MIDDLESBROUGH 28/09, 3:00PM
Wednesday head to the Riverside on Saturday ahead of an intriguing clash between two established Championship sides both recently managed by new Owls boss Garry Monk.
Boro have been fortunate enough to have many household names grace the pitch at both Ayresome Park and their newer home, one in particular who very few have gone on to enjoy finer careers is Graeme Souness.
Although Souness' time in England began with Tottenham, he actually made his maiden league appearance with Middlesbrough. Following an impressive loan spell in the North American Soccer League with Montreal Olympique, Stanley Anderson saw fit to spend £30,000 on the young Scotsman.
Within a matter of months, Jack Charlton took over at Boro and immediately saw Souness' talent. The tough-tackling midfielder became a lynchpin in the side and cited partnership with fellow Scott Bobby Murdoch was one that taught him the most throughout his distinguished playing career.
Souness was an integral member of the 1973/74 promotion-winning squad, his finest hour being a hat-trick against Wednesday on the last day of that memorable season.
Ultimately, his consistently outstanding form and leadership qualities led to Liverpool making a then record-breaking bid of £350,000 to secure his services — and the rest is history.
HULL 01/10, 7:45PM
The Tigers host Wednesday's first October fixture in this their third season back in the Championship.
Prior to that in not too distant but richer times. Hull enjoyed a memorable 2013/14 campaign in which they reached the FA Cup final and qualified for the Europa League as runners-up at Wembley.
It was Everton's defeat to Manchester City in May 2014 that ensured the Toffees could not catch Arsenal in the top four and provided the virtue of European football to the East Yorkshire side for the very first time.
The cup final was Hull's maiden appearance on the big stage in English football facing an Arsenal side making a record-equalling high of 18 final appearances.
And the underdogs started the game in fantastic form, racing into a 2-0 lead within 10 minutes as centre backs James Chester and Curtis Davies ripped up the pre-match formbook.
Arsenal were stunned and the Tigers were on course to provide a monumental FA Cup shock. However, and not for the first timer the Gunners clawed their way back with goals from Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny in the regulation 90 minutes before an extra time winner from Aaron Ramsey finally broke Hull hearts.
Peter Jones
@PeterKennyJones
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