Don Robinson: an obituary

Don Robinson, possibly the most colourful character in the history of Hull City, has passed away. First and foremost, on behalf of all at the HCSS, our thoughts and condolences are with Don’s family and friends.

As most of you will know, Don took on Hull City in 1982, after the club had become the first in English football to enter receivership. We were languishing in the Fourth Division and seemed perilously close to going out of business. In saving us from that fate, Don had already done enough to warrant legend status. But he was only just getting going.

Under the stewardship of Colin Appleton and then Brian Horton, we were back in the second tier in no time. Teams containing the likes of Tony Norman, Pete Skipper, Richard Jobson, Stan McEwen, Garreth Roberts, Garry Parker. Billy Askew, Steve McClaren, Billy Whitehurst, Les Mutrie, Keith Edwards and Andy Payton still linger in the memory of those lucky enough to see them. A finish of sixth in our first season back in Division Two – the year before the play-offs were introduced – saw Hull City become one of the most exciting teams in the country to support. And everything flowed down from our flamboyant chairman.

A former bellboy, wrestler, rugby league player for Hull KR (sort of) and then self-made millionaire, Don had made Scarborough one of the most feared non-league football sides in the country. In turning his attention to Hull City, his zest for life, his love of the outrageous, elevated us to heights that had seemed impossible when the collection plates had been passed round Boothferry Park in the early Eighties.

We were going to be the first club to play on the moon, Mike Tyson was going to fight Billy Whitehurst on the roof of the supermarket on the north stand, champagne was handed out to the fans, Don would ride on to the pitch on horseback, red was introduced to the kit, tours of the US were introduced as were friendlies against exotic sounding teams. Don’s imagination and ambition ran riot once he assumed the chair at Boothferry Park and it was dizzying, brilliant, to witness.

But Don wasn’t some flash Harry throwing money around to get the club quick success and then cash out. Indeed, some found his cautious approach to money frustrating. But he always put the club’s interests first, and he was never going to see us enter a situation where we flirted with bankruptcy again.

The players loved him too. If they had a problem, financial of otherwise, Don wanted to help. The late and great Les Mutrie told me a story about how he’d been given a club house on North Road when he joined the club. It had no kitchen worktops and his wife was getting frustrated by this. Les mentioned it to Don, only to then return from training that day to find Don personally installing the worktops himself ‘sweating like a pig’. That was Don. Generous, kind, hard-working.

I had my own encounter with Don five years ago. We’d started the HCSS Hall of Fame and had made Don a committee’s choice entry. I contacted him and asked if I could visit him and award him with a commemorative tankard. He gave me his address in Scarborough and I arranged to visit him on the way to a family trip to Whitby.

Covid restrictions were in place at the time, so I kind of had to conduct everything stood on his balcony. His house was amazing, and everything you’d expect from Don – oak panelling everywhere, brass ornaments, a pool in the garden. Don was a bit hesitant and nervous when I started talking. His memory wasn’t the best and he would get confused, as his wife explained. He thought I’d gone round to tell him off for what he’d done at Hull City, so when I explained that it was the exact opposite, his face lit up. I presented him with the tankard, and I’d also got HCSS members and various Facebook groups to send messages thanking him for all he did for City (with a few ex-players such as Garreth Roberts and even Chris Needler sending them). When Don read the messages tears filled his eyes (and mine, if I’m being honest). Here was a man in no doubt as to the love and appreciation that Hull City fans felt for him.

I said my goodbyes and walked back to my car parked in his driveway, where my wife and sons were waiting me (they hadn’t gone in because of the lockdown restrictions). As I opened the car door I heard a shouting. I looked up and saw Don – in his mid-80s – sprinting out of his house telling me off for leaving my family waiting outside. He then reached into his pocked, pulled out his wallet and gave my boys £20 each ‘to get an ice-cream in Whitby’. Pure Don – lovely, generous, brilliant.

Supporting City in the Eighties was brilliant. We had wonderful players, playing exciting football. There was a belief in the club that we could do something special, and it all stemmed from Don. We’ve had some magnificent owners of Hull City, and Don stands shoulder to shoulder with any of them. He saved the club, rebuilt it, and made us feel that the sky was the limit. Well, OK, maybe the moon. Thanks for everything, Don. We’ll miss you. But we were damned lucky to have you.