354 Wilf Hassall

Biography

Versatile wideman Wilfred “Wlif” Hassall grew up in Prestwich near Manchester and played junior football as a teenager for Brindley Heath before serving in the Royal Marines in North Africa and Sicily during World War Two. He played forces representative football as an inside right and outside right and came to the attention of Hull City, who signed him on amateur terms in June 1946 – he accepted professional terms a few months later. Wilf made his debut early in the season and was a support player throughout much of the 1946/47 season, joining the forward line on both flanks as required. He scored his first City goal against New Brighton in October 1946 and a second goal followed in January 1947 against Southport. As the season wore on Hassall was given a few games at full back in the Reserves and by the end of the season manager Frank Buckley had given Wilf five first team starts at right back and left back.

Wilf spent the 1947/48 season as a first team regular alternating between right back and left back, though by March 1948 he had moved back to the forward line and scored his third (and final) City goal against New Brighton. In April 1948 City played Mansfield Town, lining up for the first time since manager Buckley’s resignation, and early in the game Hassall took a kick to the knee. Although (or maybe because) he played on, the ligament damage was severe and Hassall spent eight months on the sidelines, returning to Reserve team football in December 1948.

When Hassall returned to first team action in September 1949 the club had seen major changes – Raich Carter was now manager, promotion had been won and City were competing at the upper end of the Division Two table. Wilf was used as auxiliary full back for much of the 1949/50 season and got a run of seven games in December 1949 and January 1950 that included four FA Cup ties. It wasn’t until October 1950 that Hassall won a regular first team place, taking over at right back from Scotsman Alex Gibson. This started a run of 94 senior matches over two years in which Hassall was absent for only five fixtures, a time that spanned the demise of Raich Carter and the appointment of new manager Bob Jackson in June 1952. Hassall dropped out of the City first team in November 1952 and made only three further starts before leaving the club in the 1953 close season.

Hassall joined Southern League side Worcester City in July 1953 and spent two seasons in the Midlands before transferring to Wisbech Town in July 1955. After two seasons playing Midland League football for the Cambridgeshire side Hassall returned to the East Riding and spent three seasons playing for Midland League side Goole Town. In August 1960 he moved to Yorkshire League side Bridlington Town and played a further two seasons before he hung up his boots in May 1962 and became manager at Yorkshire League side Hull Brunswick, where he was assisted by player-coach and former Tigers stalwart Billy Bly. Wilf left his managerial role in May 1966 and ended his involvement with football. Hassall remained in Hull, living on Hessle High Road and working for a caravan manufacturer in Hessle. He died in the city in June 1998.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 23 September 1923, Prestwich
Hull City First Game: 16 September 1946, Gateshead H (Division Three North), 22 years, 358 days old
Hull City Final Game: 24 January 1953, Swansea Town A (Division Two), 29 years, 123 days old

Clubs

Brindley Heath (1939), Hull City (1946-1953), Worcester City (1953-1955), Wisbech Town (1955-1957), Goole Town (1957-1960), Bridlington Town (1960-1962)

Hull City Record

Career: 157 apps, 3 goals