Hartlepool United F.C.

History

Main article: History of Hartlepool United F.C.

1908–1946: early years and establishment in the Football League

Hartlepool United's origins can be traced back to 1881 when West Hartlepool Amateur Football Club were founded, later joining as founder members of the Durham FA in 1883. In 1889, West Hartlepool subsequently joined the new Northern League before winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1905, beating Clapton 3–2. Partly as a result of this victory, the opportunity for a professional football team arose in 1908, when West Hartlepool Rugby Club went bankrupt, leaving their stadium, the Victoria Ground vacant. The stadium was bought and the current club was founded under the name The Hartlepools United Football & Athletic Club Company Ltd on 1 June 1908, representing both the town of West Hartlepool and the original settlement of Hartlepool, known locally as "Old Hartlepool". In their first season, they won the major regional trophy, the Durham Challenge Cup and retained it the following year as well as entering the FA Cup, in which they were drawn to play the local amateur club, West Hartlepool, with whom they shared the Victoria Ground. Hartlepools won 2–1 in the first qualifying round only to go out in the second, beaten by South Bank after a replay. They also entered the North-Eastern League, finished fourth in their initial season, and remained members of that league until 1920–21; their best season was 1910–11, when they finished third. In June 1910, the amateur West Hartlepool team folded, with their assets being taken over by Hartlepools. In 1921, the Football League agreed to form a Northern Section of the Third Division to complement the existing Third Division which contained only southern-based teams. Hartlepools were among the 18 applicants accepted as members. On 27 August 1921, Hartlepools played their first ever Football League match, defeating Wrexham 2–0. In 1921–22, Hartlepools finished their first Football League campaign in 4th place. Two seasons later, Hartlepools came 21st in the table, so were obliged to apply for re-election to the League; they and bottom club Barrow were elected unopposed. By the time the Second World War put a temporary end to competitive football, they had spent 18 consecutive seasons in the Third Division North, courtesy of two more successful applications for re-election.

1946–1969: FA Cup runs and first promotion

In the mid-1950s, Hartlepools enjoyed improved performances in both league and cup competition. In the FA Cup, they reached the fourth round for the first time in 1954–55, losing to Nottingham Forest in a replay after extra time. The following season, they lost 1–0 to reigning First Division champions Chelsea in the third round. At the same stage of the 1956–57 competition, in front of a record Victoria Ground attendance of 17,426, they came back from 3–0 down with top scorer Ken Johnson struggling with injury to equalise against Manchester United's "Busby Babes" before the top-flight club scored a late winner. Those three league seasons brought top-six finishes, culminating in what remains the club's record high of second place in 1956–57, when only the champions, Derby County, were promoted. However, Hartlepools did not fare well in the fourth tier. After five consecutive applications for re-election and with the club in financial difficulties, they appointed the 30-year-old Brian Clough in October 1965 to his first managerial role. He and assistant Peter Taylor, aided by a change of chairmanship, built a team that finished eighth in 1966–67. Clough gave his future European Cup winning captain John McGovern his professional debut for Hartlepools aged 16. Although Clough and Taylor then left for Derby County, the team maintained their form, finished third, and won promotion for the first time in the club's history in 1967–68. To better represent the new borough formed by the recent amalgamation of the adjacent boroughs of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool, the board decided the club would be called Hartlepool Association Football Club instead.

1969–1997: re-elections and stagnation in the Fourth Division

Hartlepool's foray into the Third Division lasted just one season, finishing 22nd. After Ashurst departed for Gillingham, the club reached the League Cup fourth round in 1974–75 for the first and only time under Ken Hale, where they lost a replay to eventual winners Aston Villa. However, 1976–77 saw a return to the doldrums; Hale was sacked but his successor, Billy Horner, could not improve the team's form, with Hartlepool finishing in 22nd place. Again there was a strong challenger from non-League in the form of Wimbledon; however, as the club was seeking re-election for the first time in six years, it was Workington – bottom for a second successive year – that made way. Over the close season the team's name was changed to its current form of Hartlepool United. In 1977–78, the first season under that name, the team reached the fourth round of the FA Cup again. By the time automatic promotion and relegation between the Football Conference and the League was introduced in 1986–87, Hartlepool had made a record eleven applications for re-election to the Fourth Division, which added to the three in the pre-war Northern Section made fourteen, also a league record, all of which had been successful.

After a poor start to the 1989–90 season, the appointment of Cyril Knowles meant Pools achieved a remarkable turnaround. After avoiding relegation, Hartlepool were in play-off contention with the partnership of Paul Baker and Joe Allon. However, in February 1991, Knowles was diagnosed with brain cancer. Alan Murray was put in temporary charge, where Pools' form would improve further. Joe Allon's 28 goals helped them gain promotion via a third-place finish in 1990–91 which was confirmed with a 3–1 win against Northampton Town. This time their stay lasted three seasons. In 1992–93, Hartlepool defeated Crystal Palace 1–0 in the FA Cup third round – the first time that Hartlepool had beaten a top division side in its history. It was revealed shortly after the cup win that the club were in financial difficulties. To make ends meet, a number of players were released or sold, and the club set an unenviable record by going 1,227 minutes without scoring. The club eventually escaped relegation, finishing 16th but were relegated back to the fourth tier in the following season.

1997–present: success under IOR and relegation from the Football League

The Hartlepool team that beat Torquay United in the 2021 National League play-off final 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. In 1997, Harold Hornsey sold the club to IOR Ltd, with Ken Hodcroft becoming chairman. After narrowly avoiding relegation to the Conference in 1999, the appointment of Chris Turner turned around the club's fortunes. Three consecutive defeats in the semi-finals of the play-offs preceded promotion in 2002–03 as runners-up, narrowly missing out on the title to Rushden & Diamonds. Hartlepool then achieved their highest finishing position since the introduction of the four-division structure, coming sixth in the third tier in both 2003–04 and 2004–05 under Neale Cooper. In the latter season, they reached the play-off final but lost out to Sheffield Wednesday after extra time. Relegated in 2006, they bounced straight back as runners-up in what was by then League Two. Promotion was confirmed with an away win at Wycombe Wanderers but they missed out on the title on the final day to Walsall.

They would spend six years in the third tier before being relegated in 2012–13. They came close to automatic relegation to non-League in 2014–15 before a late recovery to finish 22nd. June 2015 saw a change of ownership, IOR handing over to Essex recruitment firm JPNG, which appointed director Gary Coxall as chairman. But two years later, they were relegated from League Two after 96 years in the Football League. Needing to win their final match of the season and hope Newport County did not, Hartlepool came from behind to beat title-chasing Doncaster Rovers; however, Newport produced an 89th-minute winner to secure their own safety at Hartlepool's expense. By November 2017, financial legacy issues from JPNG intensified, with the club narrowly avoiding liquidation after being bought by local businessman Raj Singh in April 2018. Hartlepool ultimately finished a turbulent first season in non-League in 15th place. After four years, they returned to the Football League via the play-offs, defeating Torquay United on penalties in the 2021 National League play-off final. In Hartlepool's first season back in the EFL, they finished 17th and reached the EFL Trophy semi-finals for the first time, losing on penalties to Rotherham United. However, in 2022–23, the club were relegated back to the National League after only two seasons in the fourth tier. The club was placed up for sale in April 2023 before being sold in December 2025 to American businessman Landon Smith. Singh's tenure saw a high turnover of managers with 14 managerial changes during a near eight year ownership.

Recent seasons

Statistics from the previous decade. For a full history see; List of Hartlepool United F.C. seasons

Club identity

Colours and crest

Hartlepool have primarily played in blue and white vertical stripes throughout their history. From 1908 until 1911, Hartlepools initially wore white shirts with blue and white socks. In 1912, Hartlepools then adopted the blue and white stripes. From the mid-1960s to mid 1970s, the club's strip was often solely blue. In the 1990s, Hartlepool often played in light blue with white before returning to dark blue with white towards the end of the decade.

The first time that a crest appeared on the kit was in 1959, the crest was a shield with the club's initials. However, this would not last long as a crest would not appear on the kits again until the 1970s. From 1974, Hartlepool wore a variety of badges featuring a hart, taken from the logo of the newly enlarged town. In the early 1990s, a modern and abstract image of the hart was used. In 1995, the new ownership under local businessman Harold Hornsey ran a competition for a new logo. The winning design featured a ship's wheel, reflecting the maritime identity of the town. The club reverted to a design with a hart in 2017, standing on water as a heraldic pun on Hart-le-pool. The club said that the 1995 logo did not reflect the club's history, and that the ship's wheel was difficult to replicate in digital and printed media.

Sponsorship

Meyba currently manufactures the club's apparel. The current home and away shirt sponsor are Prestige Group.

Table of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:

Ground

Main article: Victoria Park (Hartlepool)

The home of Hartlepool United has been Victoria Park since the club's formation in 1908. The ground is currently under the ownership of Hartlepool Borough Council. The capacity of the ground is 7,856. The four stands of the ground are the Brunel Group Stand/Town End (1,599 capacity), the Teesside Airport Neale Cooper Stand (1,617 seated and 1,832 standing), the Rink End/Simpson Millar Stand - which is used for away supporters (1,003 capacity) and the Longbranch Homes Cyril Knowles Stand (1,775 capacity).

West Hartlepool Rugby Club bought the Victoria Park land from the North Eastern Railway Company in 1886 which was by then allotments. The land had once been a limestone quarry. The ground was named in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The club's first fixture at the Victoria Ground was on 2 September 1908, a 6–0 win against a Newcastle United team. Hartlepools initially shared the ground with West Hartlepool before they were dissolved in 1910, with their assets being taken over by Hartlepools. In 1916, the stand on Clarence Road (the current location of the Cyril Knowles Stand) was bombed by a German Zeppelin and was completely destroyed. The club attempted to claim compensation from the German government but failed. A temporary stand was introduced and was used until the Cyril Knowles Stand was completed in 1995 in memory of former manager Cyril Knowles who had died in 1991. In June 1948, new terracing was added to the Victoria Ground.

Under Harold Hornsey's ownership, a new covered terrace was built, with the ground renamed as Victoria Park. In September 1998, West Hartlepool Rugby Club started a ground share which lasted for a year. By September 2010, owners IOR claimed to have invested over £12 million in the ground during their tenure. Following the death of former manager Neale Cooper in 2018, the Cameron's Brewery Stand was renamed in his memory. In June 2021, owner Raj Singh and Hartlepool Borough Council signed a memorandum of understanding to begin a long-term project of development of Victoria Park and the nearby area. Singh claimed that Victoria Park's capacity could be extended to 15,000 as part of the project.

Due to sponsorship reasons, the ground was formerly named as the Northern Gas and Power Stadium (2016–17) and the Super 6 Stadium (2018–19). On 12 November 2021, it was announced that the stadium would be named the 'Suit Direct Stadium' after a three-year partnership was signed with the menswear high street retailer Suit Direct. The stadium was named as the 'Prestige Group Stadium' for the 2024–25 season.

Popular culture

Andy Capp

The comic strip Andy Capp, which was created by Hartlepool native Reg Smythe, has referred specifically to the team and the Cyril Knowles stand.

Monkey hangers

Main article: Monkey hanger, H'Angus the Monkey

According to local folklore, the term monkey hanger originates from a likely apocryphal incident in which a monkey was hanged in Hartlepool during the Napoleonic Wars. According to the legend, a French chasse-marée was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Hartlepool. The only survivor from the ship was a monkey, allegedly dressed in a French Army uniform to provide amusement for the crew. On finding the monkey on the beach, a group of locals decided to hold an impromptu trial. Because the monkey was unable to answer their questions, and because they had seen neither a monkey nor a Frenchman before, they concluded that the monkey must be a French spy. Being found guilty, the animal was duly sentenced to death and summarily hanged on the beach.

The people of Hartlepool therefore gained the nickname of monkey hangers which has subsequently been adopted by the football club. In 1999, the club's mascot H'Angus the Monkey was introduced.

Mascot elected mayor

Main article: H'Angus

In the 2002 council election, the team's mascot "H'Angus the Monkey", aka Stuart Drummond, was elected mayor of Hartlepool as an independent, under the slogan "free bananas for schoolchildren". Even though his candidacy was originally a publicity stunt, Drummond was re-elected after resigning as mascot and identifying himself increasingly with the Labour group on the council. On 5 May 2013, Drummond left his post of Hartlepool's mayor after a November 2012 referendum abolished the position, with the council instead being led by committees.

Supporters and rivalries

In 2003, market research company FFC surveyed fans of every Football League club across the country to find who they consider their main rivals to be. Hartlepool United fans chose Darlington as their main rivals. Additionally, in 2008, 95% of both clubs named each other as their biggest rivals. Between the two clubs, Hartlepool have won 60 games, compared to Darlington's 57 games in the rivalry. However, the two clubs haven't met since 2007 in a League meeting due to Darlington's financial issues and subsequent relegations. Hartlepool's other rivals according to the 2003 report include: Sheffield Wednesday, Carlisle United, Rushden & Diamonds (now extinct) and Sunderland respectively.

In 2015, a Hartlepool United's Supporters Trust was founded with the intention of "articulating the views of Hartlepool United supporters, lobby the club and provide the basis for some element of fan involvement and influence with the football club."

Famous fans

In recent years the most visible fan of the club has been Jeff Stelling, the former presenter of Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports. Stelling is currently Club President (2018–) and formerly Honorary President of the Hartlepool United Supporters' Trust (2017–2018). Janick Gers, of the metal band Iron Maiden, is a season ticket holder in the Neale Cooper Stand. Cricket umpire Michael Gough is also a fan of the club and in January 2021 was appointed Honorary President of the Hartlepool United Supporters' Trust.

In 2003, rock star Meat Loaf said on Soccer AM he was a fan of Hartlepool. On So Graham Norton later in the same year, he spoke about his support for the club and brought a cuddly H'Angus toy on the show. It was reported in the media that he was looking to purchase a house in the town. Speaking to Setanta Sports News in 2008, he commented on Hartlepool's recent victory but said that while amusing, the story about him looking to buy a house in the town was not true. In an interview with Talksport in 2010, Meat Loaf confirmed he still followed Hartlepool's results. Following his death in January 2022, the club paid tribute to Meat Loaf.

Records and statistics

Main article: List of Hartlepool United F.C. records and statistics

The record for most appearances for Hartlepool is held by Ritchie Humphreys, who played 543 matches in all competitions between 2001 and 2013. Joshie Fletcher is the club's top goalscorer with 111 goals in all competitions. The first player to be capped at international level while playing for Hartlepool was Ambrose Fogarty, when he played for the Republic of Ireland against Spain in 1964.

Hartlepool's largest league victory was a 10–1 win over Barrow in the Fourth Division in 1959, while the heaviest loss was 10–1 to Wrexham in 1962 also in the Fourth Division. Their widest winning margin in the FA Cup was a 10–1 win against St Peters Albion in 1923. Hartlepool's record defeat in the FA Cup was by 6–0 against Manchester City in 1976 and Port Vale in 1994.

The club's highest attendance at Victoria Park was 17,264 against Manchester United in 1957. The lowest attendance was 380 in the EFL Trophy against Rochdale in 2016. The record attendance of any Hartlepool game was 59,808 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff for the 2005 Football League One play-off final. Hartlepool's highest average attendance during a league season was 9,248 during the 1951–52 season.

The youngest player to play for the club is David Foley, who was 16 years and 44 days on his debut against Port Vale in the Football League Second Division on 25 August 2003. The oldest player is Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, who played his last match aged 41 years and 15 days against Harrogate Town in the FA Trophy on 14 December 2019.

Club records

As of the end of the 2024–25 season

• Best FA Cup performance: Fourth round, 1954–55, 1977–78, 1988–89, 1992–93, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2021–22
• 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, equivalent to 47th in the English football league system, 1956–57
• Seasons spent at level 3 of the football league system: 43
• Seasons spent at level 4 of the football league system: 48
• Seasons spent at level 5 of the football league system: 5

Most appearances

! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |Goals ! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |Position ! width="100" style="background:blue;color:white" |Career |- |1 |543 |37 |DF, MF

Players

First-team squad

Out on loan

Retired numbers

On 19 October 2007, Hartlepool's midfielder Michael Maidens died in a road traffic accident aged 20 years old. In honour of Maidens, the club retired his number 25 shirt. Furthermore, the annual Goal of the Season award was named after Maidens, who won the award himself in 2005–06 for his long-range strike against Huddersfield Town. Annually, the club's supporters applaud in the 25th minute of the game closest to the anniversary of his death.

Notable former players

For all players with a Wikipedia article see Hartlepool United F.C. players

Player of the Year

Hartlepool United Women

Main article: Hartlepool United F.C. Women

In 2015, a Hartlepool United Ladies team was launched. They will participate in the North East Regional Women's Football League Division One North in the 2024–25 season following relegation in the previous season and are managed by Gareth Horwood.

Club officials

Board and leadership team

Honours

Sources:

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

Notes

References

Infobox kits

Specific

Works cited

Other sources

• Timeline of events from Pools Stats (archived)
• Manager History from Soccerbase (archived)
• Season by Season record from In the Mad Crowd (archived)
• Law, Ed, Hartlepool United, (Derby; Breedon Books, 1989), .

References

1. Mark Simpson. "Club History". Hartlepool United Football Club.
2. Mike Amos. (2 May 2013). "Old ball game". The Northern Echo.
3. "Durham Challenge Cup Winners". Dunston UTS F.C..
4. "Past Results". The Football Association.
5. (7 March 1921). "Football League. Northern Section of Third Division". The Evening News.
6. "Wrexham 0–2 Hartlepools". In The Mad Crowd.
7. (11 January 1936). "Grimsby held". Sports Argus.
8. (3 February 1955). "Forest taken to extra time". Birmingham Post.
9. "Hartlepools 0–1 Chelsea". In The Mad Crowd.
10. (7 January 1957). "Brave fight by Hartlepools". Manchester Guardian.
11. Luke Edwards. (3 January 2020). "Hartlepool United - the club where Brian Clough learned his trade and a managerial legend was born". The Telegraph.
12. Payne, Mark. (29 January 2024). "Former Nottingham Forest European Cup winner John McGovern looking forward to Hartlepool tribute night".
13. "John McGovern". In The Mad Crowd.
14. (7 February 1967). "Local government boundaries (Hartlepool)".
15. "Aston Villa 6–1 Hartlepool United". In The Mad Crowd.
16. (13 November 2006). "Still hearty at 67, there's not much beyond our Ken". The Northern Echo.
17. "1976/77 season". In The Mad Crowd.
18. (27 October 2011). "Workington reject second takeover bid by Baron Bloom". BBC Sport.
19. (3 September 2010). "Cash the key to the future of the Vic". BBC News.
20. (2010). "Football League re-election". Headline.
21. (6 May 2017). "Highs and lows of Hartlepool United's 96-year stay in the Football League". Shropshire Star.
22. (2 January 2020). "'We were like brothers' - Pat on Cyril Knowles - Boro starlet, Spurs legend". Tottenham Hotspur FC.
23. (5 March 2005). "Allon happy that Boyd is threat to his record". Northern Echo.
24. (19 February 2016). "Up the Pools - a celebration of promotion triumph". Hartlepool Mail.
25. Richard Rundle. "Hartlepool United FC". Football Club History Database.
26. Paul Newman. (22 October 2011). "Football: Palace stunned by Hartlepool". The Independent.
27. (24 January 2009). "How Pools plunged from glory to despair". The Northern Echo.
28. (16 December 2014). "Hartlepool United: Ken Hodcroft and IOR sell to TMH 2014 Limited". BBC Sport.
29. (4 February 2008). "Quakers finally confirm Tait has left the club". The Northern Echo.
30. Loughlin, Nick. (21 August 2010). "Saturday Spotlight: How Turner reshaped Hartlepool United". The Northern Echo.
31. (19 April 2003). "Diamonds sparkle". The Guardian.
32. (29 May 2005). "Hartlepool 2–4 Sheff Wed (aet)". BBC Sport.
33. (6 May 2006). "Hartlepool United 1–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport.
34. (14 April 2007). "Wycombe Wanderers 0–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport.
35. (5 May 2007). "Hartlepool United 1–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport.
36. (18 April 2013). "John Hughes committed to Hartlepool despite relegation". BBC Sport.
37. (25 April 2015). "Hartlepool United 2–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport.
38. (26 June 2015). "New chairman Coxall accepts the need to silence the doubters". The Northern Echo.
39. Garry, Tom. (6 May 2017). "Hartlepool United 2–1 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport.
40. (22 December 2017). "Hartlepool United for sale as club reveals huge financial 'legacy issues'". Hartlepool Mail.
41. (20 April 2018). "Raj Singh completes Hartlepool United takeover". Sky Sports.
42. Pilnick, Brent. (20 June 2021). "National League promotion final: Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United (5–4 on pens) (aet)". BBC Sport.
43. Jones, Matty. (13 May 2022). "Hartlepool Season Review 2021–22: a hectic campaign, but they survived". The Northern Echo.
44. (9 March 2022). "Hartlepool United 2–2 Rotherham United (4–5 on pens)". BBC Sport.
45. (29 April 2023). "Hartlepool United 3–1 Barrow: Pools relegated to National League despite win". BBC Sport.
46. (1 January 2025). "American Smith completes Hartlepool takeover".
47. Loughlin, Nick. (31 December 2025). "Hartlepool United takeover confirmed as American investor Landon Smith takes charge".
48. "England historical attendance and performance - Hartlepool United". European Football Statistics.
49. "Hartlepool United". Football Club Database.
50. "League Two 2014/15 Attendance".
51. "Football League Attendances 2015–16".
52. "Football League Attendances 2016–17".
53. "National League – Average Attendance – Home Matches – 2017–18".
54. (30 May 2019). "Attendance Table: National League Season Standings".
55. (22 April 2020). "National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately".
56. Osborn, Oliver. (17 June 2020). "National League Statement: Ordinary Resolution supported by clubs". The National League.
57. "Vanarama National League table: Archives: 2019/20 season". The National League.
58. "National League – 2019/20".
59. Oliver Osborn. (13 October 2020). "National League Statement". Vanarama National League.
60. (26 March 2021). "Dover Athletic: National League club hit with fine, points deduction and results expunged". BBC Sport.
61. Oliver Osborn. (2 October 2020). "Commencement of 2020/21 season". Vanarama National League.
62. Dominic Scurr. (29 May 2021). "Story of the day: Hartlepool United 4–0 Weymouth - fans return with a bang at Victoria Park as Pools finish fourth". Dominic Scurr.
63. "League Two 2021/2022 – Attendance – Home Matches".
64. "League Two 2022/23 Attendance Home Matches". Worldfootball.net.
65. (24 April 2023). "National League 2023/24 Attendance Home Matches".
66. (5 May 2025). "National League 2024/25 Attendance Home Matches".
67. (20 June 2017). "Hartlepool: New badge for a new era at Pools". The Northern Echo.
68. (17 April 2025). "Pools partner with MEYBA". Hartlepool United FC.
69. "Hartlepool United". Historical Football Kits.
70. "Victoria Park". Hartlepool United FC.
71. (15 September 2010). "Council rejects offer to buy Hartlepool United ground". BBC News.
72. "Victoria Park". Hartlepool United FC.
73. Michael Walker. (18 December 2014). "Hartlepool United's bet on new owners to make monkey of survival odds". The Independent.
74. (24 August 2016). "On the Road: Hartlepool United". Newport County AFC.
75. (27 June 2018). "Hartlepool United to rename stand in memory of former manager Neale Cooper". ITV News.
76. Mark Payne. (18 June 2021). "Rebuilt Hartlepool United ground could be 15,000-seater stadium". Hartlepool Mail.
77. Paul Fraser. (3 August 2016). "Hartlepool's Victoria Park to become The Northern Gas & Power Stadium". The Northern Echo.
78. (8 August 2018). "Hartlepool's deal with Super 6 will help club survive, says Jeff Stelling". Sky Sports.
79. (12 November 2021). "The Suit Direct Stadium". Hartlepool United FC.
80. (16 August 2024). "Prestige Group become Stadium Naming Rights sponsor".
81. Smythe, Reg. (10 April 2022). "Andy Capp by Reg Smythe for April 10, 2022".
82. "Monkey Legend". Hartlepool United.
83. (8 June 2021). "Hartlepool council leader denies monkey statue explanatory sign". BBC News.
84. (4 May 2002). "Independent.co.uk". The Independent.
85. (1 May 2013). "BBC.co.uk". The BBC.
86. (February 2008). "Football Rivalries Report". The New Football Pools.
87. (25 May 2012). "Darlington relegated four divisions after FA recommendation". BBC Sport.
88. Craig Stoddart. (22 January 2019). "Darlington 1 2 Hartlepool". The Northern Echo.
89. (December 2003). "The Results of the Largest Ever Survey into Club Rivalries". The Football Fans Census.
90. "What is HUST". Hartlepool United Supporters Trust.
91. (6 December 2018). "HUST Welcomes Next Honorary President".
92. (17 October 2022). "Made in Hartlepool: 23 famous people who were born, lived or studied here".
93. (29 October 2020). "Michael Gough to be HUST's new honorary president".
94. "Rumours of Meat Loaf's arrival in Hartlepool are greatly exaggerated".
95. Ward, David. (22 May 2003). "Bat out of Hartlepool". The Guardian.
96. "Famous Football Fans".
97. (13 May 2008). "Meat Loaf: Hartlepool United's Most Famous Fan?".
98. Patrick Gouldsbrough. (23 January 2022). "Hartlepool pay tribute to pop singer Meat Loaf". Northern Echo.
99. (15 April 2010). "Meat Loaf on supporting Hartlepool and ringing Mike Newell".
100. (22 January 2022). "Hartlepool run out to Bat Out of Hell as club pay tribute to fan Meat Loaf". FourFourTwo.
101. (21 May 2013). "Long-serving Ritchie Humphreys leaves Hartlepool United". BBC Sport.
102. "Club Records". Hartlepool United FC.
103. Nick Loughlin. (24 August 2016). "Hartlepool keeper named in national squad for World Cup qualifier". The Northern Echo.
104. (13 September 2003). "Gr-eight Pool!". Teesside Live.
105. "MATCH - Largest Losing Margins". In The Mad Crowd.
106. "MATCH - Largest Winning Margins FA Cup". In The Mad Crowd.
107. (24 January 2022). "The Opposition: Hartlepool United". Exeter City FC.
108. Nick Loughlin. (10 November 2016). "Three games, three defeats for Hartlepool in Checkatrade Trophy". The Northern Echo.
109. "MATCH - Highest Attendances, Home/Neutral". In The Mad Crowd.
110. (16 February 2010). "Striker David Foley quits Hartlepool for US move". BBC Sport.
111. Dominic Scurr. (5 August 2021). "Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos back at Hartlepool United as a coach". Hartlepool Mail.
112. "Hartlepools United".
113. "Hartlepool".
114. "2025-26 Squad Numbers Announced". Hartlepool United FC.
115. (7 August 2025). "Tom Parkes named Pools captain". Hartlepool United F.C..
116. "Josh Donaldson signs for Pools". Hartlepool United FC.
117. (20 October 2007). "Hartlepool player dies in crash".
118. (29 October 2007). "Pools retire Maidens' number 25". BBC Sport.
119. Loughlin, Nick. (20 October 2007). "Sweeney and Hartlepool United salute Michael Maidens".
120. (16 September 2015). "Hartlepool United set up women's team". BBC Sport.
121. Stelling, Robbie. (28 May 2024). "Hartlepool United Women relegated following heartbreaking final day defeat to Sunderland West End".
122. (31 December 2025). "Hartlepool United Football Club Confirms Takeover".
123. "Staff Profiles".
124. "Who's Who".
125. "Durham Challenge Cup Winners". Synners.com.