The 1965–66 season was the 62nd season in the history of Hull City Association Football Club and their sixth consecutive season in the Third Division. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Summary The campaign has since been regarded as one of the most successful in the club's history. This is largely because the Tigers won their third-ever league title, which coincidentally would be their last for another 55 years. The drought was eventually broken in the 2020–21 season, when they won EFL League One.
Elsewhere, Hull endured a memorable FA Cup run, defeating First Division side Nottingham Forest prior to a sixth round exit. Even then, the Tigers only lost to another top flight opponent, Chelsea, who they heroically forced to a draw at Stamford Bridge, before bowing out at home in the replay.
Aside from on-pitch results, this season was also notable for the many iconic figures within the Tigers’ ranks. Led by long-serving manager Cliff Britton, Hull operated with an attacking unit affectionately known as "the Front Five". Of the 109 league goals the club scored in 1965–66, 100 of them were attributed to Ian Butler, Ken Houghton, Chris Chilton, Ken Wagstaff, and Ray Henderson.
Irishman Maurice Swan was entrusted as the team's goalkeeper for the majority of the campaign, whilst legendary captain and eventual club record appearance maker Andy Davidson anchored the defence from right full-back. Dennis Butler often featured to the left of him, with future Wales international Alan Jarvis and local lads Mike Milner and Chris Simpkin tending to service as the Tigers' half-backs.
Competitions Third Division
League table
Matches
#DateHomeResultAwayVenueAtt.Scorers121.08.65Hull City3–2Scunthorpe UnitedH18,829Houghton, Wagstaff (2)224.08.65Watford1–1Hull CityA10,648Chilton328.08.65Brighton & Hove Albion1–2Hull CityA16,560Wagstaff, Henderson401.09.65Hull City1–0Swindon TownH23,163Wagstaff504.09.65Hull City1–3Queens Park RangersH20,478Chilton611.09.65Mansfield Town1–2Hull CityA14,081Houghton, Chilton718.09.65Hull City1–4York CityH20,554I. Butler825.09.65Hull City3–3ReadingH14,686Houghton (2), Chilton902.10.65Exeter City1–4Hull CityA7,125Chilton, Houghton (2), Wagstaff1006.10.65Hull City5–1Oldham AthleticH17,028Wagstaff, Houghton, Chilton (3)1109.10.65Swansea Town4–2Hull CityA7,949I. Butler, Henderson1213.10.65Oldham Athletic2–2Hull CityA5,883Houghton (2)1316.10.65Hull City3–2WalsallH15,931Henderson, Wagstaff, Chilton1422.10.65Workington3–0Hull CityA5,4821530.10.65Hull City3–0H12,440Henderson, Chilton, Wagstaff1606.11.65Southend United0–2Hull CityA8,088(o.g.), Henderson1720.11.65Shrewsbury Town2–2Hull CityA5,316I. Butler, Wagstaff1824.11.65Hull City3–1WatfordH15,511Houghton (2), Chilton1927.11.65Hull City1–1Grimsby TownH20,681Wagstaff2011.12.65Hull City6–1Bristol RoversH16,3492117.12.65Walsall2–4Hull CityA8,617I. Butler (3), Chilton2227.12.65Hull City1–0MillwallH40,231(o.g.)2328.12.65Millwall3–0Hull CityA17,1842401.01.66Hull City4–1Swansea TownH22,700Wagstaff (2), Henderson, Chilton2508.01.66Swindon Town3–1Hull CityA15,875Houghton2615.01.66Hull City6–0WorkingtonH14,7042729.01.66Scunthorpe United2–4Hull CityA15,570Henderson (2), Houghton, Chilton2805.02.66Hull City1–0Brighton & Hove AlbionH25,374Wagstaff2919.02.66Queens Park Rangers3–3Hull CityA12,327Wagstaff, Chilton, Houghton3023.02.66Gillingham0–3Hull CityA10,527Wagstaff, Houghton, Chilton3126.02.66Hull City4–0Mansfield TownH28,214Wagstaff (2), Henderson, Houghton3209.03.66Hull City1–0GillinghamH30,122Wagstaff3312.03.66York City1–2Hull CityA19,420Wagstaff, I. Butler3418.03.66Reading0–1Hull CityA14,196I. Butler3508.04.66Oxford United0–2Hull CityA14,359Wagstaff, Houghton3609.04.66Brentford2–4Hull CityA9,919Wagstaff (4)3711.04.66Hull City2–1Oxford UnitedH31,992Wagstaff, Chilton3816.04.66Hull City2–1Shrewsbury TownH24,333Chilton, Jarvis3920.04.66Hull City6–1Exeter CityH28,055Chilton (3), Henderson (2), Houghton4023.04.66Grimsby Town1–0Hull CityA18,0184125.04.66Peterborough United4–1Hull CityA9,547Chilton4230.04.66Hull City4–1BrentfordH25,039Chilton, (o.g.), Jarvis, Henderson4306.05.66Bristol Rovers1–2Hull CityA9,234Wagstaff, Chilton4410.05.661–1Hull CityA7,861I. Butler4517.05.66Hull City2–1Peterborough UnitedH28,255Houghton, Chilton4620.05.66Hull City1–0Southend UnitedH30,371I. Butler
FA Cup
Matches
#DateHomeResultAwayVenueAtt.Scorers1R13.11.65Bradford Park Avenue2–3Hull CityA11,487Houghton, Chilton, I. Butler2R08.12.65Gateshead0–4Hull CityA5,935Wagstaff, Henderson, I. Butler, Houghton3R22.01.66Hull City1–0SouthamptonH28,851Houghton4R12.02.66Hull City2–0Nottingham ForestH38,055Heath (2) 19', 83'5R05.03.66Hull City2–0SouthportH38,871Chilton6R26.03.66Chelsea2–2Hull CityA46,324Wagstaff (2) 85', 89'6R26.03.66Hull City1–3ChelseaH45,328Simpkin 37'
League Cup
Matches
#DateHomeResultAwayVenueAtt.Scorers2R22.09.95Hull City2–2Derby CountyH15,601Houghton (2)2R29.09.95Derby County4–3Hull CityA9,645Wagstaff, Chilton, Simpkin
Squad Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age) Previous club Date signed Fee GoalkeepersMaurice SwanGKDublin27 September 1938 (age 26) Cardiff CityJune 1963£5,000Mike WilliamsGKHull23 October 1944 (age 20)YouthJune 1960– DefendersMick BrownFBWalsall11 July 1939 (age 25)YouthOctober 1958–Dennis ButlerFBParsons Green7 March 1943 (age 22)ChelseaJune 1963£10,000Les CollinsonHBHull2 December 1935 (age 29)ReservesAugust 1953–Andy DavidsonFBDouglas Water13 July 1932 (age 32)YouthSeptember 1949–Paddy GreenwoodFBHull17 October 1946 (age 18)ReservesOctober 1964–Alan JarvisHBWrexham4 August 1943 (age 21)EvertonMay 1964FreeMike MilnerHBHull21 September 1939 (age 25)YouthJuly 1957–Len SharpeFBScunthorpe29 November 1932 (age 32)Scunthorpe UnitedJune 1962£750Chris SimpkinHBHull24 April 1944 (age 21)YouthApril 1962–Gerry SummersHBBirmingham4 October 1933 (age 31)Sheffield UnitedApril 1964£12,000 AttackersIan ButlerOFDarton1 February 1944 (age 21)Rotherham UnitedJanuary 1965£40,000Chris ChiltonCFSproatley25 June 1943 (age 22)YouthAugust 1960–Norman CornerCFHorden16 February 1943 (age 22)Horden Colliery WelfareAugust 1962UnknownTerry HeathIFLeicester17 November 1943 (age 21)Leicester CityMay 1964£8,000Ray HendersonOFWallsend31 March 1937 (age 28)MiddlesbroughJune 1961UnknownKen HoughtonIFRotherham18 October 1939 (age 25)Rotherham UnitedJanuary 1965£40,000Ken WagstaffIFLangwith24 November 1942 (age 22)Mansfield TownNovember 1964£40,000Billy WilkinsonIFStockton-on-Tees24 March 1943 (age 22)StocktonMay 1962UnknownRon YoungOFDunston31 August 1945 (age 19)YouthAugust 1963–
Notes
References Hull City 1965–66 (use drop down list to select relevant season) Hull City match record: 1966 Hull squad