The free transfer that unearthed a Hull City legend: View | OneFootball

The term 'legend' is often dished out to players in modern football, at times with no real substance behind the reasoning.

However, that cannot be said for Ian Ashbee and his status at Hull City, having gone on a nine-year journey which saw him go from a League Two midfielder to the captain of a Premier League outfit.

Ian Ashbee's transfer to Hull City

At the time of Ashbee's arrival, City were months away from their move to the KC (now MKM) Stadium in 2002, with Jan Molby embarking on what would prove to be his maiden, and only transfer window in East Yorkshire.

After a six-year stint at Cambridge United, the then 25-year-old was out of contract at the Abbey Stadium, and moved to Boothferry Park alongside a plethora of other signings, which also included future cult heroes Stuart Green and Stuart Elliott.

Such was the confidence that Hull would go on to make significant progress, Molby's assistant - Gary Barnett - stated: "I think he sees coming to Hull City as a very big challenge because, no disrespect to Cambridge, but they are a smaller club than us and I'm sure Ian will notice the difference."

However, Ashbee's initial impression on the Tigers' faithful couldn't have got off to a worse start, after being sent off on his debut against Southend United, before all would eventually be forgiven.

Ashbee and Hull's rise up the divisions

Under Molby's successor - Peter Taylor - City would achieve their first promotion in 19 years in the 2003/04 season, and it would be Ashbee who sealed it, with a stunning curling effort late on in a 2-1 victory away to Yeovil Town, finishing second in Division Three.

The following season saw the Tigers' complete back-to-back promotions, with the combative midfielder still at the beating heart of Taylor's midfield, meaning Hull would play second tier football for the first time since 1991.

However, his teammates would have to make do without his services for almost an entire Championship campaign after suffering a serious knee injury, although according to the Birmingham-born captain: "It only made what we achieved even better.”

After Taylor's departure, the 2006/07 season was one of inconsistency for Hull, but upon his return, Ashbee started all 35 of his league appearances under Phil Parkinson and latterly Phil Brown as they escaped relegation with a game to spare, defeating Cardiff City 1-0 at Ninian Park to subsequently relegate Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United.

Ian Ashbee's crowning moment as a Hull City legend

Ultimately, the two seasons which followed would make Ashbee a history-maker in HU3, having gone on to achieve what no other captain of the club in its prior 104 years of existence could.

The 2007/08 season also saw the midfielder net crucial headers in victories over Barnsley and Crystal Palace on top of a goal in an early-season defeat at Blackpool.

However, his and the squad's overall mentality saw them through to the Premier League, thanks to Dean Windass' infamous volley at Wembley in the Championship Play-Off Final against Bristol City.

After so many years of dreaming, the City of Hull finally had a top-flight team, with Ashbee the first to get his hands on the trophy in the Royal Box, before eventually becoming the first player in the history of English Football to captain the same club in all four professional divisions, putting the crowning glory on his and the club's rapid four-year rise from the fourth tier into the Premier League by doing so in their 2-1 victory against Fulham on August 16th 2008.

“To do it in a place I call home now was incredible. I came here in 2002, my children were born and raised here and I still live here. It’ll always be special to me. My son is a Hull City fan and that’s how I want it to be," Ashbee told Hull Live back in 2022.

He was also joined by Boaz Myhill, Andy Dawson and Ryan France in a similar regard, as the trio had also completed the same journey and made their own significant contributions along the way.

Ashbee made 31 appearances in Hull's maiden top-flight season, with his only league goal coming in a 2-1 defeat at the MKM Stadium against Blackburn Rovers, as well as scoring in an FA Cup success over Millwall.

The captain's final seasons in Black and Amber

Ashbee would then succumb to a second serious injury, this time against Aston Villa in May 2009, which would eventually rule him out of the entire 2009/10 season.

It was clear at times that his on-pitch leadership was missing, as Hull were relegated in 19th-place, also with the backdrop of serious financial problems.

Although many big names had departed, the club legend remained upon their return to the Championship, and marked his return with a goal against Swansea City in Nigel Pearson's first competitive match in charge.

Despite the side's overall inconsistencies in the first half-season following relegation, Ashbee remained a consistent fixture in the lineup under the former Leicester boss, before joining Preston North End in January 2011, re-uniting with the aforementioned Brown.

In total, the midfielder made 264 appearances in Black and Amber, scoring 12 goals, and, with his overall achievements, was the free transfer that unearthed a Hull City legend.