RUFC – Well Done, Hursty!

Today, Paul Hurst has gone into the Rotherham United record books as the player with the most appearances for the club.

He equalled the legendary Danny Williams record of 492 appearances on Tuesday in the FA Cup game with Forest Green Rovers (though I am sure that is one he will want to forget!) and today, against Shrewsbury Town, he went one better when he came on in the last few minutes of the game.

It was thought that he would get the record last season but an injury, which he says is the first serious one of his career, put paid to that.

Hursty has only ever played for The Millers and so far has played under seven managers, won two promotions, got two relegations and got a Winners Medal at Wembley in the Auto Windscreens Shield…

He told The Advertiser that he has some low moments being a Miller and names missing a penalty in a play-off game against Leyton Orient a particularly bad memory.

But the good times include the wins at Hillsborough and FA Cup games at Liverpool and the win over Southampton.

He says he will always be grateful to Phil Henson for giving him his first professional contract and debut and he has current assistant manager, John Breckin to thank for helping him convert from the left winger, that he started out at the club as, to a full back. He says he owes Breck and Billy Russell, who was Youth team manager at the time, a lot.

Of course, this probably won`t be the end of Hursty`s career and he says himself that he wants to play as many games as possible for the club and he says that what he has achieved will only sink in when he has hung up his boots and has time to sit and reflect on his career.

The player, who Paul has taken the record from, Danny Williams, had only praise for the small defender although when he was first told that his record had been equalled, incidentally on his eighty-third birthday, he said, ‘Gerraway!`

Speaking to The Star Star he said ‘I think it`s smashing! And, I`d like to say well done to the lad. It`s marvellous and if he could go on and get the 500 that would be a magnificent achievement. He`s obviously put a lot of work into it and been a loyal servant to the club.`

Chuckling he went on to say, ‘Mind he wouldn`t have had to come out of the pit at half eleven in the morning and go and play in the afternoon like I remember doing!`
Danny was a wing-half and actually played 621 times for the Millers but 129 were in war time.

Danny was disappointed the Millers didn`t get through to the next round of the FA Cup at Swindon, as he lives at Bournemouth and said he would have gone to the game. Not only did Danny play for the Millers he also managed them as well as Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon.

Paul Hurst’s All Time Playing Career
Rotherham 12-08-1993 Trainee
Lge apps 381+51 Goals 13
FA Cup apps 24+3 Goals 3
Lge Cup apps 11+3
Other apps 17+1

ALL AT ROTHERHAM VITAL WANT TO SEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO HURSTY AND HERE’S TO MANY MORE APPEARANCES IN A ROTHERHAM SHIRT