PU PREVIEW 10: HARTLEPOOL UNITED

Hartlepool United was founded in 1908 as Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company, after the demise of West Hartlepool Rugby Club which left their stadium, the Victoria Ground, vacant. Some players from West Hartlepool FC, that had won the FA Amateur Cup in 1905, joined the new club in the professional North-Eastern League. West Hartlepool FC folded in 1910. After many applications to join the Football League, rejected because of the club's proximity to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, Hartlepools became a founder member of the Third Division (North) of the League in 1921. In 1957, they came from 3-0 down to level in a third round FA Cup tie versus Manchester United's Busby Babes before losing 4-3. The club gave Brian Clough his first senior management job in 1965. After the merger of West Hartlepool with Old Hartlepool in 1967, the club's name was changed to Hartlepool FC following their promotion to the Third Division in 1968. They became Hartlepool United in 1977. In 1992-93, Hartlepool set a new English record of thirteen consecutive games without scoring a goal. The club was sold to an oil company, IOR, in 1997. On 25 March 2007, Hartlepool broke their unbeaten record of 21 games by defeating local rivals Darlington. This was also a record for the best unbeaten run in the lowest division of the Football League. 

In the 2002 local council elections, the club's mascot H'Angus the Monkey, aka Stuart Drummond, was elected mayor of Hartlepool.

Famous fans of Hartlepool include Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, former MP Peter Mandelson, film director Ridley Scott, the rock star Meatloaf and pop singer Ed Sheeran.

The Pools are managed by former Southampton boss Dave Jones (appointed January 2017) and finished the 2013-14 League Two campaign in 22nd place. Another nickname of the club is the Monkey Hangers.

Pompey have played Hartlepool on thirteen occasions, with Pompey winning seven games, Hartlepool one game and five games drawn. The sides drew 0-0 at Fratton Park earlier in the season.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)