Hartlepool United F.C. facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Hartlepool United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Pools, Monkey Hangers | ||
| Founded | 1908 | ||
| Ground | Victoria Park | ||
| Capacity | 7,858 | ||
| Owner | Raj Singh | ||
| Chairman | Raj Singh | ||
| Manager | Lennie Lawrence | ||
| League | National League | ||
| 2018–19 | National League, 16th of 24 | ||
|
|
|||
Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football team from Hartlepool, England. They are often called "Pools" or "Monkey Hangers". The team plays in the National League, which is the fifth level of English football.
The club started in 1908 as "The Hartlepools United Football & Athletic Club Company Ltd". They joined the Football League in 1921. For many years, they played in the lower divisions. In 1968, their name changed to "Hartlepool" when the towns of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool joined together. They were promoted for the first time that year. In 1977, they became "Hartlepool United".
The team has been promoted a few more times since then. They moved up in 1991, 2003, and 2007. However, they also faced relegation several times. In 2017, they left the Football League after 96 years. But in 2021, they won a play-off final to get back into the League. After two seasons, they were relegated again in 2023.
Hartlepool United has always played their home games at Victoria Park. Their biggest rival is Darlington. A famous manager, Brian Clough, started his career at Hartlepool. The player with the most games for the club is Ritchie Humphreys, who played 543 times. Joshie Fletcher is their top goal scorer with 111 goals.
Contents
History of the Club
Early Years and Joining the Football League (1908–1946)
Hartlepool United began in 1908. They took over the Victoria Ground stadium after a rugby club went bankrupt. The club was named "The Hartlepools United Football & Athletic Club Company Ltd". This name represented both West Hartlepool and Old Hartlepool.
In their first two seasons, they won the Durham Challenge Cup. They also joined the North-Eastern League. In 1910, another local amateur team, West Hartlepool, stopped playing. Hartlepools United took over their assets.
In 1921, the Football League created a new section for northern teams. Hartlepools was one of the 18 clubs chosen to join. On August 27, 1921, they played their first League match. They beat Wrexham 2–0. They finished their first League season in 4th place.
Sometimes, teams at the bottom of the League had to ask to be re-elected. Hartlepools had to do this a few times but always stayed in the League. They spent 18 seasons in the Third Division North before World War II stopped football.
FA Cup Runs and First Promotion (1946–1969)
In the 1950s, Hartlepools played better in both the league and cup games. In the FA Cup, they reached the fourth round in 1955. They lost to Nottingham Forest. The next season, they played against Chelsea, who were champions at the time.
In 1957, they played Manchester United in front of a record crowd of 17,426 fans. They almost won, but Manchester United scored a late goal. That same season, they finished second in their league. This is still the club's highest-ever league finish.
In 1959, Hartlepools had their biggest league win ever. They beat Barrow 10–1. However, the club faced money problems. In 1965, Brian Clough became their manager. He was only 30 years old. He helped build a stronger team.
Even after Clough left for Derby County, the team kept playing well. In 1968, they finished third and won promotion for the first time. To show they represented the whole area, the club changed its name to Hartlepool Association Football Club.
Re-elections and Stagnation (1969–1997)
Hartlepool only stayed in the Third Division for one season. They were relegated back down. In 1974–75, they reached the League Cup fourth round for the first time. They lost to Aston Villa.
In 1977, they finished near the bottom again. They had to ask to be re-elected to the League. They were successful, and the club changed its name again to Hartlepool United. By 1987, Hartlepool had asked to be re-elected 14 times. This was a record for the League, and they always succeeded.
In 1989, Cyril Knowles became manager. He helped the team improve a lot. In 1991, they won promotion again by finishing third. This time, they stayed in the higher division for three seasons. In 1993, they beat Crystal Palace 1–0 in the FA Cup. This was the first time they had beaten a top-division team.
Soon after, the club had money problems. They had to sell players. They were relegated back to the fourth tier in 1994.
Success and Relegation from the Football League (1997–Present)
In 1997, a new owner, IOR Ltd, took over the club. After almost being relegated in 1999, things got better. In 2003, they were promoted again as runners-up. They then had their highest finishes in the third tier, coming sixth in 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, they reached the play-off final but lost to Sheffield Wednesday. They were relegated in 2006 but bounced straight back up in 2007. They spent six years in the third tier before being relegated in 2013.
In 2017, after 96 years, Hartlepool was relegated from the Football League. They needed to win their last game and hope another team lost. They won, but the other team also won, sending Hartlepool down. The club faced more money problems but was saved by local businessman Raj Singh in 2018.
After four years, Hartlepool returned to the Football League in 2021. They won the play-off final against Torquay United on penalties. In their first season back, they finished 17th. However, in 2023, they were relegated back to the National League after just two seasons.
The Hartlepool team that beat Torquay United in the 2021 National League play-off final 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.
Recent Seasons
Here are some statistics from the last ten years. For a full history, see List of Hartlepool United F.C. seasons.
| Year | League | Level | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | FA Cup | League Cup | EFL Trophy | FA Trophy | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 50 | 56 | −6 | 53 | 19th of 24 | R2 | R1 | QF(N) | - | 3,723 |
| 2014–15 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 39 | 70 | −31 | 45 | 22nd of 24 | R2 | R1 | R2(N) | - | 3,736 |
| 2015–16 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 15 | 6 | 25 | 49 | 72 | −23 | 51 | 16th of 24 | R3 | R2 | R1(N) | - | 3,890 |
| 2016–17 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 54 | 75 | −21 | 46 | 23rd of 24 Relegated |
R2 | R1 | Group Stage | - | 3,788 |
| 2017–18 | National League | 5 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 63 | −10 | 56 | 15th of 24 | R1 | - | - | R1 | 3,350 |
| 2018–19 | National League | 5 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 56 | 62 | −6 | 59 | 16th of 24 | R1 | - | - | R2 | 3,124 |
| 2019–20 | National League | 5 | 39 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 56 | 50 | +6 | 55 | 12th of 24 | R3 | - | - | R1 | 3,355 |
| 2020–21 | National League | 5 | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 76 | 4th of 22 Promoted |
R1 | - | - | R3 | N/A |
| 2021–22 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 64 | −20 | 54 | 17th of 24 | R4 | R1 | SF | - | 5,195 |
| 2022–23 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 52 | 78 | −26 | 43 | 23rd of 24 Relegated |
R3 | R1 | GS | - | 4,676 |
| 2023–24 | National League | 5 | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 70 | 82 | −12 | 60 | 12th of 24 | QR4 | - | - | R4 | 4,149 |
Club Identity
Colours and Crest
Hartlepool United usually plays in blue and white striped shirts. From 1908 to 1911, they wore white shirts. In 1912, they started using the blue and white stripes. Sometimes, in the 1960s and 70s, their kit was all blue. In the 1990s, they used light blue and white. Later, they went back to dark blue and white.
The club's crest (logo) first appeared on their kit in 1959. It was a shield with the club's initials. In the 1970s, a new crest showed a hart, which is a type of deer. This came from the logo of the town of Hartlepool. In the 1990s, a modern hart image was used.
In 1995, a competition was held for a new logo. The winning design featured a ship's wheel. This showed the town's connection to the sea. In 2017, the club returned to a hart design. This hart stands on water, which is a clever play on the name "Hart-le-pool". The club felt the ship's wheel logo didn't show enough of their history.
Sponsorship
Erreà makes the club's uniforms. The main sponsor for the home shirt is Suit Direct. The away shirt sponsor is Durata.
Here is a list of their kit suppliers and shirt sponsors over the years:
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–77 | Umbro | none |
| 1977–78 | Bukta | |
| 1978–80 | Admiral | |
| 1980–81 | Le Coq Sportif | |
| 1981–82 | Umbro | |
| 1982–83 | Spall | |
| 1983–84 | Admiral | New County |
| 1984–85 | Umbro | Cameron's Brewery |
| 1985–88 | Spall | |
| 1988–90 | Scoreline | |
| 1990–91 | none | Yuill |
| 1991–92 | Bukta | Heritage Homes |
| 1992–93 | Umbro | |
| 1993–95 | Loki | Cameron's Brewery |
| 1995–99 | 1908 Gold | |
| 1999–2000 | Super League | |
| 2000–02 | 1908 Gold | DNO International |
| 2002–04 | TFG Sports | |
| 2004–15 | Nike | Dove Energy |
| 2015–17 | Seneca Homes | |
| 2017–19 | BLK | Utility Alliance |
| 2019–20 | O'Neill's | |
| 2020–21 | Prestige Group | |
| 2021–22 | Orangebox Training Solutions | |
| 2022–23 | Erreà | Suit Direct |
| 2023– | Prestige Group |
Ground
Hartlepool United has played at Victoria Park since 1908. The Hartlepool Borough Council now owns the stadium. It can hold 7,856 fans. The ground has four main stands.
The land for Victoria Park was bought in 1886. It used to be a limestone quarry. The stadium was named to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Hartlepools played their first game there on September 2, 1908. They won 6–0 against Newcastle United.
In 1916, a German Zeppelin bombed one of the stands. It was completely destroyed. A new stand was built in 1995. It was named the Cyril Knowles Stand, after a former manager. In 1948, new terracing (standing areas) were added.
In 1998, a rugby club shared the stadium for a year. The owners said they had invested over £12 million in the ground by 2010. After former manager Neale Cooper passed away in 2018, a stand was renamed in his memory. In 2021, the club's owner and the council planned to develop Victoria Park. They hope to increase its capacity to 15,000.
The stadium has had different names due to sponsorship. It was called the Northern Gas and Power Stadium (2016–17) and the Super 6 Stadium (2018–19). Since November 2021, it has been known as the 'Suit Direct Stadium'. For the 2024–25 season, it is the 'Prestige Group Stadium'.
Supporters and Rivalries
In 2003, a survey asked football fans about their main rivals. Hartlepool United fans said Darlington was their biggest rival. In 2008, 95% of fans from both clubs agreed. Hartlepool has won 60 games against Darlington, while Darlington has won 57. They haven't played each other in a league game since 2007.
Other rivals for Hartlepool include Sheffield Wednesday, Carlisle United, and Sunderland.
In 2015, the Hartlepool United Supporters' Trust was created. It helps fans share their ideas with the club.
Famous Fans
Jeff Stelling, a famous sports TV presenter, is a well-known fan of the club. He is currently the Club President. Janick Gers, a guitarist from the band Iron Maiden, also supports the team. Cricket umpire Michael Gough is another fan.
In 2003, rock star Meat Loaf said he was a fan of Hartlepool. He even brought a cuddly H'Angus toy on a TV show. He often talked about supporting the club. After he passed away in 2022, the club paid tribute to him.
Records and Statistics
Ritchie Humphreys holds the record for playing the most games for Hartlepool. He played 543 matches between 2001 and 2013. Joshie Fletcher is the club's top goal scorer with 111 goals. Ambrose Fogarty was the only player to play for his country while at Hartlepool. He played for the Republic of Ireland in 1964.
Hartlepool's biggest league win was 10–1 against Barrow in 1959. Their biggest league loss was 10–1 to Wrexham in 1962. In the FA Cup, they won 10–1 against St Peters Albion in 1923. Their biggest FA Cup losses were 6–0 to Manchester City in 1976 and Port Vale in 1994.
The highest number of fans at Victoria Park was 17,264. This was for a game against Manchester United in 1957. The lowest attendance was 380 in 2016. The most fans at any Hartlepool game was 59,808. This was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for a play-off final in 2005.
The youngest player to play for the club was David Foley. He was 16 years and 44 days old in 2003. The oldest player was Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. He played his last game at 41 years and 15 days old in 2019.
Club Records
(As of the end of the 2023–24 season)
- Best FA Cup performance: Fourth round (7 times)
- Best League Cup performance: Fourth round (1974–75)
- Best EFL Trophy performance: Semi-final (2021–22)
- Best FA Trophy performance: Fourth round (2023–24)
- Highest league finish: 2nd in Third Division North (1956–57)
- Seasons at level 3 of English football: 43
- Seasons at level 4 of English football: 48
- Seasons at level 5 of English football: 5
Most Appearances
| Rank | Player | Apps | Goals | Position | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ritchie Humphreys | 543 | 37 | DF, MF | 2001–2013 |
| 2 | Watty Moore | 472 | 3 | DF | 1948–1960 |
| 3 | Antony Sweeney | 444 | 62 | MF | 2001–2014 |
| 4 | Nicky Featherstone | 435 | 26 | MF | 2014–2023, 2023– |
| 5 | Ray Thompson | 423 | 3 | DF | 1947–1958 |
| 6 | Alan Goad | 418 | 11 | DF | 1967–1978 |
| 7 | Ken Johnson | 413 | 106 | FW | 1949–1964 |
| 8 | Brian Honour | 384 | 36 | MF | 1985–1994 |
| 9 | Micky Barron | 374 | 4 | DF | 1996–2007 |
| 10 | Gary Liddle | 364 | 21 | DF, MF | 2006–2012, 2019–2020, 2020–2022 |
Players
First-team Squad
|
|
Out on Loan
|
Retired Numbers
|
On October 19, 2007, Hartlepool midfielder Michael Maidens passed away in a car accident. He was 20 years old. To honor him, the club stopped using his number 25 shirt. The annual Goal of the Season award is also named after him. Fans applaud in the 25th minute of the game closest to the anniversary of his passing.
Hartlepool United Women
In 2015, a Hartlepool United Ladies team was started. They will play in the North East Regional Women's Football League Division One North in the 2024–25 season. Alex Curl is their manager.
Club Officials
Board
- Chairman: Raj Singh
- Honorary club president: Jeff Stelling
- Senior advisor: Lee Rust
- Head of football operations: Joe Monks
- Non-executive director: Lennie Lawrence
- Group finance director: Paul Jubb
- Club ambassador and director: Andy Steel
- Director: John Pearson
Coaching and Medical Staff
- Manager: Lennie Lawrence
- Head Coach: Anthony Limbrick
- First team coach: Gavin Skelton
- Player/coach: Nicky Featherstone
- Goalkeeping coach: Adam Smith
- Physiotherapist: Danny O'Connor
- Strength and conditioning coach: Carl Dickinson
- Chief scout: Ronnie Moore
- First team analyst: Ben Daniel
- Academy manager: Ian McGuckin
- Club doctors: David Russell and Dan Palmer
Former Managers
Honours
League
- Third Division North (level 3)
- Runners-up: 1956–57
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4)
- Runners-up: 2002–03, 2006–07
- Promoted: 1967–68, 1990–91
- National League (level 5)
- Play-off winners: 2021
Cup
- FA Amateur Cup
- Winners: 1904–05
- Durham Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1908–09, 1909–10, 1956–57, 1957–58, 2004–05
See also
In Spanish: Hartlepool United Football Club para niños
- History of Hartlepool United F.C.
- List of Hartlepool United F.C. seasons
- List of Hartlepool United F.C. managers
- List of Hartlepool United F.C. records and statistics
- Victoria Park (Hartlepool)
- Hartlepool United Women
