A group of lifelong football fans have worked together to ensure their beloved Hull City plays a part in the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 celebrations.
The group are putting the final touches to plans for an exhibition of classic Tigers’ kits, which will go on display from Monday 3 July.
Tiger Rags – The Fabric of Hull City AFC will run from Monday July 3 to Tuesday October 2 at the Streetlife Museum of Transport. Entry will be free.
The exhibition is part of Hull 2017’s Creative Communities Programme.
Les Motherby, author of the Hull City Kits blog and an avid hoarder of memorabilia, has brought together a number of local collectors to exhibit their prized player-worn shirts, on public display for first time.
He said: “Hull City may not have a glorious, trophy-laden past, but they have an interesting history regardless, one that means a lot to Tigers supporters.”
“Shirts worn by players are the ultimate physical representation of that history, they evoke memories of past players, games and seasons.”
“Hopefully the club will have their own museum one day but until then this exhibition, part of the Creative Communities Programme for Hull 2017, offers a chance for people to
celebrate the visual identity of Hull City.”
Councillor Terry Geraghty, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure and Chair of Hull Culture & Leisure, said: “Over the years Hull City have grown to become an integral part of the fabric of the city and its identity. The club is loved by locals and recognised all around the world.
“We are delighted to be working with Les Motherby by hosting the Tiger Rags exhibition, an individual Hull 2017 community project, at the Streetlife Museum, enhancing the experience further. I am sure it will prove a huge hit with visitors, supporters and residents alike.”
The Tiger Rags exhibition has two themes, Plurality of Polyester and International Tigers.
Plurality of Polyester will run from July 3 to September 3, followed by International Tigers from September 4 to October 2.
The first two months will focus on kit design.
Examples of different styles will be on display, as will shirts from the 1980s.
Shirts will also commemorate teams from 2008, 2014 and 2016, when the Tigers reached Wembley finals.
There’s also a UEFA rule compliant match shirt from City’s brief but memorable foray into European competition.
From September 4 to October 2 the exhibition switches to International Tigers.
The last month of Tiger Rags acknowledges the part played by foreign footballers during Hull City’s rise from the basement division to the Premier League, with a display of shirts worn by players from around the globe who have come to Hull to play for the Tigers.
Exhibited items will inevitably evoke memories, and Tiger Rags want to capture those memories, and ask that visitors share them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #TigerRags
An audio description will also be available for people to download onto their mobile devices from www.hullcitykits.co.uk
Streetlife Museum of Transport is free and open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 11am – 4.30pm.
Martin Green, Director of Hull 2017, said: “Hull City are woven into the fabric of the city’s cultural identity so it is great to have such an amazing collection of memorabilia on display as part of Hull 2017.”
