HE WAS a hero on the Boulevard terraces, playing for Hull FC in the 1950s and 1960s.
And today, at the age of 82, Johnny Whiteley is putting on his boots to play in a rugby match at the KC Stadium.
Mr Whiteley will be up against the likes of Hull FC coach Peter Gentle and former Hull City player and manager Nick Barmby at the Black and Whites family fun day, from noon.
"I've been loosening up ahead of the game and am looking forward to stiff-arming Nick Barmby if he comes near me to teach him how hard the game is," he joked.
"I'm looking forward to it. Although the body might not do it like it used to, the brain is still there, so I'm hoping to find little places other people wouldn't."
The match is a curtain-raiser to the Hull FC under-19s clash with Leeds Rhinos.
It will see two star-studded teams made up of ex-players and pass-holders go head-to-head in a game of touch rugby league.
Home team captain-coach Peter Gentle also includes first-team conditioner and former Widnes player Paul Devlin, plus ex-player, coach and commentator David Doyle- Davidson and Hull FC owner Adam Pearson in his starting line-up.
Joining Mr Whiteley, Hull FC's record appearance maker, will be Lee Radford and 2005 Challenge Cup Final winner Motu Tony.
Both teams will then be taken up to a full complement by 16 supporters who have won the chance to take to the field alongside their heroes, as well as two students from event sponsors Bishop Burton College.
"It should be a good day and quite a relaxed atmosphere with the current form of Hull FC at the minute," said Mr Whiteley.
"It is a wonderful idea. I don't live in the past but I do draw on the past. Present-day footballers don't communicate with the public as they used to.
"When we were kids, we lived in the proximity of the Boulevard and rubbed shoulders with the public.
"We also had local jobs – I worked on the fish docks.
"If I had a bad game, I would be booed at work. If I had a good game, I would be a hero and would be served first in the shops."
The family fun day is an extension to the meet the players' event for season pass holders.
Pass holders will have the chance to take part in a host of activities, including goal-kicking on the KC Stadium pitch, stadium tours and meeting the players.
John Harrison, 37, of west Hull, will get as close as anyone to the players.
The Hull FC pass-holder has been picked as number one for the legends' match.
"It is a dream come true for me to play on the KC Stadium pitch and to play alongside Peter Gentle and Nick Barmby," he said.
"I'm not so much looking forward to facing the likes of Lee Radford. He's a bit bigger than me."
There will also be the chance to relive the best bits of the 2005 Challenge Cup Final. Visitors will also be able to get pictures with the Challenge Cup and Super League trophies.
James Clark, head of communications, media and marketing at Hull FC, said: "It's a great opportunity for us to host an event at the KC Stadium and add real value to the season pass holders, who are the lifeblood of the club.
"The various activities are unique, along with the chance to meet the first-team squad, but certainly the real highlight will be the Heroes game and the chance to see the under-19s play at our home ground.
"It is a great opportunity for our young players and, on the whole, the perfect way to showcase all that is good about this club at the moment."
The under-19s fixture between Hull FC and Leeds starts at 2.30pm. Non-pass-holders can attend the game for £2 by entering the ground at the South West corner from 2pm.
