Fearless Freddie prediction...... Hull FC to win!

If anyone’s interested 


Enter a legend and a Wally!

Sunday 4^th December 1983     Hull 32-Wakefield Trinity 16


There are times in the course of being a life-long follower of one Club when you remember that on a particularly significant occasion, “You were there”. There when it happened, there when history was made and there when you simply couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in the world. Often it’s Cup Finals and critical, last gasp, wins in successful seasons that offer these fleeting glimpses of perfection, but sometimes it’s just about a monumental episode in the history of your Club. That day at Belle Vue was for me at least, one such occasion. There we were stood amongst around 4000 Hull fans on the open Western Terrace frantic with expectation, as out ran Hull FC and Peter Sterling, his hands swathed in bandages and his long blonde hair blowing in the wind. Of course, all the talk in the West Riding City was about Wally Lewis making his debut for Trinity but in the end it was Hull FC that spoilt the party, as led by Sterling we took the home team apart.


    After just a couple of days in the Country and at just 22, Sterling produced a magnificent debut to lead us to victory. Our team that day was a mix of young and old, as the continuing injury crisis at the Club bit into our reserves of playing strength. Without six regular first teamers and several players that were on International duty, Hull knitted together surprisingly well and Keith Tindall, at 36, and returning after 15 months absence, was a revelation. Indeed we even had a Trialist winger playing on the right.
 
     However, it was Sterling that ran the show and despite a bright opening from an obviously inspired Wakefield side, he took all the plaudits at the end of the day. Lewis was outstanding in the first quarter particularly when executing some brilliant cut out passes to set up attacks (one of which I swear cut out four players and went like a bullet) and we soon trailed 8-0 before Phil Edmonds scored a try off a brilliant ‘scissors’ pass from Sterling. Then Mick Crane opened Wakefield up with a massive side step and sent Evans racing on an arc and in for a try, but a Geary try right on half time saw the scores tied at 16-16 at the break. 


      The second half was all Hull as Dannett, Evans and Banks scored tries, each of which was engineered by Sterling. Lewis retired after 70 minutes, but ‘Sterlo’ played out the whole game, as we ran out winners 32-16. It was a moment to savour as our new hero came over to receive the adulation of us fans and I can still see him now waving to us all, before taking the bindings off his hands and throwing them into the crowd. Despite only playing 8 games in that spell at the Club and a further 28 the following season, we’d see a lot more of Peter Sterling who was to become a legend of the FC. 
   
  The early part of 1984 saw him leading Hull to success on the field as we went on a seven match unbeaten run. Sterling was an instant hero with all the fans and quickly became a local personality, being followed everywhere (even on his regular visits to the local casino) by an entourage of autograph hunters and ladies. He was a real hero who I always wanted to meet and I had my wish granted one night in the Casino when after numerous pints I came face to face with him and said, “Your Peter Sterling” to which he replied, “I know” and that was it really.


 Roamin' The Range Together Book 2 

Was the trialist Kevin James?

Great memories Wilf, brings it all flooding back.
As you say in your piece above, it was one of those games (outside of Cup finals and high-octane derbies) that has lived long in the memory for those us now advancing in age! 
Alongside the legendary Wigan March '88 game, the Sterlo/Lewis game you perfectly describe above is my favourite 'normal' game to recall. 
Again I will point out how difficult it is to put across to anyone under 50 just how jaw-dropping it was to see these two players run out in the same match. Even by that point in their careers, still in their early twenties remember, there was an aura around them that has never dimmed to this day. Two players who were in a category above mere 'world-class', true legends of our sport.


Echo what Jake and Weaver93 say above about those booming Lewis passes out wide. The one we all seem to recall to put their winger in left the entire crowd with their jaws on the floor!! I still feel privileged to have been there that afternoon. Not only did we get to see two legends of the game, in their prime, but we came away with the win to boot, so happy day all round for the faithful. Seem to recall we had been a bit erratic in the early part of the season and Sterling's arrival kickstarted the team into life, even though he only stayed for eight games that year.


Like I said yesterday, no pressure on Will Pryce to go out and emulate those two giants, but if he could we would be ever so grateful to him!!!! Go on Son, make yourself an Fc legend in the space of one afternoon!!!   

Don't think so, but not completely sure on this. Didn't James arrive the following season (84/85). He played at Wembley in '85 that is for sure, but can't remember when he first arrived. It could have been that afternoon in Dec '83.


Echo what you said above about it been dark that afternoon, that's my impression when I think back. Dimly lit floodlights and all that. I guess being West Yorkshire in December it was bound to be!! The sun probably didn't rise until March!!

I think it was the one and only time I ever sat in that old wooden stand at wakey.  Probably 10p transfer for juniors or something at the time

Not sure but think ex FC player Graham Walters played for Wakey

Well, I’m not taking any chances at the game tomorrow. I’m wearing my lucky Jack Harrison shirt, that’ll put the wind up the noisy neighbours. This FC team has an 1980 feel about it, promoted in 79, we finished 3rd and got to Wembley with a team of journeymen and a smattering of good players and a few local lads that were all heart on the pitch led by King Arthur. We’re gunna do em

Patrick Solal ?