Hull City Kop preservation project announced

An artist's impression of how the preserved Kop will look

Hull City Supporters’ Trust has launched a project to unearth and preserve part of the football club's original Anlaby Road ground.

The trust said the Spion Kop, dating back to 1906, was the UK's only surviving unchanged football supporters’ open terrace of its era.

Investigative work has begun to establish the viability of the Kop's rear concrete wall prior to ground clearance work getting under way.

The project will include a Walk of Legends featuring the names of people who have supported the project.

The Spion Kop was the cheapest and often the most crowded part of the stadium

The Kop was built shortly before its famous namesake at Liverpool's Anfield ground.

Lead project director Chris Smith said: "The trust is set to apply to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a significant grant towards what might well be a million-pound project, including access walkways, signage, lighting, seating and landscaping."

Supporters' trust chaiman Nick Thompson said: "We are now appealing to Hull City supporters to back this passion project by becoming members of the Spion Kop 1906 Club to raise the necessary target to match the Heritage Fund’s support."

The trust said Hull City Council leader Mike Ross had become the first member after making a significant contribution to the project from the Leader's Contingency Fund.

All Spion Kop 1906 Club members will have their names and/or those of their ancestors cut out of the metal non-slip treadplate Walk of Legends as a permanent recognition of their support.

Mr Thompson said: "The trust has received generous support, in kind, from the football club but it's the individual supporters and the local business community that we are relying on to kick the project towards the final whistle."

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