Hull City had to wait 104 years to reach the top division of English football.
When promotion finally arrived in 2008, it began one of the most eventful periods in the club’s history. Hull produced a remarkable start to their first Premier League season, survived on the final day and were relegated a year later amid serious financial problems.
They returned under Steve Bruce, reached an FA Cup final and qualified for Europe. Another relegation followed, along with a second play-off victory and a turbulent final Premier League campaign in 2016/17.
The Tigers then fell as far as League One before rebuilding again. In 2026, they completed another play-off campaign and returned to the Premier League after nine years away.
From Dean Windass at Wembley to Geovanni at the Emirates, Tom Huddlestone’s FA Cup semi-final goal, Marco Silva’s rescue attempt and another promotion at Wembley, this is Hull City’s complete Premier League timeline.
Before the Premier League: More than a century outside the top flight
Hull City were formed in 1904 and elected to the Football League a year later.
The club came close to promotion to the First Division in 1909/10, finishing level on points with Oldham Athletic but missing out on goal average. It would prove to be the closest Hull came to reaching the top level for almost a century.
Hull spent much of their history moving between the second and third tiers. They won the Third Division North in 1932/33 and 1948/49 before securing another promotion from the third level in 1958/59.
A particularly strong period arrived during the 1960s.
Hull won the Third Division title in 1965/66 after scoring 109 league goals. Chris Chilton and Ken Wagstaff led an outstanding attack, and the club remained in the second tier for the next 12 seasons.
The decline that followed eventually took Hull into the Fourth Division in 1981. The club was also placed into receivership and came close to financial collapse.
Hull recovered with two promotions in three seasons, climbing from the fourth tier in 1982/83 and reaching the Second Division in 1985.
Another decline followed during the 1990s. By 1996, Hull were…
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