Despite a history going back to 1904, Hull Football Club reached the top division of English League football for the first time with a play-off final triumph over Bristol City at Wembley in 2008.

The Tigers' recent rise has been spectacular, taking just five seasons to go from the basement division of English football to the top.

The arrival of chairman Adam Pearson and Peter Taylor as manager, and the move from an ageing Boothferry Park, their home since 1946, to the brand-new KC Stadium in 2003 were the catalysts for Hull City unprecedented success, and current boss Phil Brown has built on that firm foundation.

The founding of Hull FC in 1904 followed several attempts to establish a club, which were hampered by the dominance of rugby in the city. Hull City were elected to the Second Division of the Football League a year later.

Tangible success has been hard to come by for Hull City, who have spent their history in the lower reaches of the Football League.

The 1909-10 season was the closest Hull FC came to the top flight until 2008 when they finished third, missing out on promotion on goal average. Only three Championships have been won: the Division Three North twice, in 1933 and 1949, and Division Three in 1966.

Notable Hull City personalities have included England international Raich Carter, who played for and managed the club, Ken Wagstaff, Chris Chilton, Brian Marwood and Steve McClaren, later to become England's football team manager.

Hull FC reached a low point in 1982, when, as well as being in the Fourth Division, they went into receivership and Hull City were dogged by a succession of financial difficulties over the next two decades.

The 1995-96 season saw Hull City relegated to the bottom division again and they finished 22nd in 1997-98, their worst-ever position, just two places away from non-League football, which made their rise to the Premier League a decade later even more remarkable.