Scunthorpe United (H)

 

Harrogate Town (H)

 Two nil down at half time.

Up 3-2 by the end.

Never say die.

Exeter City (H)

First game back since January 2020 (Stockport County)

First EFL game since February 2017 (Plymouth).

The Vic was full and rocking, hopefully the good / safe times are returning. 

Up the fucking Football League bothering National League conquering Pools.

Up the Pools

 Three hours of agony that. According to fit bit my heart rate averaged between 110-130 throughout. One hand and four fingers on the trophy, and thus a Football League position, when Torquay's fucking goalkeeper pops up in the 95th minute to equalise. I've never felt so sick in my life...

Until the sudden death of penalties that is. Literally on edge of seat but with fists clenched, looking at my feet and physically shaking. I was ill. 

Then the keeper pushes the ball onto the bar and races away. I roared. Jumped up and roared. For all of five seconds, then I started sobbing. Hartlepool United back in EFL after an unwanted four year break as non league. And in typical Pools fashion, we did it the hard way 

Football. Bloody hell.

Subbuteo '94

Champ Man 97/98 - Best Players

Eleven weeks of lockdown. All that time to kill. For the first time in about 13 years I returned to Football Manager - FM20 handheld to be precise - and its slightly dumbed down, simple engine (compared to PC version) was easy to pick up, enjoyable and most importantly ate up some hours.

Anyway it opened a Pandora's box and got me reminiscing about older CM games with mates on whatsapp. So obviously that got us on to the classic CM97/98 and the players that made it. I thought I'd share with you my tactics/signings to make Hartlepool United a force in late 90s football.

First up a bit of tampering on data editor. Pears, O'Connor, Proctor, Cooper and Walton weren't at the club so were free transferred, and in their place came 1997s real life signings (no transfer window remember?) of Norwegian trio Martin Hollund, Stig Olav Larsen and Jan Ove Pedersen, plus Paul Stephenson from York. No extra cash or reputation, I just liked a bit of realism with proper players. 

Once uploaded most of the squad could be transfer listed bar the data ed players plus Lee, Barron, Howard, Beech and Halliday. Then it's time to get the cheque book out. Here's my top signings for Pools -

Goalkeeper

Hollund is a top keeper on the game and undisputed number one. Due to the lack of Norwegian custodians he'll often get called up for international duty as Pools rise through the leagues. But we need a capable deputy for cover and there's none better than Anthony Betterton. Available for free, he'd do a job at a higher level too - in reality he was a Swindon YTS releasee who played non league in Wiltshire.

(Whilst searching for him, you'd often see a young freebie keeper called Nicky Byrne who went on to have a career with Westlife)

Right-back

Johnny Wright. Never comes up on CM forums/chat as a good signing but was always immense for me. Young Norwich releasee who consistently gets seven ratings in division three and due to form usually gets capped for Northern Ireland. Then his value goes up and the big clubs circle.

Centre-backs

Andy Duncan & John Curtis. Two United youngsters often available on frees at the start of the game, although Curtis is sometimes harder to attire and you have to bring him on loan. Both rocks at the back and Curtis will go on to captain England.

Left-back

Can't think of any top LB signings I had, but always strived to bring Poolie hero Rab McKinnon back from Hearts. Gangly ginger Scot with moustache, he was a heart throb with the ladies at the Vic.

Right mid

Phil Mulryne. Another United youngster, often had to bide your time and get him once you'd raise a few bob. Worth every penny as he blossomed in lower leagues and another who'd regularly get called upon by Norn Iron. If I couldn't get him or he signed for someone else, I'd been known to quit and restart - he was such a favourite.

Centre mids

Orients Bjorn Heidenstrom could usually be picked up for £50k and could play at CB too. Fit in well with Pools Scandinavian revolution during that period.

My go to signing though was free transfer Marc Emmers. Veteran Belgian international who was tough tackling, led by example if you gave him the armband and never missed from the penalty spot.

Left mid

Another CM legend  Tommy Larsen from Leeds for about half a mill. Left wasn't his true position but his class shone through. Another Viking joining the Pools and Norses. In real life he was on trial with Hartlepool around 2001 but didn't sign, which was truly heartbreaking.

Centre forwards.

Erik Nevland and Graeme Tomlinson both often come up in conversation, but I had them both and don't remember them setting the world alight. Nevland in particular - I waited about three seasons for his release from United and then he was poor.

My favourite was James Quinn from Blackpool, big target man but would often go for big bucks. With Steve Howard often wanting to leave Pools for bigger club, gave me a few beans to play with and Quinn could be got, the perfect foil for Pedersen.

Another good div three striker was Andrew Mainwaring. Don't panic about the untrendy name, was worth the few quid from 'non league' club - perhaps Walmington's Old Boys? 

So there you have it, a world beating Hartlepool United side from 22 years ago. If only I'd got the job when Mick Tait was sacked.

For further reading on CM97/98 I recommend Dave Blacks excellent website ( https://cm9798.wordpress.com/) and his book (pictured) where he takes control of England at the World Cup 98 to see if he can do better than Hoddle. 

There's also a Quickly Kevin episode dedicated purely to CM97/98 that's excellent. In fact the whole series of the 90s football podcast is superb, so get it listened to if you haven't already.

2019/2020 - The Season That Wasn't

News yesterday that the National League have cancelled their remaining fixtures, meaning Hartlepool's season has been cut short and and they face a future of uncertainty.

With all fixtures/results looking increasingly like they'll be null and void, 2019/2020 will be the season that never was. Got me thinking about the few games I've attended this season, how positivity had returned to our club (despite league ranking) and how things appeared to be improving (typically with a now defunct late dash for the playoffs).

First up was a nice sunny friendly at Billingham Town. Was ridiculously early, 2nd July, a good three weeks before the kids even finished school for the summer. They come along for the ride, me pushing it somewhat as their first ever away day. A really good attendance as Poolies came to view the new signings and Hartlepool, wearing a summery bright yellow shirt, were too good for Billy, running out 4-0 winners.

Next up was home to Wrexham in August. The sun was belting down once again, a perfect bank holiday Monday. First time I can ever recall donning shorts to Pools - even in August you usually have to wrap up warm at the Vic. The lads didn't fancy this, as last season they saw the same fixture and were a bit unnerved at the handbags out on Clarence Road afterwards.
A good end-to-end game and an international feel to the atmosphere (always a fair few England chants at these), Pools ran out deserved 4-2 winners.

From the summer sun to the dark of winter, as Stockport came to town in January. Two clubs chasing playoff positions should have been an even encounter, however County never got going and Pools played some of the best stuff I've seen for years. Cheered on by a raucous crowd they got a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Had a couple of further home ties (and also Hampden Park tickets for a Euro 2020 fixture) planned, however COVID reared its ugly head in the UK and 2020 fixtures frozen and cancelled. All that positivity and good feeling around the club and it's all been for nothing. What a waste of time.

Pools v Sheffield United (JPT)

Victoria Park. Under the lights. Ten quid in. Pie (balti). Pint. Another one. Usual spot. Love terracing. JPT. 7pm KO. Sheffield United.  We're 3-5-2. Four minutes in. One nil down. Sixes and sevens. Heavy rain. No atmosphere. Good save. Good save. Good save. Where's the defence. Under the cosh. HT. 0-1.

Another pint. Chat. Swear. Laugh. We're 4-4-2. Look comfortable. Look very comfortable. Look better. Than them. Giving them a game. Might get back into this. Through ball. Rakish on it. Square pass. Fenwick. FENWICK. YES. Bouncing. Bobbing. On the stairs. Swear. Cheer. One all.

On top. Going forward. They're League One. We're League Two. But we're at home. We're better. Ooooooh. Close. Flashed by. Atmosphere now. Swear. Clap. Shout. Pools!

3 mins added. One on one. Save. Swear. Corner. Tenth. Need 11. Bet off. Whistle. FT. 1-1. Penalties. Our end. Their keeper. Boo. Goal (us). Cheer. Wave arms. Shout. Goal (them). Quiet. Miss (us). Swear. Blast it. Next time. Wave arms. Goal (them). Swear. Only going one way. Ends 3-4. Out. Again. Still. Some positives. Value for money.

It's a simple game.