Hallyink

Here's something both good and northern. Hallyink, a Hartlepool based sketchist, who's focussing on local clubs cult heroes and then recreating them with a classic smudging of HB granite. Refreshing to see an artist dedicating his talents to the likes of Pools and Boro, rather then Man Utd and Liverpool, for a change. Could easily do United's treble winners - let's be honest, they'd sell quicker - but no, Hartlepool United are his team and drawing is his gift, so that's what he's going to do. Good man. Check out his wares here

Cult Poolies - Brian Horne

Five foot odd and roughly 15 stone, this keeper didn't even look like a professional footballer, let alone a cult hero. But he was to Pools fans. Horne had played some 160 plus games for Londoners Millwall in the late 80s, had a few premiership games on loan at Middlesbrough in '92 and duly arrived at Hartlepool via Portsmouth on a free in 1994. Despite his physical appearance he won the fans over with his whole hearted displays and superb shot stopping.

Flying Pig vs. Darlo

 In a very poor Pools squad, Horne exceeded with some superb displays between the sticks. He was pretty much unchallenged in 94/95, almost being ever present in goal - the only bright spot in another disappointing season. The next season was a hero in a League cup derby with Scarborough, the match drawn over two legs went to penalties - Brian saving a couple of spot kicks in the shootout before stepping up to convert one himself. He did blot his copy book somewhat in the next round by getting sent off in a heavy defeat by Arsenal.

Premiership class with Boro

Firmly established in the heavy drinking culture that surrounded professional football back then, Horne was out on the piss with Tony Adams the night the England skipper drove home intoxicated, wrecked his car and was subsequently jailed. That pastime caught up with him by the time he'd reached Hartlepool, and his portly figure led to disgust and derision from Pools boss Keith Houchen. Houch described Horne as a 'fat slob' in his autobiography and did his best to force him out, using four hastily assembled and substandard loanees. None worked out and Houchen was reluctantly forced to play Brian. It pitted the fans against the player manager, disappointing given the amount of goals he'd bagged in two spells at Pools, prompting him to hit back at the supporters: "there are a lot of shit people following every club. They are everywhere, that type, with brains the size of a pea. I wouldn't keep the players they wanted, players who were patently not good enough and were really, really bad professionals... the majority of them are nasty people. There are more of them at Hartlepool than elsewhere – without a shadow of doubt"

It all ended on Saturday 6th April 1996 when a relegation threatened Pools were trailing two nil half time at Gillingham. A shocking on field spat between the Horne and Houchen almost came to blows, and led to the mananger subbing him off on the spot for the much maligned Steve Jones. It was to be Horne's last appearance for United. Keith Houchen didn't last much longer either, resigning early into 96/97.

Horne took a year out from the came before returning to the semi professional game in his native South East, first with Dover in 97/98 and Farnborough the following season. Brian now works commentating on the odd game with first club Millwall, and also organizes the annual Atlantic Cup competition with former Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz.

Young Lion - Millwall Days

Cult Poolies - Joe Allon

Super Joe is probably Hartlepool's ultimate cult hero. He had two spells at United in the 1990s, both times he made an impact and created history.

He started out at hometown club Newcastle (pictured bottom right with Gazza), making a handful of appearances for the Toon before a season spell at Swansea. He came to Pools in the late 80s, with his blonde popstar hair do and settled in superbly. In 1989/90 there was a taste of things to come, bagging 18 goals. The next season under the guidance of legendary chief Cyril Knowles, Pools won promotion for the first time since the 1960s, with 'Skull' Allon hitting 28 goals, topping up his goals tally and his bank account - The Pools squad backed promotion at 45-1 in Willie Hills in summer 1990, and celebrated promotion twelve months later with £200 notes for the post season jaunt to Magaluff.

Money came in from Chelsea - £250k to be precise - and he scored two in two in his first appearances in 91/92. However he seemed to fall in with a bad crowd. His flatmate was none other than Vinnie Jones, he became chums with Dennis Wise, and an ex-Geordie team mate was also making his way in the capital - Paul Gascoigne. Lager-fuelled mayhem allegedly took place. After 18 games for the Blues and a lack of goals, and with an extra £100k due to Pools when he played 20 matches, so Chels flogged him to London neighbours Brentford for a club record fee of £275k - where he had  a more successful goalscoring record in two years .

Pools could probably have felt short changed after that, but following spells at Port Vale and Lincoln, Allon returned to Hartlepool in 1995 for nowt. The goals came but not as plentiful as before, hitting 22 in three seasons. However he'll always be best remembered for an incident in 1997 when he raised his status from cult hero, to cult legend. With Pools facing the drop (again) towards the end of the season, they found themselves one-nil down away at Darlo. Pools managed to get an equaliser through Man City loanee (and Poolie born and bread) Michael Brown, but desperately sought the three points for safety. With ten minutes remaining Allon was dispatched from the bench but still nothing. Deep into injury time a corner boucned across the area, evading everyone bar Joseph Ball Allon. Somehow having fallen on his arse he managed to scissor kick it into Darlo's net, in front of the Tin Shed (below). Silence in Feethams except mayhem in amongst the away support.

Unfortunately a recurring knee injury ended his career at the beginning of 97/98. Since then he's worked fairly regularly as a radio pundit, and except a minor incident with some Pools fans when returning as a coach with Dennis Wise's Leeds in 2007, he remains a legend amongst the Poolie faithful