Products of the Hull City academy featured here now play for the likes of Leeds United, Fulham and Birmingham.
Up until very recently Hull City’s academy has not replicated the level in which the Tigers have been playing. A Category 3 academy until July 2015, the East Yorkshire outfit even lost some of their most promising youngsters to Championship clubs whilst playing in the Premier League.
The lack of investment in youth coaching and facilities was reflected in the quality of players produced by the club when compared to other teams of similar size and talent pools. That is somewhat reflected in the Tigers Homegrown XI which features no current Premier League players.
Despite this, there have been one or two gems, and the current Hull City academy are performing well and showing much promise. Here we take a look at how the Hull City team may look like today if the Tigers were only allowed to field homegrown players, and not including those currently in the club’s academy:
Tom Cairney celebrates scoring for Hull City vs Everton
Goalkeeper: Mark Oxley
Having joined Hull City in 2008 for £150,000, it could be argued Mark Oxley was not in fact a homegrown player for the Tigers, but he spent 7 years at the KCOM between the ages of 17 and 24, and that’s good enough for us.
A promising young goalkeeper who represented England at a couple of youth levels, Oxley was highly-regarded but also highly injury prone during his time at Hull. The 26-year-old found form with Hibernian in Scotland and now plays under former Hull boss Phil Brown at Southend.
Right-Back: Scott Wiseman
Hull-born Gibraltan international Scott Wiseman spent 4 years as a first team player at Hull City, but made just 16 league appearances in that time. Aged 31, the right-back has since played for the likes of Barnsley and Preston and currently stars for Leagie One high-flyers Scunthorpe United.
Centre-Back: Sonny Bradley
Sonny Bradley celebrates scoring for Plymouth Argyle
Towering centre-back Sonny Bradley made 2 appearances in the Championship for Hull City before departing on a free transfer. Following his release, he has played regular lower league football for Portsmouth, Crawley and current club Plymouth.
Centre-Back: Liam Cooper
Sonny Bradley and Liam Cooper were on the fringes of the Hull City team at the same time, with Cooper tasting slightly more first team action. And it is Cooper who has gone on to play at a higher level of the two 25-year-old’s to date. Having proved himself at Chesterfield, Cooper joined Leeds United in 2014 and briefly served as club captain at Elland Road.
Left-Back: Danny East
Naturally a right-back, Danny East is a versatile footballer who is equally capable of playing at left-back, and that is where he is called upon in this homegrown XI. Born in Hessle, East made 2 appearances for the Tigers in cup competitions, and following stints at Portsmouth and Grimsby, he is now plying his trade with National League outfit Guiseley.
Right Wing: Jamie Devitt
Former Ireland youth international Jamie Devitt made 16 league appearances for the Tigers, and the tricky winger had clear potential. However, he was simply too lightweight during his time at the KCOM Stadium and despite his technical abilities, he struggled with the physicality of games. After 2 years at Morecambe, Devitt is now playing his club football in League Two for Carlisle.
Central Midfield: Nicky Featherstone
Nicky Featherstone in action for Hartlepool vs Sunderland
For a long, long time considered Hull City’s most promising young player, up until a time in which he wasn’t even that young in fact, Nicky Featherstone could never get a run of games in the Hull City team. He played 8 league games in total before departing for Hereford United. The 28-year-old from Goole is now a first team regular at Hartlepool.
Central Midfield: Tom Cairney
The outstanding player in this XI, Tom Cairney is one of the most talented players in the Championship, and will most likely be a Premier League player soon, whether that be with Fulham or through moving on. The former Scotland youth international scored 5 goals in 80 games for Hull, including a cracker against Everton in the Premier League, and he is currently earning rave reviews at Craven Cottage.
Left Wing: Will Atkinson
Will Atkinson joined Hull City at the age of 9, and went on to spend 15 years with the club. The Driffield-born winger is predominently a right winger but so too is Jamie Devitt, meaning Atkinson is deployed on the left in this team. The 28-year-old left the Tigers in 2012 after 1 goal from 6 league games, he is now a regular under Phil Brown at Southend United.
Centre-Forward: Clayton Donaldson
Clayton Donaldson celebrates scoring for Birmingham City
There weren’t many suggestions during his time at Hull City that Clayton Donaldson would go on to become a solid Championship centre-forward, but that is what the 32-year-old now is. When he left Hull for York City many thought that was about his level, but the powerful striker has worked his way back up the ladder and is now starring for managerless Birmingham City in the Championship.
Centre-Forward: Yann Ekra
It was a tight call between Mark Cullen and Yann Ekra to partner Clayton Donaldson up front in this Tigers Homegrown XI, but ultimately Ekra gets the nod. The Ivorian joined Hull City from Lyon in 2008, and never made a first team appearance at the KCOM Stadium. Now 26, Ekra can play as either a forward or as a winger, and is currently based in the US playing for Charlotte Independence.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
