It is with sincere sadness that the Club has to announce the passing of our friend, coach and supporter, Johnny Whiteley.
Such is Johnny’s standing, this will be only one of many well deserved tributes to a truly great man who served his City and his community selflessly for many years.

Johnny’s achievements in Rugby League are the stuff of legend. John is the only man to win the Ashes with Great Britain RL as a player and a coach. John was never dropped throughout his career as a player at Hull FC, with 417 appearances and scoring 156 tries. John coached both Hull FC and Hull KR and both Clubs nominated John for the MBE, which he was awarded in the 2005 New Year’s Honours. In 2018 Johnny was incorporated into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.

Initially, Johnny’s involvement in local Rugby Union had to be kept under the radar. RU was still an amateur sport (unless you played in the south and were any good!) and RL players and coaches were banned from participating.

I first met Johnny in 1979 when playing for Marist RUFC Colts. Johnny was helping coach the Club but, someone locally ‘shopped’ John and Marist to Twickenham who were not amused. But, as with all good Northerners, the powers that be were listened to and promptly ignored.
Throughout the 1980’s, Johnny entertained many RL, RU & Football Clubs at his Gym, next to Eureka Club on Hawthorn Avenue. Hull & East Riding RUFC trained at John’s Gym on a Tuesday night. We would run down to John’s Gym from the Circle on Anlaby Road and after an hour or so of one of John’s sessions, we would take a very slow jog back.

At Hull Ionians, Johnny started helping out as coach/conditioner when we were still at the Old Clubhouse. Johnny’s involvement with the Club at that time was still against RU Laws but, times do change and, In 1995 RU was declared professional. The Hypocrites at ‘Twickers’ finally had to accept that RU players would actually declare that they were being paid for their services.

Also in 1995, Hull Ionians new facility was built and Johnny started regular Monday night fitness sessions in the Gym. All who took part benefitted from John’s encouragement and enthusiasm. John’s sessions were always hard and demanding but John had the knack of making it enjoyable and you simply did not realise just how much you were putting in.
John also provided many entertaining summer training sessions, which usually involved Spout Hill and, John was part of the Club coaching team when we appeared at Twickenham in the 2000 NPI Cup Final.

John continued to attend many home fixtures and events over the years and, had been a regular supporter of the Club until a recent fall when he broke his femur and was admitted to hospital.

John passed away peacefully on Sunday 13th February 2022.

Johnny’s magnificent achievements in Rugby League are well documented but, probably his greatest achievement of all will be his legacy and, the fact that he was liked, listened to and respected by all who met him.

Superlatives are banded about all to often these days and, as such, they lose some of their significance. However, the word ‘Legend’ was surely created for this likes of Johnny Whiteley.

Chris Taylor
Secretary
Hull Ionians RUFc