Last weekend Hartlepool United evaded relegation from the Football League. Around Christmas time the team looked certainties to be relegated. Bottom of the table and ten points adrift from safety, the Hartlepool board decided it was time for a change. Paul Murray, after only two months in charge, was relieved of his duties and ex-Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore was appointed, and he had one objective “keep Hartlepool in the Football League”.
Hartlepool United were formed in 1908 and joined the league in 1921, playing their first ever league game away to Wrexham. In 1957 they had arguably their most famous game, narrowly losing 4-3 at home in the FA Cup 3rd round to Manchester United’s Busby Babes. The late great Brian Clough spent two years managing the club in the mid sixties before going onto greater glories with Derby County and Nottingham Forest respectively. The club has never played outside the bottom two divisions in the football league. The closest they came was a play-off final game in 2005, the winner gaining promotion to the Championship. Hartlepool lost to Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 after extra time having being in front with only eight minutes to play.
Hartlepool United are however best known for holding a record, they are the club with highest number of re-election campaigns, the number stands at fourteen between 1924 and 1984.
For those of you unfamiliar with the re-election system in the football league which was in use until 1986, this was a process where by the worst placed clubs within the football league had to reapply for their place and also non league clubs could apply for a place in the league. This was how promotion and relegation was sorted out before direct promotion and relegation was introduced whereby the two teams finishing bottom of the league are relegated to the non leagues and two non league teams (the champions and a play off winner) are promoted. Teams who were vying for re-election had to attend a meeting where the rest of the football league would either vote to keep them in or vote to have a non league team join the league. Hartlepool never lost a vote.
Fast forward to the current season and Hartlepool along with their fans were not expecting a title challenge or even a play off place after a very difficult return to League Two the previous season but a comfortable season around mid table with the hope maybe of pushing on and looking at possible promotion the following season. Things didn’t really turn out as planned. By the turn of the year Hartlepool were ten points adrift at the bottom of the table, with little hope of staying up and now onto their third manager of the season. This however proved to be third time lucky, former Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore was appointed and somehow their form dramatically improved. They clawing back the ten point deficit and with a game to go securing their league status once again and creating their own version of the great escape.
What the future holds now for Hartlepool is anyone’s guess, a failed takeover midway through the season means the club is still in the hands of Ken Hodcroft who shall we say is not exactly a fan favourite after finally turning on him when non league Blyth Spartans knocked them out of the FA Cup at the second round stage. Hartlepool’s long suffering supporters are probably hoping for a quieter season next time round even if its just to give their hearts and livers a much deserved rest.
Main image:
