lives Hull City's FA Cup run and previews fifth round

Keane Lewis-Potter was just 13 years of age when he was sat in the stands at Wembley Stadium, watching on as a fan as his hometown team reached the final of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

Over 25,000 Hull City fans descended on the capital on 17 May 2014 as the Tigers prepared to face Arsenal for a chance to get their hands on the famous trophy.

And although the result didn’t go their way – slipping to a 3-2 defeat under the arch – it was an ‘absolutely amazing’ experience for a teenage Lewis-Potter.

“We played an Arsenal team who have gone on to win it so many times,” recalled Lewis-Potter. “It was crazy, to be honest. Seeing your club reach the FA Cup Final is absolutely out of this world. I don’t know how to describe it.

“It was something special. I’ve been fortunate to be at Wembley a few times to watch Hull. I’ve never played there myself. The day itself, seeing the fans and everyone from Hull travel to London to watch the team, it’s magical.

“Even being at the game against Sheffield United [in the semi-final] when they won 5-3 was an absolutely crazy game but sitting there as a fan and in my head thinking, ‘one day, I could be part of a team like that or actually play for the club’.”

Fast forward some five years to January 2019. Having worked his way through the academy ranks with the club, aged 17, the attacker was handed his professional debut for Hull City in the FA Cup, no less.

“We played Millwall away and I was only 17 at the time,” he said. “My first game in professional football was an unbelievable experience.

“I got the chance to travel with the first team. I think I had to do my initiation song the night before. I sang an Ed Sheeran song – it was probably ‘The A Team’. I got my debut the next day. It was a proud moment for me and my family and something that will stay with me forever.

“I would’ve maybe used the word scary at the time. Obviously, I’d never played professional football at this stage. I remember being very young and naïve about football and about the situation.

“When the gaffer at the time told me I was coming on, there was so much going on in my head. I can’t really remember too much about the moment because I was that excited and just wanted to make an impact.”

In the summer of 2022, the time was right for the former England youth international – a promotion winner with the Tigers – to move on for pastures new.

He completed a switch to top flight outfit Brentford, putting pen to paper on a six-year contract with the London club.

“I think when they came knocking, it was a moment I couldn’t turn down,” he explained. “Playing in the Premier League, I’ve dreamt of that my whole life.

“When it happened, I was actually with Hull in Türkiye at the time in pre-season. We’d played a game that night – a friendly against Fenerbahçe for Hull – and as we got back to the hotel, it must’ve been 1am or 2am and that’s when the owners said they’d accepted a bid.

“The next morning, I had to get a flight at 6am – I had maybe three or four hours of sleep – straight to London to do my medical. It was crazy. It all happened so quick.”

Now, having clocked over a century of appearances for the Bees, who six seventh in the Premier League rankings, the 25 year old feels right at home.

“What we’ve built as a squad has been unbelievable,” he continued. “A few games ago, I actually reached 100 in the Premier League which sounds crazy saying it out loud. You don’t even feel like you’ve played that many. It goes so quick.

“I think I’m reaching close to the amount of games I played for Hull, for Brentford, which in my head is surreal.”

Keith Andrews’ side entered the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup in the third round proper, beating Championship opposition Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 – a game Lewis-Potter made the scoresheet in.

And last month, they found themselves pitted against non-League Macclesfield, who embarked on a remarkable cup run which saw them reach the fourth round, beating current holders Crystal Palace en-route.

“I think it’s fair to say, everyone wanted Macclesfield to win,” said Lewis-Potter. “We’ve been in that situation and we are sometimes in that situation when we play the big teams.

“We knew how that felt, so we knew how they would feel and I think that really takes the pressure off you as a player. Thankfully, we got the win.”

The Bees’ FA Cup journey continues next week. They take on league rivals West Ham United in the fifth round of this season’s competition on Monday night, with the tie selected for live broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.

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