Family 'honoured' with Johnny Whiteley stand

The family of former Hull FC player Johnny Whiteley say they are "honoured" that a stand at the MKM Stadium has been renamed after him.

Whiteley, known to many as Gentleman John, won the championship and played in Challenge Cup finals with Hull FC, and also coached both Hull FC and Hull KR.

The dedication of the East Stand will take place ahead of the Super League season opener against Bradford Bulls on Saturday, after the stand was privately unveiled to the family.

Andy Ellis, a family member, said Whiteley was "always a person of Hull" and naming the stand after him was "a very respectable thing for people to do".

Whiteley was part of Test series wins over Australia with the Lions as both player and coach, and was part of three World Cup squads between 1954 and 1960.

He was awarded an MBE in 2005 for his services to rugby league.

A memorial service was held for him at Hull's MKM Stadium after he died on 13 February 2022 aged 91.

Ellis said: "It's an honour for all of us and we are extremely excited."

He said other members of the family had "kept it secret for a while" and told him to leave the date of the unveiling free in his diary.

"John is a legend of Hull FC, playing for over 400 games, coaching them and then playing for Great Britain.

"To have a legend like that in Hull is even better," he said.

Reflecting on Whiteley's personality, Ellis said he was a "fantastic rugby player" who "just wanted to give back to the youth development and helping anyone".

He said: "Historically, John was always a person of Hull and always that person on the door, on the bar, trying to introduce and be part of the people.

"I remember his hand always used to get bruises from the amount of time he'd shake hands with people."

Across the city, Hull Kingston Rovers fan Mike Pearson is also campaigning for a road to be named after Whiteley, which would follow in the footsteps of other rugby league stars who played for Hull FC and Hull KR, such as Phil Lowe, Clive Sullivan and Roger Millward.

Ellis said the family were "ready for it" and were "really honoured that someone out there is trying to push for him to have a road named after him".

He added: "The Whiteley Way or something like that, it would be brilliant."

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