Description

Admin History:

Founded in 1902 and based in an old grain warehouse in Trundle Street and, as membership increased, further premises in Roper Street, The Hull Boys' Club was pioneering in its outlook and was soon copied by other areas across the country.

Its aim was to provide a safe environment where boys of all ages, the majority of them from deprived backgrounds, could meet and undertake a range of physical activities to ensure they remained fit and healthy. Later it became necessary to add a Men's Section or Senior Section where boys who had attained the age of 18 could continue to attend.

In 1934 the original premises in Trundle Street and Roper Street were deemed unfit and dangerous following a survey by Sir Alfred Gelder and Mr. D.C.Carter of Messrs. John Watson and Carter, Surveyors. Following the survey it was decided that the old buildings should be demolished and a new club built on the same site.

Opened on the 4th March 1936 by Sir Philip B. Reckitt Bart. O.B.E., and costing nearly £11,000, the new club contained up to date showers, baths and toilets, a drill hall, gym which could be used as a concert or cinema hall, instructions and games rooms, a kitchen and offices. It was the first purpose built boys club in the country.

Over the years the club offered boxing, rugby, karate, kick boxing, football, handball, Table Tennis, and weight training to the boys and young men of Hull. Many trophies and titles were won and many boys went on to develop sporting careers . Members of the club who went on to play sport at higher levels include Johnny Whitely, captain of Hull F.C., Yorkshire and Great Britain, Rob Nolan who went on to play for both Hull F.C. and Hull Kingston Rovers, Paul Speckman who played for Hull Kingston Rovers, Pete Morrison who won the Olympic Bronze Medal at Bantamweight at the 1948 Olympics, and Tommy Green who was the 1957 British A.B.A. Lightweight Champion.

Membership began to decline towards the end of the twentieth century and with the redevelopment of the area in 2015 the Hull Boys' Club was demolished.

For a full history of the club see A Century of the Hull Boys' Club, Play The Game at

C DSHB/5/4. This book can be borrowed from the Local Studies Library collection at the History Centre. It's class number is: L.369.42

Description:

Includes Minute books of the Executive Committee & Sub Committees, 1903 framed Empire Day Parade banner, accounts books and rule book, new building book, Peter R. Lovell's M.B.E. Medal and Citation Certificate, publications and 2 DVDs of photographs of the history of The Hull Boys' Club