The Johnson Brothers

Hull Harriers had last won the Hull and District Cross-Country Championship in 1908 and, in period immediately following the Great War, often played second fiddle to Hull Health and Strength Harriers. This popular club, founded during the first decade of the twentieth century, had its club house at Dairycoates on Hessle Road and in the early 1920s the Johnson Brothers, Alec and Frank, were amongst its best runners. In 1924 Hull Health and Strength Harriers were wound up but by this time Alec Johnson had joined the RAF where he became the mile and three mile champion. After demobilisation around 1928 he joined Hull Harriers and proved virtually unbeatable in local cross-country events. The Johnson brothers were great sportsmen and well-known in local athletic circles. Alec's brother George was another of the club stars and took the Grimsby and District title amongst other honours whilst Ted Johnson was a great swimmer and boxer. Cliff Johnson, another brother, played professional football with York City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale and Torquay.

In 1927 the club had been placed amongst the medals in the Hull and District for the first time in some years and the following year took second team place in both the Hull and District and Grimsby and District Championships. The Johnsons played an important role in furthering this progress over the 1928/9 season when George took first place in the Hull and the Beverley and District Junior Cross-Country Championships whilst Alec won the senior races at Hull, Beverley and Grimsby Championships. In 1930, after a break of more than twenty years, the club once more won the Hull and District and Beverley and District Senior team Championships. The club had thus won two of the three principal local competitions. Only the Grimsby and District eluded them. The season ended on a high note and there was an air of confidence that even better things could be achieved next year.