the ground was opened in august 1946, 17 years after its initial proposal, but only had planning permission for one stand along the west side with an upper cost limit of £17,000. the ground was still not fully completed and it became a race against time to make the stadium ready for its opening match against visiting lincoln city. twenty-thousand people gathered to watch the opening ceremony performed by the city's lord mayor. the teams were led onto the pitch by sergeant jt "tommy" brooke riding a white horse. sergeant brooke was a detective and mounted officer in the hull police and was a veteran of the first world war and the battle of the somme where he was a machine gunner with the royal horse guards.