High-flying Hull after more capital gains

It is a decade since Hull City propped up the Football League. It is five years since they were defeated at home by Mansfield Town. The most improbable rise in the recent history of English football was capped when Hull spent the international break in third place in the Premier League, sandwiched by the superpowers of Liverpool and Arsenal.

For a club who toiled for 104 years before securing top-flight football, it marks a remarkable change in fortune. For the derided east coast city, which has been pronounced the worst in Britain, it is a novel experience to be fashionable. Hull face West Ham today, looking for a hat-trick of successive victories against London opponents. With wins at Arsenal and Tottenham, the former perhaps the most unlikely result in the Premier League since Barnsley took three points off Liverpool at Anfield in Nov 1997, Hull have captured the imagination.

"It's scary, the rise we've had," said Andy Dawson, the long-serving left-back who has enjoyed three promotions in his five years at the KC Stadium. "To get promotion after promotion is amazing. Now the first seven games have been surreal. Every tipster expected us to struggle, but we had a belief in ourselves that we could do well. To win at the Emirates Stadium must go down as one of the biggest wins in the club's history."

That is an understatement. Hull's 2-1 triumph was notable not just for the result, but for the positive approach of manager Phil Brown and his team. "We went with two up front and Geovanni just behind them," Dawson explained. If received wisdom is that promoted teams need to assemble a side of scrappers, defend doggedly and hope, the presence of the mercurial Geovanni in Hull's ranks is an indication that they have a more attacking attitude.

He conjured a superb equaliser from 25 yards at the Emirates Stadium. A magnificent free-kick at White Hart Lane, struck from still further, was equally memorable. "That's what you need, a little bit of quality," Dawson said. "Geo can do that little bit extra special." Strange as it is to see a footballer with Barcelona, Brazil and Hull on his CV, Geovanni's teammates have other unlikely tales to tell.

Along with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and captain Ian Ashbee, Dawson is a member of a select band to have represented the club in all four divisions. "We're very lucky," he added. "Managers have given us opportunities and we have taken them. We're showing we can do it." Yet while ambition has been evident since Hull moved to the KC Stadium in 2002, Dawson points to factors behind their progress. "It's happened in stages," he said. "When I came to the club I remember walking around the KC with Peter Taylor. It was a Championship or a Premiership stadium."

Under Taylor's stewardship, Hull went up in successive seasons. Yet after replacing Phil Parkinson, Brown's first task was to avert relegation from the Championship. Last season provided further statements of intent. Following the takeover by chairman Paul Duffen, the recruitment of the club's first £1million (Dh3.6m) player, Caleb Folan, followed by the eye-catching arrival of Jay-Jay Okocha, and promotion via the play-offs. "To do it at Wembley in front of 90,000 was amazing," Dawson said.

The sight of the gold-and-black hordes celebrating in the capital has become common. Hull now enjoy considerable vocal backing, suggesting a fanbase to sustain a Premier League club. "The support is there; we're taking thousands away from home," added the 29-year-old Dawson. The sceptics still expect Hull's season to end in relegation. The romantics, however, are savouring their journey from obscurity. rjolly@thenational.ae

RESULTS

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
Winner: Miqyaas, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Speedy Move, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice

WITHIN%20SAND

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Herc's Adventures

Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

RESULTS

Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden

Explained

Who are the bidoon?

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The Programme

Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.