Chester-le-street Town Vs Boldon Colliery

 First live match I've been able to attend post lockdown - Hartlepool will have to wait. A lovely late summer afternoon and some good quality passing football at a tidy little ground. It's what Tuesday nights should be about...

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.

Matchday Print

It's been just over two years since EFL clubs voted against compulsory production of matchday programmes. So far only Stevenage have gone online with their productions, being free to download. Colchester then took the novel step of giving away their programme as part of the match ticket. Further down the pyramid Barnet went online too.

It's a novel step. A lot goes into making a programme, pain staking work and deadlines for a product most will buy out of habit and then not read. So by going online with free to download you're potentially increasing readership (people not attending games or away fans unable to travel), keeping sponsor fees but losing the publishing and distribution costs. Given the whole COVID19 behind closed doors scenario, we may see more clubs than the three mentioned before follow suit with doing away with the progie.

Is it right though? I was an avid collector of matchday programmes when I was younger although maybe ten years ago I stopped buying. The problem is I can't remember what games I attended now so about 3-4 years ago I started buying again, just to aid my memory. It's part of the routine in going, as much as the pre match pint, pie and meeting of mates - a memento of the game, particularly aways - so can't see me getting into this online malarky if Pools bin it off.

In fact I know I won't . I used to be a purchaser of Pools fanzine Monkey Business. That went online years ago and I can't recall ever bothering to seek it out and read. Yet when some mush behind the Town End was selling it a pound a go , I was straight over.

Another defunct publication was the short lived Nationwide Review from the mid 90s. A small football league magazine priced a pound which didn't do so good, so then was given away with football programmes monthly. Again was short lived and disappeared. Given the internet was taking off it was commendable Nationwide chose to go with a publication for club news rather than a website - the net was no doubt what killed this mag off - however it would be another 25 years before the internet started to see off matchday programmes.

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.

Spennymoor Town vs Hartlepool United (again)

Fast becoming an annual pre season fixture between these two sides, it was up to Brewery Field yet again to see how Pools new signings (all ten of them) are gelling against one of the regions best non league clubs.

Suns out. A fiver in. Beer in hand on the touch line. A good fair game. I'm thinking this is what football should be about, enjoyable and inexpensive, in a ramshackle ground full of character, a million miles (and pounds) away from the plush all-seaters at the top of the pyramid.

Pools are playing a strong side and Spenny realise fairly early on that they're in for an uncomfortable afternoon and resort to tough late challenges. Pools left winger cops a fair few kicks but United remain unflustered by shifting attention to the right, and this tactic pays dividends when a floating ball in from the RHS is met by last seasons top scorer Scotty Fenwick precision head. One nil.

Spenny's unit of a goalkeeper, a typical beefy non league custodian, makes a couple of excellent saves, one from a cross-come shot from the right wing and a solid free kick into the top corner. Pools should be a few up but the whistle blows for HT, leading to another age old tradition lost from the modern game - fans changing ends. We leave the Football League standard covered terrace behind the goal and perch on the more modest pavement and black and white painted fence surroundings behind the other.

Time for a thumb through the programme. The editor must be a Poolie on the quiet as an extensive proportion of the well made two quid issue is devoted to Hartlepool - a full sixteen pages devoted to Pools including an expansive club history and plenty detail on the pen pics. And then there's a further two pages on Pools programmes from yesteryears. Nice.

It's blustery in the second half and Pools are kicking up hill on the lopsided pitch so the fluidity of the movement is halted. Plus there's been a full roster change with all starting eleven subbed after 45 mins. The second string huff and puff but not as strongly as the cross field gusts, so have to rely on half chances. Trialist Fergus Bell takes on of these to extend Pools lead.

With the game all but won Pools compete at a leisurely pace, continuing to attack down the right hand side with decent success. Young hopeful Connor Smith takes one chance coming in from said side and coolly slots into the corner. Towards the end new signing Jake Carroll, a Huddersfield Town left back, cuts in and places one into the net. Four nil.

A resounding pre-season success for Pools, the same result as the previous visit and I'm kicking myself for not backing it (16/1 on Bet365). However a check of the other 5pm finishes see that Preston, Rotherham, Wigan and Bournemouth all won, meaning my daft pre-season two quid fourfold has landed me twenty quid. I love coming to Spennymoor.

Harvest From The Deep

New magazine venture produced by some North Shields connoisseurs. Sport, fashion, music and the simple things in life. And it's northern. Out soon.

Watch this rather amusing space @hftdmagazine for more deets.

West Auckland Town vs. Hartlepool United

West Auckland. The home of the first World Cup winners. Twice. And they love to go on about it - the road sign as you arrive at the town proudly tells you. For any of you who don't know the tale, Thomas Lipton's dream was to create a international trophy and he did so in 1909 - inviting the best from Italy (Torino), Switzerland (Winterthur) Germany (Stuttgart) and, inventors of the sport, England - a club version forerunner of what would eventually become the World Cup. When it come to the choice of the finest team in England, legend has it, he couldn't remember the name of the best club but knew their initials were 'W' 'A' - thus a band of coal mining part timers from County Durham were invited along... First Division Woolwich Arsenal would have to wait a bit longer for European competition.

If that sounds ridiculous, what happened next sounds like myth. West Auckland turned up at the competition, having borrowed, begged and pawned to raise funds, and promptly won it - 2-0 in semis to Stuttgart and by the same scoreline in the final to Winterthur. They returned home heroes.

The myth then turns fairytale when the club were invited back in 1911 to defend their crown. And did so with aplomb. Winning the semis by a now familiar 2-0 score (vs FC Zurich), they then trounced Juventus 6-1 in the final. Mr Lipton said they could keep the trophy, but a few years later the financial implications of the traveling abroad hit home and the club sold anything it could to keep afloat - including the trophy. The eventually got it back in the 70s, only for it for be stolen in a burglary on the clubhouse in 1994. It's never been found.

The Town, and indeed the the club, seems stuck in a timezone well before 1994. A glorified pit village situated on the edge of the Pennines feels like the edge of humanity - if you go beyond it you've drop off the the world. Saying that I use the term 'humanity' quite loosely - my Durham City supporting pal was recounting tales of chew on with the West locals when visiting with the Citizens. And as we took up our place on the terrace with the West hardcore we noticed a few curious stares as kick off approached.

I always enjoy Durham Cup games (despite the fact it's usually youth/reserve level for Pools) as it's cheap, ensures a visit to a ramshackle Northern League ground and it's always under the lights. This time though excitement was at fever pitch as Marlon Harewood was starting (plus a few other first teamers) with a couple of trialists.

The game was fairly even, worryingly as this was supposedly a strong Pools line up, with United probably edging it on chances created. Dutch left winger trialist Sidney Schmeltz, formerly of Oldham, showed some good pace and low crossing, but big striker Harewood fluffed a handful of decent chances that he really should have put away. West broke away late in the half after a poor back pass and former Durham striker Stephen 'Speedie' Richardson coolly slotted home.

Half time and we walked behind the other goal, proving what a lonely existence being a Pools fan can be at these ties - we were the only ones at that end. Our blind loyalty (or stupidity) was rewarded three minutes after the restart when Harewood sprung the offside trap and converted a one on one right in front of us. A congratulatory message of 'Get the fuck in lad' was returned with a 'cheers mate' from the big man, which delighted me even further.

The game descended into a end to end type affair, but by end I mean the edge of the 18 yard area, with neither side really looking like taking the initiative. The pitch certainly didn't help, with upwardly rising slopes at either end - the only time I've seen a match played in a semi circle. As extra time approached a Pools defender was penalized for handball, Alex Francis stepped up from 30 yards and scored one of those free kicks that your side never seems to score -  a pile drived curler right into the upright. Unstoppable. It may have been only for the next round of the Durham Cup, but that free kick would have been worthy of winning the World Cup. Unfortunately for West Auckland, it's unlikely they'll get invited along again...

Spennymoor Town vs. Hartlepool United

A glorious crystal clear late summers evening. Perfect conditions for taking in the lopsided surroundings at Brewery Field, as Spennymoor Town (formerly Spennymoor United - #AMF) took on Pools youth/reserve team. Four quid in, could sup a pint on the touchline, the first whiff of burgers and onions for months, warm sun and four one winners. If only all games were like this...

The Spezial One

Saw this on twitter and felt the need to share. The Spezial One summing up how many feel about the 'beautiful game' using only a few words, where many would use ten thousand. Follow at @OllyverTweet

Brandon United v Hartlepool (Durham Cup)

The clocks have gone back and winter is drawing in. So it's time for the non league clubs still left in the cup to start dreaming of drawing a big fish. I'm not talking about the magic of the FA Cup but the pure majesty of the Durham County Challenge Cup.

Brandon United successfully negotiated the preliminary round and drew Pools, arguably the biggest fish in the pond - even if it is just the reserves. Once upon a time Sunderland plyed their trade in the cup and Pools and Darlo were allowed to field strong teams, leading to memorable cup ties. However the black cats are no longer and Hartlepool have to play the kids. It did pay dividends back in 2005 when United won the competition, the fifth time in the club's history.

The Welfare Ground is a ramshackle ground with a gap in the fence providing the turnstile. I was surprised it was a pretty steep fiver to get in but delighted they'd bothered to produce a programme for the fixture. I climbed the steps to pitch level and was immediately nearly blown back down by gale force winds. The view was impressive though, even in the dark. Most of County Durham spread out below like a carpet - the cathedral and city in the valley, Penshaw Monument on the hill and my home village of Ushaw Moor twinkling invitingly.

The last time I saw Pools play in the DCCC I witnessed a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Shildon. Despite Brandon being in the division below the railwaymen and having on average four bankruptcy fears a season, I still feared the worse. This sinking feeling was justified when Brandon took the lead two mins in after a defensive howler. One of those real "what am I doing here?" moments, seeing your team concede to a team some eight leagues further down the pyramid.

As the wind picked up and the rain drove in I consoled myself with a cup of tea. In an actual mug. Civilised. As the brew lifted my spirits Pools started playing and looked the better team with strength at the back and centre and pace on the wings. Before I knew it they were 4-1 up through Hawkins, Wignall, Boagey and Armstrong. Half an hour played and my tea not even cold. Brandon got one back on the stroke of half time, another lapse in defense. In the second Nialle Rodney scored what could only be described as a 5 mile an hour net buster' as the ball trickled in and managed to go through the net. 5-2 FT.

On getting home found Darlington had won their tie and was very much looking forward to receiving them in the next tie. However the following day when the balls were drawn they got Gateshead and we got Consett...

The Andy Capp Sunday League