'Vote of confidence' John Cartwright inspired by Hull FC passion as member totals grow

John Cartwright believes Hull FC’s latest membership milestone is a 'vote of confidence' from the club’s supporters. The Black and Whites now have over 6,000 members for the 2025 season, and all despite the struggles of recent years.

Cartwright is well aware of those struggles, with the Australian full of respect for those who have backed the club yet again as they look to right some wrongs and move forward into 2025 with a clean slate and positive mindset.

Learning the club’s history and heritage, Cartwright, who has been involved in professional rugby league for over four decades, has stated that he got 'goosebumps' visiting the club for the first time, taking in the university and MKM Stadium, with the head coach confident that his Hull team are capable of achieving some special things over the next three years.

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"It's a great sign," Cartwright said on Hull’s member totals. "I know what a famous club Hull is. I've been a mad and tragic rugby league supporter since I could walk, and I remember watching the Challenge Cup finals as kids and the Test matches against Great Britain growing up.

"I certainly know the history of Hull, and it speaks volumes for the club and it speaks volumes for our supporters that they're putting their hard-earned down for us. It's a vote of confidence. I'll certainly be making all the players aware of how famous this club is and how important our supporters are that they share any success that we have. They certainly deserve it after a lean couple of years."

He continued: "Hull has been a successful club over the years; it's been going a long, long time, and you walk through the corridors of here (the stadium and university), and over at the offices, it gives me goosebumps to see what the club is capable of. The club is doing so well in that department, and the players are going to be well aware that we've got to go out and win not only for ourselves but for our supporters."

Landing in the U.K. at the end of October, Cartwright has already met plenty of Hull FC fans around the city and is inspired by the passion shown so far. He explained: "The first day I was here, I just walked down the road, I was on my own, I had just had a beer and something to eat at the pub. A fella came up to me and introduced himself, and he just could not wait for the season to start.

"In Australia, as soon as the football season finishes, everything gets depressed for a month, as they know they're going to be another five or six months without a game, and this fella just had nothing but excitement in his voice on the back of last year. That was my first interaction with anyone that I've met in Hull, and as I've been getting around town and doing some different things, there's been several fans who have shaken hands and wished me all the best, which is very encouraging."

For Cartwright, that connection with the club’s fans is so important, with the head coach already declaring how he wants Hull to continue to be a central part of the community, with a strong relationship with who they represent.

"It's how I grew up," he added. "I'm born and bred in Penrith. I played my whole life there and playing for Penrith; it wasn't just playing for your club; it was playing for your community. It makes me very proud, and I listened to those boys interviewed after Grand Finals, and the way they talk, they talk about community and how important it is.

"I remember days in Penrith after a game, local business people would say how their business would double sometimes on the back of a good win. I get the same sort of feel for the club here. We're away from everyone; we've got the enemy across the bridge, but outside of that, it's a long way to another Super League club. We have to use that to our advantage."

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