Oli McBurnie
Well blogmates, I had a splendid day today, here at the start of the merry month of May.
I drove over to Hull to see what might have been my team's last match of the 2025-26 football season. We were up against Norwich City. If we won the game we would have a reasonable chance of making the end of season play-offs for the last remaining promotion position.
The MKM Stadium was packed and because Norwich are a well-supported team, their corner of the ground was filled with The Canaries' distinctive yellow and green garb.
THe atmosphere was electric when the two teams came out of the tunnel and just before kick-of f it seemed that every Hull City fan was in good voice as we sang:-
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?
Please don't ask me why, Tigers fans adopted that old Elvis Presley number a few years ago because I have no idea. Perhaps Elvis himself was a closet Hull City supporter.
Anyway, Norwich City scored the first goal, coolly hammered home by Mohamed Touré. The Hull City army felt their hearts sink into the pits of their stomachs but there was no need for such despair because two minutes later we won a penalty when bustling Joe Geldhart was felled in the box.
Up steps Oli McBurnie and drives the ball down the middle into the back of the net. GOOOOOOOAAAL!
Halftime came. I went down to the concourse to meet up with Tony and Karl again. We were nervous. Our competitors, Wrexham, were drawing with Middlesbrough and Derby County were beating Sheffield United. At that moment, it looked as though we could forget the play-offs.
The second half commenced and time was ebbing away until in the sixty seventh minute, Oli McBurnie slides home what turned out to be the winner. Hull City fans went wild and my facial muscles could not control the big smile that illuminated my countenance with unadulterated joy.
When Croatian keeper, Ivor Pandur, plucked a Norwich corner out of the sky in the very last minute, it was as if he himself had scored a goal.
The other results went in our favour and so now our season is extended into the play-offs. We will be taking on London club Millwall next Friday night before the second leg happens down in the capital the week after.
It's an exciting end to the season and even if we do not make it to the Wembley final at the end of the month I know that our team will give it their all. It has been a very good season to be a Hull City supporter.
And I know that there are plenty of wannabe Hull City fans out there in the blogosphere - such as Andrew in Melbourne, JayCee on The Isle of Man and Jennifer in Florence SC - so specially for you here are today's highights. Enjoy!
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