A little bit about the clubs relationship with the 'Cityof Culture' from the club website...
Hull Kingston Rovers have revealed a unique away kit for the 2015 season to celebrate its pride at Hull being named UK City of Culture 2017.
The club were one of 20 “Business Angels” to financially back Hull’s bid for the prestigious title from the start – the only professional sports team in the city to do so – and have celebrated its success by unveiling an eye-catching shirt inspired by the official City of Culture bid campaign badge.
Launching the design shortly after the one-year anniversary of the City of Culture announcement, the Robins were joined by business partners, sponsors and fans at Archbishop Sentamu Academy this evening to celebrate the cultural diversity of Hull and the surrounding area.
During an evening that included performances from dance troupes, stand-up comedians and local musicians, the star attraction was the involvement of renowned playwright John Godber who adapted a short scene from his famous Up ‘N’ Under production.
With the cast made up of drama students from the academy, the play culminated in first team stars Mick Weyman, Kevin Larroyer and Ken Sio walking on stage to reveal the striking design, which is now on sale to Hull KR fans online at
www.hullkr.co.uk/awaykit.
Hull Kingston Rovers chief executive Mike Smith said:
“We’re very proud with our association to the City and role within the local community. Every time we step out onto that field away from home our players and fans are representing this great City and this kit epitomizes that. It’s a unique and contemporary design which we think further cements our place as one of the city’s leading cultural organisations. Rugby League is synonymous with the culture of the city so we were delighted to become one of the ‘Angels’ that helped to fund the City of Culture bid but also to support local talent on a matchday by showcasing regional entertainment around the stadium. That is something we will definitely look to grow and improve on to offer as many local people the chance to perform to our fans in the run-up to 2017.”
It is now 12 months since Hull fought off tough competition from Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay to become the second UK City of Culture and the first mainland city to hold the title, following Derry-Londonderry in 2013.
Keen to back a bid that will bring increased investment to the city and deliver a spectacular cultural programme of events throughout 2017, Hull KR have since continued to show its support for the project by installing promotional signs at the KC Lightstream Stadium and giving local music acts the chance to play live in the concourse of the new Colin Hutton Stand on matchdays.
Martin Green is the chief executive of the city’s Culture Company charged with delivering 2017 and he praised the club for its going support for the project.
He said: “We are delighted that Hull KR are celebrating Hull’s win by adopting the colours of the bid. They are the first established sports team in the city to actively promote the UK City of Culture 2017 and I look forward to growing a relationship with them.”
