Rob Hulse - Fans memories of a Leeds United history maker
Rob Hulse joined an elite band of players when he netted twice on his debut against Reading at Elland Road in February 2005.
Some 62 players had managed to score on their Leeds debut but when loanee scored his second he joined an even more exclusive group.
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Hide AdOnly two players have achieved that feat since 1980 with Carl Shutt and Bobby Davison the only United signings to mark their debuts by netting more than once. Shutt grabbed a hat-trick on his debut against Bournemouth in April 1989 while Davison bagged a brace against Swindon Town in November 1987.
And Hulse's immediate goal-den impact also helped him became an instant hero with the Elland Road faithful.
The success of his loan spell led to a £1.1 million transfer to the Whites.
And he would go on to score 20 goals in 51 games and was the club's top scorer with 14 in the 2005/06 season.
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Hide AdStand out goals included a hat-trick against Derby County at Elland Road in September 2005, a late equaliser against Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2006 and a header at Deepdale in May 2006 which helped Leeds reach the Championship play-off final.
After play off final heartache at the Millennium Stadium he was transferred to Sheffield United for £2.2 million where again he made an instant impact. He scored on his Blades debut against Liverpool, the first goal of the 2006/07 Premier League season.
Your YEP has asked the Elland Road faithful to share memories of a striker who will be fondly remembered by a generation of Whites watchers.
Responses included:
John Conner - "I watched this guys debut. Pretty sure inflatable spider man was doing the rounds in the crowd. Top lad. Served us well in the dark days."
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Hide AdJames Amos - "Shame he wasn’t around longer. Any player any good was soon moved on. Plenty for Leeds, an away day at Watford. Then even when at Derby scored in front of Kop refused to celebrate class."
James Mcguigan - "Preston away in the playoffs 06 to send us to Cardiff only to bottle it in the final. Absolute scenes that night!"
Curtis Jones - "Great finisher and brave."
Adam Grant - "Play-off semi-final goal vs Preston. I went mental when I was a kid."
Dave Scotson - "Does anyone remember Rob Hulse scoring a late equaliser away v Wigan FA Cup in January 2006? I was in the main stand and went crazy when we scored and nearly got beat up but got thrown out. As I was getting escorted, all the Leeds fans sang 'we're Leeds and we're proud of it'."
Les Irwin - "I rated him back in the day."
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Hide AdNathan Hayward - "Hat-trick vs Derby. September 28, 2005. I always remember that game as me and my dad had to sneak out to the game without my younger brother knowing!"
Stephen Reynolds - "First thing that comes to mind was the goal at Preston in the play offs in 2006. We were going mad in the away end."
Matthew Wreford - "I would of loved him to have been with us longer. Always had a goal in him."
Josh Peach - "Had a very good debut."
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