Hull City forward Kyle Joseph's tears of joy and pain as Tigers produce one of best-ever EFL comeback stories
FOR a fair chunk of May, Kyle Joseph was in floods of tears.
After his ill-timed injury in the fateful second leg of Hull City’s Championship semi-final against Millwall on May 11, the tears were ones of personal disappointment.
Minus Joseph, the Tigers found the road to Wembley and 12 days later, those in amber and black were celebrating promotion to the Premier League.
Joseph would play no on-pitch part in it, while his ankle issue also precluded him from jetting over to Las Vegas for the club’s lavish post-season party paid for by club owner Acun Ilicali.
It did not prevent him from being overcome with emotion following City’s final win over east coast rivals Middlesbrough.
Unlike across London at the New Den, he was weeping with joy.
His father, an avid Millwall supporter, had also come to terms with things after his son’s club had ended the Lions’ top-flight dreams just under a fortnight earlier.
It was certainly a couple of weeks which the Joseph family will never forget.
As for his dad, Joseph said: "He's cheered up and is happy. I saw him, my missus and daughter and my daughter's godparents (after the final) and as soon as I saw them, they were crying.
“They have seen how tough the journey has been and how much of a struggle it's been at times. Days (like Wembley) are why you do it.
"I think that is what got us over the line - character. We had a bit of a drop-off towards the end of the season, but you would have never known that in the dressing room.
“We had so much character and belief there. We've been written off all year and things didn't go our way and stuff like that.
“There was obviously the ‘circus’ that went on in terms of who we were playing (with the events of Spygate).
"We didn't have clarity on what was going on. We just found out as everyone else found out.
"We got put on the side and didn't get thought about. But we showed how strong the group is. This was the last thing thrown at us and we ended up doing it (being promoted).
"Any other group wouldn't have thrown it off, but we just knew how special it was and how strong we are."
Hull’s story is made all the more remarkable by the fact that 385 days prior to stepping out at Wembley for a shot at the big time, the East Yorkshire outfit were pitted in a final-day date with destiny to avoid dropping into League One.
Five players who started the game at Portsmouth on the last day of the 2024-25 campaign lined up from the off just over a year on at the home of football in Ivor Pandur, Lewie Coyle, John Egan, Charlie Hughes and Matt Crooks.
Another player from that City XI at Fratton Park, Joe Gelhardt came on from the bench against Boro at Wembley.
In the space of just over 12 months, the Tigers produced one of the most stirring comeback tales in the EFL in recent years.
Such stories are good for the soul and help explain why the Championship is one of the most meritocratic and life-affirming divisions in world football.
One where you can go from relegation contenders to promotion wannabes in the space of a season - if everything falls into place.
Bought in to bolster City’s survival fight in the winter window of 2025, Joseph is now part of a Premier League club. Funny old game.
"It's crazy. I just can't believe it. Wow. Premier League,” the former Blackpool forward observed.
"It was difficult after the (Millwall) game and I probably cried for about three days straight, but I got my head around it quickly and all the boys got around me. I had so much faith in them.
"I'm just so proud of all the players and staff. I remember coming in last January and just seeing the state of everything."
"Days (like Wembley) are the reason why you do it.
"I just burst into tears and halfway down the steps, I just forgot about my ankle.
"It was so good to see everyone celebrate and be so happy and so together.
"It was unreal in the dressing room, just pure happiness and everyone was so happy for each other.
"I've said it so many times how special it feels. It's a special time to be at this club and I am so grateful that I've been able to be part of it."
As Joseph and his team-mates come to terms with their colossal achievement, the next key diary date for everyone connected with the Tigers is Friday, June 19.
That’s the designated Premier League fixture release day for 2026-27, with the schedule announced at 10am that morning.
The season starts on Saturday, August 22, one week later than the 2025-26 campaign to allow for 89 clear days from the end of last season and 33 days from the 2026 World Cup final.