History of Hartlepool United F.C. facts for kids
Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football team from Hartlepool, England. The club was started in 1908 as "Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company". They joined the Football League in 1921.
Over the years, Hartlepool United has moved between different leagues. They spent many years in the lower divisions, facing tough times and even changing their name a few times. In 2017, after 89 years, they left the Football League for the first time. But in 2021, they fought hard and won their way back! They spent two seasons in League Two before being relegated again in 2023.
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How it All Began: 1908–1946
The story of Hartlepool United goes back to 1881 with a team called West Hartlepool Amateur Football Club. This team even won a big amateur cup, the FA Amateur Cup, in 1905.
Because of this success, a chance for a professional team came up in 1908. The local rugby club went out of business, leaving their stadium, Victoria Ground, empty. A new club was formed on June 1, 1908, called "Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company". They played their first game at Victoria Park on September 2, 1908, winning 6–0 against Newcastle United. In their first year, they won a local trophy, the Durham Challenge Cup.
In 1921, Hartlepools joined the new Football League Third Division North. Their first Football League game was on August 27, 1921, where they beat Wrexham 2–0. They finished 4th in their first season, which was a great start! Sometimes, they had to ask to stay in the league if they finished near the bottom, but they always managed to keep their spot.
Cup Runs and First Promotion: 1946–1969
After World War II, Hartlepools started playing again in 1946. In the mid-1950s, they had some exciting times in the FA Cup. They played against big teams like Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, and even Manchester United. In 1957, a huge crowd of 17,426 fans watched them play Manchester United. Even though they lost, Manchester United's manager, Matt Busby, called it "the most exciting match I've ever watched"!
In 1958, the club moved to the new Football League Fourth Division. They had a record-breaking win in 1959, beating Barrow 10–1!
Things were tough financially, but in 1965, a famous manager named Brian Clough took over. He worked with Peter Taylor and helped the team improve a lot. In 1968, Hartlepool won promotion for the very first time in the club's history! This was confirmed with a 2–0 win against Swansea Town. That same year, the club changed its name to "Hartlepool" because the towns of West Hartlepool and Hartlepool had merged. Sadly, they were relegated the very next season.
Tough Times in the Fourth Division: 1969–1991
After being relegated, Hartlepool spent 22 years in the Fourth Division. They often struggled and had to fight to stay in the league. Managers like Len Ashurst and Ken Hale tried to improve things. In 1975, the club reached the fourth round of the Football League Cup, which is still their best run in that competition.
In 1977, the club changed its name again to its current form: Hartlepool United. The team had some good players like Bob Newton and Keith Houchen, who scored many goals. They even beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup!
The club faced money problems, and there were worries they might have to move out of Hartlepool. Despite these challenges, the team kept fighting. In 1987, Middlesbrough needed a place to play a home game, and Hartlepool United kindly let them use Victoria Ground.
In 1990, a new manager named Cyril Knowles joined the club. He was a legend! He turned the team around, and they started winning games. Sadly, Cyril Knowles became very ill with cancer. While he was sick, Alan Murray took over. Under Murray, the team played even better. In 1991, they secured promotion to the Third Division on the final day of the season with a 3–1 win against Northampton Town!
Ups and Downs with New Owners: 1991–2012
Sadly, Cyril Knowles passed away in August 1991. Alan Murray became the permanent manager. The team did well in the new Third Division, finishing 11th. In 1992, the league divisions were renamed, and Hartlepool played in the new Division Two. They even beat Crystal Palace 1–0 in the FA Cup, which was a huge win against a top-division team!
However, money problems hit the club again. Players had to leave, and the team struggled, eventually being relegated in 1994. For the next few years, the club had many different managers and continued to struggle.
In 1997, a new company called IOR Ltd bought the club, with Ken Hodcroft becoming chairman. Things started to get better under manager Chris Turner. They reached the play-offs three times in a row but lost in the semi-finals each time. Finally, in 2003, Hartlepool finished second in the league and won automatic promotion to the Football League Second Division!
They had a fantastic season in 2003–04, even beating Grimsby Town 8–1! They reached the play-offs again but lost. In 2005, they made it to the play-off final at a huge stadium, losing a very close game to Sheffield Wednesday after extra time.
After being relegated in 2006, Danny Wilson became manager. He led Hartlepool straight back to League One in 2007, finishing second! They even set a Football League record by winning eight games in a row without letting in a single goal.
The club stayed in League One for several years. In 2008–09, they celebrated their 100th year and had great cup runs, beating Premier League teams like Stoke City and West Brom.
Falling Out of the League: 2012–2018
The 2012–13 season was very tough. The team struggled, and managers changed often. Hartlepool was relegated from League One after six seasons.
The club continued to face challenges. In 2014, they were at the very bottom of League Two. A new owner, Peter Harris, took over, and Ronnie Moore became manager. The team made an amazing comeback, often called the "great escape," and managed to avoid relegation on the second-to-last game of the season!
In 2017, after many years of struggling, Hartlepool United was relegated out of the Football League for the first time in 96 years. This was a very sad moment for the club and its fans.
Off the field, the club faced serious financial problems. Fans rallied together, raising money to help save the club from closing down. In March 2018, the local council even helped with a loan. Finally, in April 2018, Raj Singh bought the club, which saved them from their financial troubles.
Back to the Football League and Beyond: 2018–Present
Under new ownership, Hartlepool United started to rebuild. They had a few different managers, including Richard Money and Craig Hignett. In 2019, Dave Challinor became manager, and the team's performance improved.
The 2020–21 season was very special. Most games were played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hartlepool finished 4th in the National League and entered the play-offs. They won their semi-final against Stockport County.
In the 2021 play-off final, Hartlepool played Torquay United. Hartlepool scored first, but Torquay equalized in the very last minute of the game! The match went to extra time and then to penalties. Hartlepool won the shootout 5–4, which meant they were promoted back to the Football League after four years away!
Back in League Two, Hartlepool won their first game against Crawley Town. Manager Dave Challinor left in November 2021, and former player Graeme Lee took over. The team had good runs in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy, reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.
In 2022, Paul Hartley and then Keith Curle managed the team. However, after a tough season, Hartlepool United was relegated back to the National League in 2023.
In April 2023, chairman Raj Singh announced the club was for sale. John Askey became manager but left in December 2023. In January 2024, Kevin Phillips took charge and guided the team to a 12th-place finish. He left at the end of the season and Darren Sarll was appointed as the new manager.
Images for kids
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Chart of yearly table positions of Hartlepool in the Football League.
