But what won’t fade quickly are the memorable moments brought about by a variety of stalwarts in Steve Bruce’s teams between 2012 and 2016, which saw them achieve heights that no other manager in the history of the club has been able to match or surpass.
Bruce has a reputation for bringing a plethora of expertise and experience to his teams, and that was undoubtedly needed in the summer of 2013 once promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed. And it’s safe to argue that The Tigers had a defensive behemoth for the next four years thanks to the £2.25 million contract they struck with Birmingham City. Curtis Davies was voted Blues’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season in his last season with the B9 team, before moving to East Yorkshire. He scored six goals in 2012–13, helping Lee Clark’s team finish 12th in the Championship.
Clark praised Davies as a “Premier League player in the Championship,” and after a string of outstanding performances that earned him the Player of the Year title from his new club, his remarks undoubtedly rang true during his debut season in Black and Amber. With such a strong work ethic essential to Hull’s eventual survival—a club record 16th place finish—the former Aston Villa defender fitted right in with the team’s workhorse members. On September 14, 2013, Davies scored the team’s first goal against Cardiff City.
Due to his early effect on the club, he was given the captain’s armband for seven games in a row before wearing it more frequently as the season went on. There was even discussion about a possible England call-up, which sadly never materialized. Davies’ outstanding play and flying prowess were also evident during Hull’s historic FA Cup run in 2014. Davies would play his final season with the team in 2016–17, making 29 appearances under Mike Phelan and Marco Silva as they were relegated back to the Championship. He then left the club for an undisclosed fee to join Derby County, where he would again be a fixture amid even more turmoil at Pride Park, and he would also play for a while at Cheltenham Town before retiring in 2024. For a huge deal of special occasions in HU3, Davies will always be remembered in the highest esteem. The three-time Sierra Leone international is always reciprocating in sharing his feelings with City supporters.
