestures at matches. One lady said her father proposed to her mother at a match.
Another member remembers being on duty as a police officer on matchdays at Boothferry Park. In those days, there would only be three officers on duty, vastly different to today’s police presence at matches.
Richard thanked Geoffrey and Alistair for joining us and presented them each with a Senior Tigers pin badge.
Geoffrey kindly drew for the raffle, which raised £352.00.
During the afternoon, we were lucky enough to have the Championship Play-Off Final Trophy on display from the football club. Members had the opportunity to have their photos taken with it.
Shirley Cormack
The AGM Alister and Geoffrey Needler with Richard
2025-2026 Championship Play-off Trophy Some of the Committee with the Trophy
Members of the minibus party, Clive left, Driver right
