Hull City are a Premier League team. That is something people in the city of Hull never thought they would say as in over 100 years of football on Humberside it has been a long way off. However, one of the bigger cities in England can now boast a member of the footballing elite, as Phil Brown's boys triumphed at Wembley against a Bristol City side in the play-off final. The Tigers have already been installed as favourites to make an immediate return to the Championship but spirits are high at the KC Stadium and captain Ian Ashbee believes in miracles. The Tigers' midfielder arrived at the club six years ago from Cambridge United when they were in the bottom tier of English football and the manager who signed him – Jan Molby – was sacked as they were stuck in mid-table. However, Peter Taylor's arrival sparked consecutive promotions and Brown has completed the job by taking the biggest step of all. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Ashbee as he basked in the glory of finally reaching the Premier League after 15 years of trying.
Q:WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN LIKE IN HULL?
A:The place has gone absolutely mental. I have been on a couple of open-top bus rides around the city before when we won promotion but this time was totally different. It was estimated that around 100,000 people came out to celebrate and it was amazing. When you have been out walking round the streets there have been old people coming up to me and thanking me saying it means so much to them as they have been supporting Hull for years and that is when you know just how special this is. In fact, just before I answered the phone to you, the paper boy has had my boots off me! He asked me about three months ago and I have just given them to him and he is chuffed! Football is big in this city.
Q:IT WILL BENEFIT THE CITY AS A WHOLE WON'T IT?
A:I have read that it will bring something like £15m worth of revenue into the city, which is undergoing a massive regeneration at present. As a city, Hull tends to get a bad press but I have been living here for six years and it is a good place with good people. It is developing al the time and hopefully this will just increase the profile of the place.
Q:WHEN YOU SIGNED FOR HULL SIX YEARS AGO DID YOU EVER THNK YOU WOULD BE A PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER?
A:Not in my time here. Not many people stay at a club for six years nowadays and when I joined we were still playing at the old Boothferry Park. There is a massive difference nowadays playing at the KC Stadium but the club was only going one way. They bought in Peter Taylor – the ex-England manager and there was a real feelgood factor about the place that has continued.
Q:WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF LAST SEASON FOR YOU?
A:As a big Birmingham City supporter it was undoubtedly winning away at West Bromwich Albion 2-1. That gave me a massive amount of satisfaction as I have still got a lot of friends and family in the area.
Q:WILL YOU BE A REGULAR PART OF HULL'S PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE HAVING PLAYED IN LEAGUE TWO WITH THE CLUB?
A:I hope so, but no-one knows and the gaffer isn't daft. He has made good decisions so far so I will have to wait and see what goes on. Of course, I am looking to play in the Premier League and I would be very disappointed if I didn't play any Premier League games with the club.
Q:HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WORKING WITH PHIL BROWN?
A:He is top man. We managed to survive last season down to his efforts and he got the job on the back of that and it has mushroomed from there. The gaffer is extremely well-organised and very meticulous. There is no stone left unturned in the pursuit of success and I have no doubt it will be exactly the same again next season. We know everything about our opponents and training is spot on as is everything from the travel to dietary requirements. All the players have to worry about is playing on a match day and you can't ask for any more than that.
Q:WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT FOREIGN COACHES AND PLAYERS – THIS HAS BEEN A REAL SUCCESS STORY FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL HASN’T IT?
A:You have got Brian Horton as assistant manager and Steve Parkin as first team coach so very much so. Both have worked at the top end of the English game but Brian has also managed at Macclesfield whilst Steve had been the boss at Rochdale and Mansfield. It didn't quite work out for the gaffer at Derby so I think all of them came here hungry for success. The coaching and preparation is first class and of the highest calibre so it proves that we have god coaches in England. The manager believes in what he is trying to do and he has been backed by the chairman – Paul Duffen - and the end result is there for everyone to see.
Q:IF I TALK TO YOU IN 12 MONTHS TIME WILL HULL CITY STILL BE A PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB?
A:I think we will still be a Premier League club. This is a big club that was getting 15-16,000 when we were in League Two. The public have always held footballers in high regard in the city at whatever level you play and there is a collective will to succeed. Some clubs have come up and spent £50m but I would rather look at the likes of Reading and Wigan who survived in their first season without spending a lot compared to others. The trick is to do that and then build on it like Wigan have done. We are not kidding ourselves as I am sure we will be amongst the favourites to go down but we will give it our best shot. We have a young, hungry manager who will need to be ruthless as he has been during his first two years here when he needs to be. There will be casualties along the way but I am sure the gaffer will get a squad capable of surviving.
