Hull KR to celebrate a special 100 year anniversary in 2026

2026 will mark 100 years since Harry Woods wrote the words and music for "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)”.

Many popular iterations and versions have been recorded over the years, including for film appearances, sung by Al Jolson in 1926, who recorded it again in 1947.

In 2026, Hull KR will celebrate the anniversary of the song, which has be adopted by fans on the terraces for 100 years.

Use of 'The Robins', can be traced back to the 1800s, and is believed to be the first UK sports team to adopt an animal based nickname.

From 1926 until today, 'When the Red, Red Robin’ has been sung on the terraces by supporters, and is the one constant at the club. Home grounds may change, badges evolve, but the metaphorical baton handed over by generation after generation is the words to the song.

The club are proud to celebrate this milestone, with the 2026 home kit nodding to the anniversary within the shirt detail.

The original nickname, bestowed on the club in our very early seasons because of the red band across the chest of their jerseys, was ‘the Redbreasts’.

But by the end of the decade, probably due to the association of the words Robin and redbreast, notably in the 18th century nursery rhyme ‘Little Robin Redbreast’, the word Robin was added and the club became commonly known as ‘the Robin Redbreasts’, particularly in the local press. Until early in the 20th century, the nicknames ‘Robins’, ‘Redbreasts’ and ‘Robin Redbreasts’ were all in use as nicknames for the club.

However, the redbreast nicknames gradually started to fall out of use, and by the start of the first World War, the club was known simply as ‘the Robins’.

The version played on matchdays and known by supporters is a 1980s recording by the squad at that time and can be found on YouTube here.

The song also helped inspire the name of the American casual dining restaurant chain Red Robin which fans can visit in Las Vegas, and is also used by Charlton Athletic, who play Billy Cotton’s version on a gameday.

The 2026 Home Shirt has been teased over the last 24 hours and is available to order now at hullkr.co.uk/shop, with the full reveal coming across the club's social media channels at 6pm tonight.