Hull City Council (HCC) has begun demolition work at the former home of Hull FC rugby league team in order to make way for a new academy.

The Boulevard, which was last used by the club in 2003 before it moved to the KC Stadium, has fallen into disrepair and now represents a health and safety risk, while also having become a target for vandals. HCC has announced that original foundation stones from the stadium have been retrieved and will be used in a memorial, while the rugby posts will be donated to West Hull FC Rugby Club.

A fourth academy under the Building Schools for the Future scheme is to be built on the site of the stadium, which was used by Hull FC for 107 years before being used for amateur and youth rugby and greyhound racing. Pete Allan, chair of supporters' group FC Voices, said: "It will be a sad day for every fan of our club when the bulldozers move in, for they will be removing what had been, since 1895, the home of the 'Airlie Birds' and the spiritual home of hundreds of thousands of Hull FC supporters.

"The creation of a fitting memorial as part of the new development will put down a marker for future generations, and in the coming months FC Voices will continue to work closely with the council to ensure this objective is realised."