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He did, at the Hull Daily Mail, but, with honour and integrity, he never claimed his £500. "I could have done with it as well," he says, rubbing his chin.

Throughout his time at the Mail, Richard has covered the gamut of sport but his passions are rugby league and boxing.

"Boxing and rugby league are the most honest sports," he says.

"To me, rugby league is the best game in the world. It's the most exciting, most passionate and most entertaining.

"A lot of people criticise boxing and say it should be banned but I know it's given many youngsters opportunities they would never otherwise have had."

However, boxing brought about one of the worst nights of his life, when featherweight world champion Paul Ingle suffered serious injuries during a fight at Sheffield Arena in December 2000.

His eyes cloud over as he relives that terrible night. I ask if he cried. "No, I just felt sick," he says.

He laughs when he remembers how a player once accused him of misquoting him in an article. "I hadn't, but the next time I interviewed him, I made sure I included every ah, um and er in my copy. He didn't like it."

Richard's knowledge of rugby league resulted in his book Beards, Buttons And Blue Movies, recording 21 years of covering Hull FC.

His integrity always wins the confidence of his many contacts and he's a legend among sports journalists.

He admits the fans might not always agree with him, but it's his neck on the block.

"You always get your critics but I'm only saying what I think about a game," he says.

"It doesn't mean everybody will agree with it. My reports are my own opinion."

His thoughts are now turning to retirement, in just over two years.

He and wife Sue have bought a house in Spain and he is looking forward to spending time with his family and growing brood of grandkids.

I wonder how he'll cope, away from the job and the sport that are so much a part of him.

But, as he launches into yet another tale, I see how.

Memories.

What they say about Richard:

Roger Halstead, retired rugby league correspondent at the Oldham Chronicle:

"I couldn't hand over the mantle of longest-serving rugby league correspondent to anybody better or more deserving than Richard Tingle.

"He is very respected, journalistically, among the rugby league press. I've had great times with him and have great memories of him over the years.

"I wish him all the best."

John Kear, coach of Hull FC

"Since I joined Hull FC I realised how integral he is - he's like part of the furniture.

"Richard is always very supportive of the club but he's not frightened to represent his own opinions, even when they're contrary to what the club might want him to write. That's the mark of a good journalist.

"He's always welcome in any dressing room I've been in - and he always will be."

John Huxley, of the Rugby Football League:

"That a man can survive in rugby league that long is amazing. Richard is someone I've known as long as I've been in the game.

"His passion for Hull FC and rugby league shine through in his work."