Very sad news. My thoughts are with the great man's family.

Very sad news.

Probably Hull’s greatest ever player and certainly well respected across the whole of the Rugby League World.

My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

The poor guy has been really struggling in hospital, he had managed through one operation but was really doing it tough. There will be a few tears shed today because what a loss he is to our great game. Tremendous player great coach fabulous ambassador and FC. till he died. He always had time for everyone and what a great bloke he was and what a loss to everyone who loves the FC.

Whats more with the recent death of Brian Cooper Johnny was the last surviving player from the 1956 Championship winning era after that 10-9 win at Maine Road.

I asked him once if I could write his biography but very kindly he refused saying that in all his time in the game he had only fallen out with a couple of people but to not include those incidents would be wrong and yet he didn't want to offend anyone or their families so he preferred instead to not do it. That was the measure of the guy. Bad day for rugby League and Hull FC




R.I.P. Old Faithful

Such sad news,

Johnny Whiteley wasn't just one of the greatest ever players for our club Hull FC but also the entire game of RL what an ambassador, a gentlemen and a LEGEND in the truest sense.

R.I.P Sir, condolences to his family and friends.

Very sad news.
My dad and uncles use to tell me stories of his playing days. I was lucky enough to meet him.
A true gentleman.
RIP Johnny

Sad news, a giant of the game and like Sully, Flash, Colin and Roger before him, loved and respected by all in the city...

Rest In Peace Johnny....

Feels like the end of an era, what a sad day for his family and the RL fraternity. I have never heard a single bad word about Johnny Whiteley, a remarkable and great man. RIP.

RIP Gentleman Johnny Whiteley xx

Heartbreaking news, absolutely synonymous with the club and its greatest ambassador. A very sad day, hopefully the club will put some appropriate celebrations of his life and career in place. RIP Gentleman John.

Johnny Whiteley was a true gentleman and this is one of those occasions where the tributes are totally deserved.

A lot of Rovers fans will know Johnny well, he attended most Hull KR games when Hull FC were not playing. I even remember him going to a Rovers pre-season game at Featherstone and sat round a table afterwards with Neil Hudgell, Phil Lowe and Colin Hutton discussing all things Rugby League. He had time for everyone and didn't have a trace of bitterness in him. His record as a player speaks for itself.

A sad loss to Hull FC, to Rugby League and to the city. R.I.P.

R.I.P. Johnny Whiteley xx

Condolences to all his family.

Heartbreaking news for all, great player, great human being.

RIP Johnny. A fine man as well as being an outstanding player and ambassador for the Rugby League. He will be mourned by all who knew him .

Lovely tribute to a great player and a great man.

Sad loss of a legend,a true gent and friend.Deepest sympathy to his family.R.I.P.

An absolute immortal of British Rugby League.

Can't help but feel deflated after seeing the news. Saturdays game will be emotional for sure.

Growing up in Flinton St. in the 50’s, I remember a mate telling me, we should go and have a look at this massive window on a house in Gillette St. We nipped round and the owner of this terraced house had taken the bay window out and replaced it with a huge picture window. The owner was just coming home from work and said ”do you like it boys?” It was the great man himself, put his hand in his pocket and gave us a couple of pennies and said “get some sweets”. Most blokes would have told us to bugger off.


I met him a few times over the years and he would always go out of his way to chat. A gentleman and a legend.
RIP Great man and deepest condolences to the family.

Sad news, a superb person by all accounts made obvious by the huge amount of respect afforded to him by the entire city.
Rugby League and Hull are poorer places.
Condolences to his friends and family.

Sad loss of a hugely important figure. Condolences to his family and friends.

my deepest condolences from up here in edinburgh,to johnnys family.when i was a kid,i belonged police boys club in the boulevard and he used to come regularley to keep us all in check.fantastic man.

Not from Hull but always a fan, great ballhandler. Remember Test at Swinton v France in 19?. Back three Karalius,Turner but 13 was Mr. Whiteley - all greats. Karalius was sent off but Johnny weaved his magic and we won easily.

There will never be another like him !! Rest easy Johnny .

RIP Johnny Witleley. Never knew or spoke to the man, yet I feel from everything I've read and heard about him he epitomised everything that is good about our sport.

great player, great man

Can't say anything that hasn't already been said. Everybody has summed up the man and his reputation brilliantly.

RIP Johnny.

Why not have a full rendition of old faithful in the 13th min in respect of Johnny at the Saints Game