FORMER Hull FC team chief Phil Windley is enjoying having a hands-on coaching role once again after taking charge of last season’s National Conference League Division Two champions East Leeds.
The 63-year-old who also played for the Black and Whites (as well as having short stints at the old Scarborough club, then Hull KR) and was at the Hull helm for eleven months in 1995, was in the Easy Road dug-out for the last six games of 2025.
He will now steer East Leeds in the second tier of the amateur game’s flagship league.
He brings a wealth of experience to an opportunity which arose pretty much by chance as Windley, who is Hull-based, was on East Leeds’ touchline primarily to watch his sons Callum and Elliott, who joined mainly through Callum’s friendship with Kane O’Reilly when both played for Oxford in League One.
Windley, who spent the early stages of his Hull reign in joint control with Russ Walker, revealed: “I was happy enjoying my rugby from the sidelines, then the coaching situation developed. I was asked to help; I enjoyed it and I’m delighted to be at the helm for our forthcoming season.
“I’m not setting any targets regarding where we will finish in the league. I do have one other aim, which is to strengthen links with our youth section – and to help ensure that players who don’t sign with professional clubs progress as a matter of course to our open-age teams.
“I want to create an environment where lads who have missed out on the professional game can enjoy putting something back into East Leeds and the local community.
“I aim to get the right DNA through the entire club, an environment where players can also develop as people.
“The message for our juniors is that it’s not all about winning, it’s about development. If we can achieve that, we will be in a good place and results will take care of themselves.”
Windley also coached West Hull in the closing years of the last century, notably reaching a BARLA National Cup final in which Oldham St Annes edged a classic.
He has also worked in the Hull Academy and was a member of Australian David Waite’s high-performance team at the Rugby Football League before leading England Under 16s and Under 18s. He also had a stint as a consultant at Hull KR.
“I’ve been out for a fair while and I’m glad to be back,” he added.
“While away from Rugby League I’ve been involved in schools, where the work can be very fulfilling.
“Now though, my main focus is on East Leeds, and on establishing a proper rapport with our youth and junior teams.”