What it fails to mention is that the bloke ran 5 marathons in 7 days to raise the money to buy one of the top players in the world and bring him to Hull for two seasons. He was a good bloke but a typical Aussie coach who came over here full of a professional approach but who found the 'culture' within the British game hard to handle. Good luck to him another sad Fc story to report.
Here is an account of his 'homecoming' after his last marathon which was a night many will still remember.
Keep on Running Royce; 5 marathons in 7 days!
On Friday 2nd July 1993 Royce Simmons started his marathons, and the City Hall staff and I left a Hull Choral Union Concert to cheer him on, as he passed the City Hall at around 7-00pm accompanied by local boxer Steve Pollard. We went over the road and put some money in the buckets his followers were carrying, and Royce thanked us and commented that his feet were swollen and his toes had cramp, he conclude, “I have got to keep going though because our Kirk (his son of 10 years) did the first 13 miles with me today”
A few days later on Thursday 8th July 1993, we were all in the Banks Harbour public house on Beverley Road as Royce finished his 5th and final Marathon. As ‘Pray’ by new teenage sensations, Take That, blasted out from the juke box, Billy and I stood on chairs to see what was happening as to tumultuous applause, a rather dishevelled Royce entered a packed pub ‘Tired but happy’. When he’d got his breathe back and had a drink, he said that he’d raised enough money to sign his target, who he announced was ace play-maker Des Hasler the Australian International Half-Back. The place erupted and when a chorus of ‘Old Faithful’ finally subsided Royce, every optimistic went on to say, “That said we still need another player, so I’ll do another Marathon tomorrow if someone will put £20,000 in the pot!” Thankfully, for Royce at least, no one came forward.
It was estimated, but never confirmed, that he raised £30,000 in sponsorship in those seven days, and despite the achievements of legends like Roy Francis, Arthur Bunting, David Doyle Davidson and Brian Smith, if ever there was a bigger effort made by a Hull FC Coach, or a better example of someone ‘Going the extra mile’ (or 130) for his Club, I have not, to this day, heard about it!
What it fails to mention is that the bloke ran 5 marathons in 7 days to raise the money to buy one of the top players in the world and bring him to Hull for two seasons. He was a good bloke but a typical Aussie coach who came over here full of a professional approach but who found the 'culture' within the British game hard to handle. Good luck to him another sad Fc story to report.
Here is an account of his 'homecoming' after his last marathon which was a night many will still remember.
Keep on Running Royce; 5 marathons in 7 days!
On Friday 2nd July 1993 Royce Simmons started his marathons, and the City Hall staff and I left a Hull Choral Union Concert to cheer him on, as he passed the City Hall at around 7-00pm accompanied by local boxer Steve Pollard. We went over the road and put some money in the buckets his followers were carrying, and Royce thanked us and commented that his feet were swollen and his toes had cramp, he conclude, “I have got to keep going though because our Kirk (his son of 10 years) did the first 13 miles with me today”
A few days later on Thursday 8th July 1993, we were all in the Banks Harbour public house on Beverley Road as Royce finished his 5th and final Marathon. As ‘Pray’ by new teenage sensations, Take That, blasted out from the juke box, Billy and I stood on chairs to see what was happening as to tumultuous applause, a rather dishevelled Royce entered a packed pub ‘Tired but happy’. When he’d got his breathe back and had a drink, he said that he’d raised enough money to sign his target, who he announced was ace play-maker Des Hasler the Australian International Half-Back. The place erupted and when a chorus of ‘Old Faithful’ finally subsided Royce, every optimistic went on to say, “That said we still need another player, so I’ll do another Marathon tomorrow if someone will put £20,000 in the pot!” Thankfully, for Royce at least, no one came forward.
It was estimated, but never confirmed, that he raised £30,000 in sponsorship in those seven days, and despite the achievements of legends like Roy Francis, Arthur Bunting, David Doyle Davidson and Brian Smith, if ever there was a bigger effort made by a Hull FC Coach, or a better example of someone ‘Going the extra mile’ (or 130) for his Club, I have not, to this day, heard about it!
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Post subject: Re: Royce Simmons diagnosed with Alzheimers
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 12:26 pm
Chris71
Moderator
Joined: Jan 30 2004 Posts: 8317 Location: Never never land away with the fairies
Such sad news and know first hand what it's like for people that suffer with it having had both a grandparent suffer and now my dad. Thought he was a great club guy and as you say Wilf, he went above and beyond for the club we all love. I'm sure he'd have had much greater success with Hull had we been in a better position off the field at the time.
I really enjoy long walks especially when they are taken by people I don't like!
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