Hartlepool United Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Hartlepool, County Durham. The club was founded in 1908, and its first team played in the North-Eastern League from then until 1921, when the Football League formed a new Third Division based in the north of England. Hartlepool have never played above the third tier of English football, nor have they won a divisional title, but they remained a member of the Football League for 89 consecutive seasons before relegation to the National League in 2017. They hold the record for applications for re-election, with fourteen – three to the Third Division North and a divisional record eleven to the Fourth Division – and all fourteen were successful. Their highest league placing was second in the Third Division North in 1956–57 – only the champions were promoted – but a year later, they were placed in the Fourth Division when the regionalised third tiers were merged into nationwide third and fourth tiers. Since that restructure, their highest league finish has been sixth in the third tier, in 2003–04 and 2004–05; on the latter occasion, they reached the play-off final but lost out to Sheffield Wednesday. They were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 2016–17. They reached the last 32 of the FA Cup for the first time in 1954–55, and have matched that performance six times since, most recently in 2021–22. In the Football League Cup, their best performance was to reach the last 16 in 1975–76.
History
editAfter West Hartlepool R.F.C. folded in 1908, a professional association football club was founded to play at their ground; the board of directors, which included former members of the rugby club committee, named the club Hartlepools United, with the aim of attracting spectators not only from West Hartlepool but also from the nearby town of Hartlepool.[1][2] In their first season, they won the major regional trophy, the Durham Challenge Cup – and retained it the following year[3] – as well as entering the FA Cup, in which they were drawn to play the local amateur club, West Hartlepool F.C., with whom they shared the Victoria Ground.[4] Hartlepool won 2–1 in the first qualifying round only to go out in the second, beaten by South Bank after a replay.[5] 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.[6] 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. Hartlepool were among the 18 applicants accepted as members,[7] and began their Football League career with a fourth-place finish in the 1921–22 season.[6]
Two seasons later, Hartlepool came 21st in the table, so were obliged to apply for re-election to the League; they and bottom club Barrow were elected unopposed.[8][a] In the 1935–36 season, the club reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time. Drawn against Grimsby Town, they held the First Division club to a goalless draw despite playing most of the match with forward Dick Hardy replacing the concussed Jackie Mittell in goal,[11] but lost the replay.[6] By the time the Second World War put a temporary end to competitive football, they had spent 18 consecutive seasons in the Northern Section, courtesy of two more successful applications for re-election.[8][6]
In the mid-1950s, Hartlepool 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,[6] losing to Nottingham Forest in a replay after extra time.[12] The following season, they lost 1–0 to reigning League champions Chelsea in the third round, and at the same stage of the 1956–57 competition, in front of a record Victoria Ground attendance of 17,426,[13] 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 found a late winner.[14] Those three league seasons brought top-six finishes, culminating in what remains the club's record high of second place in 1956–57 – only the champions were promoted.[6] They dropped into the bottom six in 1958, which meant they were placed in the Fourth Division when the regional sections were merged into nationwide third and fourth tiers.[13] Hartlepool 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. Although Clough and Taylor then left for Derby County,[15] the team maintained their form, finished third, and won promotion for the first time in the club's history in 1967–68.[13] To better represent the new borough formed by the recent amalgamation of the adjacent boroughs of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool,[16] the board decided the club needed a new name.[17]
Hartlepool Association Football Club's foray into the Third Division lasted just one season, and after nine years, three re-elections and a £10,000 loan from the local council to keep the club afloat,[18] the name was changed again, to Hartlepool United. In 1977–78, the first season under that name, the team reached the fourth round of the FA Cup again; despite progressing to the same stage five times since, most recently in 2021–22, they have yet to play in the fifth round.[19][20] 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.[8] They remained in the fourth tier until Joe Allon's 28 goals helped them gain promotion via a third-place finish. This time their stay lasted three seasons.[20]
Three consecutive defeats in the semi-finals of the play-offs preceded promotion as 2002–03 Third Division runners-up – when the Premier League broke away in 1992, the Football League's divisions were renumbered upwards. 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. On the latter occasion, they reached the play-off final but lost out to Sheffield Wednesday.[21] Relegated in 2006, they bounced straight back as runners-up in what was by then League Two, and spent six years at the higher level. They came close to automatic relegation in 2014–15, but two years later, they were relegated from the Football League for the first time after a continuous membership of 89 playing seasons. 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 but Newport produced an 89th-minute winner to secure their own safety at Hartlepool's expense.[22] After four years, they returned to the Football League via the play-offs, defeating Torquay United in the 2021 play-off final.[23] However, the club were relegated back to the National League after only two seasons in the fourth tier.[24]
Since their admission to the Football League in 1921, the team have spent 43 seasons in the third tier of the English football league system, 48 in the fourth, and 5 in the fifth, as of the end of the 2023–24 season.[6][19][20] The table details the team's achievements and the top goalscorer in senior first-team competitions from their debut season in the North-Eastern League and FA Cup in 1908–09 to the end of the most recently completed season.
Key
edit
Key to league record:
Key to colours and symbols:
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Key to divisions:
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Key to stages of competitions:
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Details of the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.
Seasons
editSeason | League[6][19][20][25] | FA Cup[b] | League Cup[26][c] | Other[20][26][28][29][30][31] | Top scorer(s)[d] | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division[e] | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Competition | Result | Name | Goals | |||
1908–09 | NEL | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 79 | 51 | 41 | 4th | QR2 | — | Durham CC | W | Joshie Fletcher | 27 |
1909–10 | NEL | 32 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 82 | 23 | 46 | 4th | QR2 | — | Durham CC | W | Joshie Fletcher | 27 |
1910–11 | NEL | 34 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 71 | 39 | 44 | 3rd | QR1 | — | Durham CC | F | Joshie Fletcher | 19 |
1911–12 | NEL | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 66 | 50 | 26 | 10th | QR4 | — | Durham CC | R2 | Joshie Fletcher | 21 |
1912–13 | NEL | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 69 | 99 | 36 | 12th | QR5 | — |
|
Joshie Fletcher | 17 | |
1913–14 | NEL | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 68 | 37 | 44 | 7th | QR4 | — |
|
John Smith | 28 | |
1914–15 | NEL | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 74 | 57 | 43 | 7th | QR5 | — |
|
Reuben Butler | 25 | |
1915–19 | Competitive league and FA Cup football was suspended until after the First World War.
|
||||||||||||||
1919–20 | NEL | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 65 | 36 | 34 | 9th | QR4 | — | Durham CC | R2 | Chuck Hewitt | 14 |
1920–21 | NEL | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 64 | 39 | 42 | 7th | QR6 | — | Durham CC | F | Jimmy Lister | 24 |
1921–22 | Div 3N | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 52 | 39 | 42 | 4th | R1 | — | — | — | Peter Robertson | 12 |
1922–23 | Div 3N | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 48 | 54 | 32 | 15th | QR6 | — | — | — | Cecil Hardy | 11 |
1923–24 | Div 3N | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 33 | 70 | 25 | 21st | QR6 | — | — | — | Billy Smith | 18 |
1924–25 | Div 3N | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 45 | 63 | 35 | 20th | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Smith | 12 |
1925–26 | Div 3N | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 82 | 73 | 44 | 6th | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Wensley | 22 |
1926–27 | Div 3N | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 66 | 81 | 34 | 17th | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Wensley | 16 |
1927–28 | Div 3N | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 69 | 81 | 38 | 15th | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Robinson | 28 |
1928–29 | Div 3N | 42 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 59 | 112 | 26 | 21st | R1 | — | — | — | Ginger Richardson | 19 |
1929–30 | Div 3N | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 81 | 74 | 45 | 8th | R1 | — | — | — | Albert Pape | 21 |
1930–31 | Div 3N | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 67 | 86 | 30 | 20th | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Simmons | 17 |
1931–32 | Div 3N | 40 | 16 | 5 | 19 | 78 | 100 | 37 | 13th | R1 | — | — | — | Syd Lumley | 18 |
1932–33 | Div 3N | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 87 | 116 | 39 | 14th | R2 | — | — | — | Joss Hewitt | 24 |
1933–34 | Div 3N | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 89 | 93 | 39 | 11th | R2 | — | Third Division North Cup | R1 | Joss Hewitt | 21 |
1934–35 | Div 3N | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 80 | 78 | 41 | 12th | R2 | — | Third Division North Cup | SF | Duncan Lindsay | 25 |
1935–36 | Div 3N | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 57 | 61 | 42 | 8th | R3 | — | Third Division North Cup | R1 | Johnny Wigham | 19 |
1936–37 | Div 3N | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 75 | 69 | 45 | 6th | R2 | — | Third Division North Cup | R2 | Sam English | 20 |
1937–38 | Div 3N | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 53 | 80 | 32 | 20th | R2 | — | Third Division North Cup | R2 | Sam English | 11 |
1938–39 | Div 3N | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 55 | 94 | 31 | 21st | R2 | — | Third Division North Cup | SF | Tommy McGarry | 14 |
1939–40 | Div 3N | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | —[f] | — | — | — | — | Joe Mantle | 1 |
1939–45 | The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
|
||||||||||||||
1945–46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R1[g] | — | — | — | Hughie McMahon | 2 |
1946–47 | Div 3N | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 64 | 73 | 39 | 13th | R2 | — | — | — | Sammy Scott | 14 |
1947–48 | Div 3N | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 51 | 73 | 36 | 19th | R2 | — | — | — | Jimmy Isaac | 9 |
1948–49 | Div 3N | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 45 | 58 | 38 | 16th | R1 | — | — | — | Fred Richardson | 9 |
1949–50 | Div 3N | 42 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 52 | 79 | 33 | 18th | R2 | — | — | — | Les Owens | 13 |
1950–51 | Div 3N | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 64 | 66 | 39 | 16th | R2 | — | — | — | Eric Wildon | 27 |
1951–52 | Div 3N | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 71 | 65 | 50 | 9th | R3 | — | — | — | Eric Wildon | 19 |
1952–53 | Div 3N | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 57 | 61 | 46 | 17th | R2 | — | — | — | 11 | |
1953–54 | Div 3N | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 59 | 65 | 40 | 18th | R3 | — | — | — | Eric Wildon | 16 |
1954–55 | Div 3N | 46 | 25 | 5 | 16 | 64 | 49 | 55 | 5th | R4 | — | — | — | Tommy McGuigan | 20 |
1955–56 | Div 3N | 46 | 26 | 5 | 15 | 81 | 60 | 57 | 4th | R3 | — | — | — | George Luke | 22 |
1956–57 | Div 3N | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 90 | 63 | 59 | 2nd[h] | R3 | — | — | — | Ken Johnson | 26 |
1957–58 | Div 3N | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 73 | 76 | 44 | 17th | R2 | — | — | — | Peter Thompson | 20 |
1958–59 | Div 4[i] | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 74 | 88 | 40 | 19th | R2 | — | — | — | George Luke | 13 |
1959–60 | Div 4 | 46 | 10 | 7 | 29 | 59 | 109 | 27 | 24th | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Clark | 21 |
1960–61 | Div 4 | 46 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 71 | 103 | 32 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Ken Johnson | 13 |
1961–62 | Div 4 | 44 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 52 | 101 | 27 | 22nd | R3 | R1 | — | — | Johnny Edgar | 20 |
1962–63 | Div 4 | 46 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 56 | 104 | 25 | 24th | R1 | R1 | — | — | 11 | |
1963–64 | Div 4 | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 54 | 93 | 33 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Peter Thompson | 8 |
1964–65 | Div 4 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 85 | 43 | 15th | R2 | R1 | — | — | Peter Thompson | 16 |
1965–66 | Div 4 | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 63 | 75 | 40 | 18th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Ernie Phythian | 13 |
1966–67 | Div 4 | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 66 | 64 | 51 | 8th | R1 | R1 | — | — | Ernie Phythian[j] | 26 ♦ |
1967–68 | Div 4 ↑ | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 60 | 46 | 60 | 3rd[k] | R1 | R2 | — | — | Terry Bell | 15 |
1968–69 | Div 3 ↓ | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 40 | 70 | 39 | 22nd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Peter Blowman | 8 |
1969–70 | Div 4 | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 42 | 82 | 30 | 23rd | R2 | R2 | — | — | Terry Bell | 15 |
1970–71 | Div 4 | 46 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 34 | 74 | 28 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Nick Sharkey | 9 |
1971–72 | Div 4 | 46 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 58 | 69 | 40 | 18th | R2 | R1 | — | — | Ron Young | 20 |
1972–73 | Div 4 | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 49 | 41 | 20th | R1 | R1 | — | — | John Coyne | 11 |
1973–74 | Div 4 | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 48 | 47 | 44 | 11th | R1 | R2 | — | — | Allan Gauden | 14 |
1974–75 | Div 4 | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 52 | 62 | 43 | 13th | R2 | R4 | — | — | Bobby Park | 14 |
1975–76 | Div 4 | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 62 | 78 | 42 | 14th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Malcolm Moore | 18 |
1976–77 | Div 4 | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 47 | 73 | 32 | 22nd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Malcolm Poskett | 10 |
1977–78 | Div 4 | 46 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 51 | 84 | 37 | 21st | R4 | R1 | — | — | Billy Ayre | 13 |
1978–79 | Div 4 | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 57 | 66 | 44 | 13th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Keith Houchen | 13 |
1979–80 | Div 4 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 59 | 64 | 38 | 19th | R1 | R1 | — | — | Keith Houchen | 15 |
1980–81 | Div 4 | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 61 | 49 | 9th | R1 | R1 | — | — | Keith Houchen | 17 |
1981–82 | Div 4 | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 73 | 84 | 55[l] | 14th | R2 | R1 | Football League Group Cup | Group | 18 | |
1982–83 | Div 4 | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 46 | 76 | 48 | 22nd | R2 | R2 | Football League Group Cup | Group | Paul Dobson | 9 |
1983–84 | Div 4 | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 47 | 85 | 40 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Paul Dobson | 13 |
1984–85 | Div 4 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 54 | 67 | 52 | 19th | R2 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Kevin Dixon | 13 |
1985–86 | Div 4 | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 68 | 67 | 70 | 7th | R2 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Alan Shoulder | 19 |
1986–87 | Div 4 | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 44 | 65 | 51 | 18th | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Kevin Dixon | 9 |
1987–88 | Div 4 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 50 | 57 | 59 | 16th | R3 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | SF(N) | Paul Baker | 25 |
1988–89 | Div 4 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 50 | 78 | 52 | 19th | R4 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Simon Grayson | 13 |
1989–90 | Div 4 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 66 | 88 | 55 | 19th | R2 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | 17 | |
1990–91 | Div 4 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 67 | 48 | 82 | 3rd | R2 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Joe Allon[m] | 35 |
1991–92 | Div 3 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 57 | 57 | 65 | 11th | R3 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | QF(N) | Paul Baker | 18 |
1992–93 | Div 2[n] | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 42 | 60 | 54 | 16th | R4 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Andy Saville | 20 |
1993–94 | Div 2 ↓ | 46 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 41 | 87 | 36 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Nicky Southall | 10 |
1994–95 | Div 3 | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 43 | 69 | 43 | 18th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Keith Houchen | 14 |
1995–96 | Div 3 | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 47 | 67 | 49 | 20th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | 9 | |
1996–97 | Div 3 | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 53 | 66 | 51 | 20th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Joe Allon | 11 |
1997–98 | Div 3 | 46 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 61 | 53 | 59 | 17th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Jon Cullen | 12 |
1998–99 | Div 3 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 52 | 65 | 51 | 22nd | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Chris Beech | 9 |
1999–2000 | Div 3 | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 49 | 72 | 7th[o] | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Tommy Miller | 16 |
2000–01 | Div 3 | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 71 | 54 | 77 | 4th[p] | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Tommy Miller | 20 |
2001–02 | Div 3 | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 74 | 48 | 71 | 7th[q] | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Gordon Watson | 18 |
2002–03 | Div 3 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 71 | 51 | 85 | 2nd | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Eifion Williams | 16 |
2003–04 | Div 2 | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 76 | 61 | 73 | 6th[r][s] | R3 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Eifion Williams | 14 |
2004–05 | League 1 | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 76 | 66 | 71 | 6th[r][t] | R4 | R2 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Adam Boyd | 29 |
2005–06 | League 1 ↓ | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 44 | 59 | 50 | 21st | R2 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | 7 | |
2006–07 | League 2 ↑ | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 65 | 40 | 88 | 2nd | R2 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | 9 | |
2007–08 | League 1 | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 63 | 66 | 54 | 15th | R2 | R2 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Richie Barker | 16 |
2008–09 | League 1 | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 66 | 79 | 50 | 19th | R4 | R3 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Joel Porter | 23 |
2009–10 | League 1 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 59 | 67 | 50[v] | 20th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Andy Monkhouse | 11 |
2010–11 | League 1 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 47 | 65 | 57 | 16th | R3 | R2 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Antony Sweeney | 14 |
2011–12 | League 1 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 50 | 55 | 56 | 13th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Antony Sweeney | 9 |
2012–13 | League 1 ↓ | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 39 | 67 | 41 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Andy Monkhouse | 7 |
2013–14 | League 2 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 50 | 56 | 53 | 19th | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Luke James | 16 |
2014–15 | League 2 | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 39 | 70 | 45 | 22nd | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | 6 | |
2015–16 | League 2 | 46 | 15 | 6 | 25 | 49 | 72 | 51 | 16th | R3 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Billy Paynter | 15 |
2016–17 | League 2 ↓ | 46 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 54 | 75 | 46 | 23rd | R2 | R1 | EFL Trophy | R1(N) | Pádraig Amond | 14 |
2017–18 | National | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 63 | 56 | 15th | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R1 | Michael Woods | 11 |
2018–19 | National | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 56 | 62 | 59 | 16th | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R2 | Liam Noble | 13 |
2019–20 | National | 39 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 56 | 50 | 55 | 12th[w] | R3 | — | FA Trophy | R1 | Gime Touré | 13 |
2020–21 | National ↑ | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 66 | 43 | 76 | 4th[x] | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R3 | Rhys Oates | 17 |
2021–22 | League 2 | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 64 | 54 | 17th | R4 | R1 | EFL Trophy | SF | Luke Molyneux | 12 |
2022–23 | League 2 ↓ | 46 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 52 | 78 | 43 | 23rd | R3 | R1 | EFL Trophy | Group | Josh Umerah | 15 |
2023–24 | National | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 70 | 82 | 60 | 12th | QR4 | — | FA Trophy | R4 | Emmanuel Dieseruvwe | 25 |
Notes
edit- ^ The League's Management Committee recommended to the Annual General Meeting that the existing members, Hartlepool and Barrow, be re-elected "in order that the original members of our section shall given plenty of opportunity to stabilise their financial condition consequent upon expenditure necessary in order to obtain election to the League."[9] As a result, applications from Llanelly, Mansfield Town and Pontypridd were not considered.[10]
- ^ Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925.[5]
- ^ The Football League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[27]
- ^ Includes goals scored in all nationally organised competitions, i.e. the Football League, including play-offs, FA Cup, National League and play-offs, League Cup, Football League Group Cup, EFL Trophy and predecessors, and Third Division North Cup, as well as goals scored in the North-Eastern League before Hartlepool's admission to the Football League. For seasons from 1908–09 to 2009–10, sourced to PoolStats and/or In The Mad Crowd;[30][31] for non-League seasons thereafter, sourced to In The Mad Crowd;[31] for Football League seasons thereafter, sourced to Soccerbase.[32]
- ^ From the 1921–22 Football League season onwards, divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system, and separately from the pre-Football League division.
- ^ The 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began.[6]
- ^ Although the Football League did not resume until the 1946–47 season, the FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs.[5][6]
- ^ Club's best League finishing position before the regional sections of the Third Division were amalgamated into national Third and Fourth Divisions.[6]
- ^ Hartlepool were placed in the Football League Fourth Division when the regional sections of the Third Division were amalgamated into national Third and Fourth Divisions.[6]
- ^ Phythian was top scorer in the 1966–67 Fourth Division with 23 goals.[33]
- ^ Promoted to the Football League Third Division by virtue of finishing in third place. This was the first promotion in the club's history.[6]
- ^ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[27]
- ^ The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) erroneously lists Allon as joint top scorer in the 1990–91 Fourth Division with 35 goals, but only 28 of those were scored in the league.[33][34]
- ^ The newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, and the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards.[27]
- ^ Lost 3–0 on aggregate to local rivals Darlington in play-off semi-final.[35]
- ^ Lost 5–1 on aggregate in to Blackpool play-off semi-final.[36]
- ^ Lost on penalties to Cheltenham Town in play-off semi-final.[37]
- ^ a b Club's joint-best League finishing position since the introduction of the four-division structure.
- ^ Lost 3–2 on aggregate to Bristol City in play-off semi-final.[38]
- ^ After beating Tranmere Rovers on penalties in play-off semi-final,[39] lost 4–2 after extra time to Sheffield Wednesday in 2005 Football League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.[21]
- ^ Barker was top scorer in the 2006–07 League Two season with 21 goals, of which 12 were scored for Mansfield Town before he joined Hartlepool.[33][40]
- ^ Three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.[41]
- ^ The 2019–20 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National League was suspended in mid-March 2020 and the clubs voted six weeks later to end the regular season programme.[42] Teams had not all played the same number of matches, so it was agreed to construct final league tables on an unweighted points per game basis.[43] Hartlepool United placed twelfth.[44]
- ^ Beat Bromley 3–2 in the play-off quarter-final[45] and Stockport County 1–0 in the semi-final.[46] In the 2021 National League play-off final, played at Ashton Gate, Bristol, because Wembley Stadium was in use for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, Hartlepool led from the 35th minute, but Torquay United goalkeeper Lucas Covolan headed an equaliser five minutes into stoppage time. The score remained 1–1 until the end of extra time, and Hartlepool won the penalty shootout 5–4.[21]
References
edit- ^ Picken, Dave (29 April 2010). "A short history of West". West Hartlepool Rugby. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "The early years: 1881 to 1945". Hartlepool United F.C. 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Durham Challenge Cup Winners". Dunston UTS F.C. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ Errington (2012), pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b c "Past Results". The Football Association. Retrieved 21 May 2024. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Hartlepools United". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Football League. Northern Section of Third Division". The Evening News. Portsmouth. 7 March 1921. p. 2.
- ^ a b c "Football League re-election". PoolStats. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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Sources
edit- Errington, Malcolm (2012). Hartlepool United: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78091-030-7.