Sir Tom Courtenay Backs Hull City Ahead of Wembley Final — Hull City Wembley Ticket Sales

Sir Tom Courtenay told Hull City players he has every faith in them before hull city wembley ticket sales, and he said they should be proud of themselves ahead of the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Hull City face Southampton on Saturday 23 May, with a Premier League place on the line.

Courtenay's Wembley message

"Football is exciting. It moves people. I have been impressed by this manager and players. They should be proud of themselves."

Courtenay, president of the Hull City Official Supporters Club, added: "I was impressed at the way the manager adjusted the team after the first leg [of the play-off semi-final against Millwall]. It really worked." His backing comes at a sharp point in Hull's season, with the club now one game from moving up to the top flight.

Jakirovic's turnaround

Sergej Jakirovic replaced Ruben Selles in May 2025, when Hull were facing the prospect of relegation to League One. That shift has carried them to Wembley, and it is the most direct reason Courtenay's praise lands now rather than months earlier.

The winner on 23 May will join Coventry and Ipswich in the Premier League next season. Courtenay said Southampton will be difficult to beat, and he pointed to their 2-1 FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City after they beat Arsenal in the quarter-final last month.

Southampton and the final

Southampton have been charged by the EFL over the so-called Spygate scandal, and the Independent Disciplinary Commission is due to hear the case on or before Tuesday. Even so, the EFL is working on the basis that the final will go ahead on 23 May.

Courtenay also brought the occasion back to his own history with the club. He said his first Hull City match was at Boothferry Park in 1945 when he was eight years old, and he added: "Hull City fans are very keen" and "I could never support any [other] team."