Victoria Ground achieved what must surely be a unique feat in the First World War. It was bombed by a Zeppelin and shelled by the Kaiser's navy. Perhaps it was a German not a French monkey they'd hanged all those years before, and revenge was being sought?

After the War the club played in the Northern Victory League for a season, then the North-East League. In 1921 they were given one of the automatic places in the Football League's newly formed Division Three North. And there they remained, with little more excitement than the occasional need for re-election, until 1958 when the reorganisation of the Football League saw them into Division Four. They continued there, with even Brian Clough, in his first managerial appointment from 1965-67, unable to get them up. However he and Peter Taylor had sown seeds, and the following season Hartlepools United achieved their first ever promotion, finishing third. They dropped the 's' and 'United' and the very next season it was Hartlepool who were..... relegated straight back down. The season after that they were back in the re-election mix once again. And the season after that. And twice more before the Seventies were out. And in the Eighties....... Bitter? Us?

The Camerons Brewery Stand Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

In 1990-91 Hartlepool United (the 'United' but not the 's' had been restored in 1977) achieved their second promotion, again in third place. This time they lasted three seasons. During this time they achieved a Football League record of 1,227 minutes without scoring and came close to being wound up.

They must like fiddling with names in Hartlepool. Back in the bottom division again they decided in 1995 that Victoria Ground would be called Victoria Park.

In 1997 the club was bought by Increased Oil Recovery Ltd. In Hartlepool terms the new century has been a bonanza of success. From 2000-2002 under Chris Turner they made the play-offs three years in a row, only to lose out each time. In 2002-03 they looked as if they were going to storm the division. Turner left for Sheffield Wednesday in November but they went an absolute mile ahead. However the massive lead was squandered and Rushden & Diamonds took the title. Although they did finish second and got their third promotion Mike Newell's contract was not renewed. The following season under Neale Cooper they were in the Second Division play-offs but were knocked out by Bristol City. In 2004-05 they were closing in on a play-off place once again when Cooper walked out. Martin Scott stepped up on a caretaker basis and took them through the Semi-Finals against red hot favourites Tranmere Rovers and on to the Millennium Stadium. They lost out to Sheffield Wednesday in extra time but Scott was rewarded with the manager's job on a permanent basis.

After all of those years of success, the 2005-06 season was not a good one. After reaching the play-off final, they played the "play-off final loser always has a hangover season" card superbly, with Scott fired for poor results by February, and his successor Paul Stephenson faring even worse, lasting only until the end of the season as the managerial change failed to alter their downward spiral and relegation to League Two was confirmed.

Cyril Knowles Stand Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

Hartlepool appointed former Bristol City manager Danny Wilson - the man who was City's manager when Hartlepool were knocked out of the play-offs in 2003-04, but had also been fired after failing to take City one step further. Wilson had also been fired by MK Dons, but he showed his managerial prowess was still there - taking them back to League One in his first season in charge, and in doing so denying his former club MK Dons a chance to do the same.

In their first season back, they did well enough, without pulling up any trees along the way, finishing mid-table in 15th, and should see that as reasonable success. Like ourselves they are one of the smaller clubs in League One terms, and another finish in the mid-table comfort zone will be their initial aim.

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RECENT RESULTS

07/08/2010	Rochdale	Away	NPL1	D	0-0	3706
07/08/2010	Rochdale	Away	NPL1	D	0-0	3706
14/08/2010	Swindon Town	Home	NPL1	D	2-2	2893		Boyd 4, Sweeney 12
21/08/2010	Yeovil Town	Away	NPL1	W	2-0	3537		Liddle 30, Monkhouse 54
28/08/2010	Sheffield Wednesday	Home	NPL1	L	0-5	4084

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Andy Monkhouse	1	0	0	0	0	1
Adam Boyd	1	0	0	0	0	1
Antony Sweeney	1	0	0	0	0	1
Gary Liddle	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 4084, vs Sheffield Wednesday, 28/08/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 2893, vs Swindon Town, 14/08/2010
Average League Attendance: 3488

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	2
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	2
Games Without A Draw:	2		Games Without A Score Draw:	2
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	3		Games Without Scoring:	1
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	DL
Away Results Sequence:	DW		Overall Results Sequence:	DDWL

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The Rink End, accommodation for the away support Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

As you come into the outskirts of the town you'll meet a roundabout by the Owton Lodge pub. Keep on the A689 (signposted 'Town Centre') and follow Town Centre signs for another 2.8 miles over two more roundabouts. At the traffic lights just past the Blacksmiths Arms (on your left), go straight on. At the next traffic lights go straight on again. This takes you over the bridge into the marina complex. Keep straight on again at the roundabout and into Marina Way. This is the area for the Jackson's Wharf parking (see below). To get to the ground itself continue to the next roundabout and turn left (signposted 'The North A179, A1048'). Turn left at the lights into Clarence Road and you'll see the stadium.

Alternatively you can leave the A1(M) at Junction 49, taking the A168 across to Thirsk where you pick up the A19. This is a more direct route and dual carriageway all the way, though whether quicker or not in practice we can't say. Probably depends on the amount of traffic you hit as the road slices through the Middlesbrough / Stockton-on-Tees conurbation. The A19 meets the A689 about 7 miles out of Hartlepool. Go east on the A689 for Hartlepool and when you reach the outskirts it's the same directions as above.

From the North:
If you live even further North than Hartlepool, God help you.

Parking

The club car park is behind the Rink (Away) End Stand on the east side of the stadium. There's obviously a charge as they have a 'season ticket' price for parking there, but they don't reveal the single use price. Reading between the lines the impression given is that most spaces are likely to be reserved for holders of those parking 'season tickets'.

Jackson's Wharf, part of the new marina complex, has free parking and is a few minutes walk from the stadium. There is a fair amount of street parking around too.

Do not park in the nearby Asda car park. They have a clamping policy for those they deem not to be genuine customers.

The Town (home) End Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

By Rail

Almost all rail journeys to and from Hartlepool and anywhere seem to require a change at Thornaby (Stockton-on-Tees), with the very occasional option of a through train to / from Darlington.

The Railway Station is about half a mile by foot, thus ten minutes walk, to the ground. Exit the station onto Church Street and turn right into Church Square. Follow the road out of Church Square and you'll already be able to see the floodlights. Cross over the A179 and bear right into Clarence Road. That's it.

By Bus

The main arrival and departure point for buses, should you want one, in Hartlepool is Church Square (see above).

Taxis

A selection of Hartlepool taxi companies can be found here.

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Church Street and Church Square (by the Railway Station) have a load of pubs and bars cheek by jowl, with more in the immediate side streets. A couple have been listed below. Probably the very closest pub to the ground is the Millhouse Inn but as it is at the home end there doesn't seem a lot of point trying to squeeze in with myriads of Pools fans waiting to be served.

The brewery in Hartlepool is Camerons: The Lion Brewery. Founded in 1865, things looked bleak between the Seventies and Nineties when it was bought and sold a total of four times by large brewers. Thankfully in 2002 the other excellent brewery based in Hartlepool, Castle Eden, bought the Lion Brewery and combined production of its own beers and Cameron's on the one site. There's been some streamlining of brands since, with a few beers sadly lost, however at least it's back in independent hands and the future looks reasonably rosy. Under the Camerons label three beers are produced all year round in both cask and keg form, of which Strongarm is probably the best known. There's also Banner Bitter and Long Leg solely in cask form. From the Castle Eden stable Castle Eden Ale and Nimmo's XXXX have been maintained, as has that label's range of four seasonal ales. The Castle Eden Inn, some miles outside Hartlepool, where it all began in 1826, now only stocks one Castle Eden beer on an occasional basis.

Club Bar :

The Victoria Suite near the away turnstiles is for members only. However The Corner Flag Supporters Club on the other side of the stadium, between the away end (Rink End Stand) and the Cameron Brewery Stand, welcomes visiting fans both before and after matches. There is a small charge for entry. Has TV, including Sky Sports.

The Corner Flag - allows away supporters in for a small charge Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

Local Pubs :

Causeway: Around a mile virtually due south of the stadium, so fifteen minutes walk. Look for the church - home in on that and you can't miss the pub. Real ales are Banks's Bitter and Original and Camerons Strongarm as the regulars, plus a rotating guest or two. Food is served at lunchtimes Monday - Saturday. Opening 11.00 a.m - 11.00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. Live music (in the folk and jazz genre) five evenings a week. Causeway, Vicarage Gardens, Stranton, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7QT. Tel: 01429 273954. Map: Click Here.

Gillen Sports Bar: If you are looking for the sports bar style of outlet this is a possibility. Under fifteen minutes walk to the stadium not far up from the Causeway (above). Gillen Sports Bar, Park Road, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7PN. Tel: 01429 288177. Map: Click Here.

Closed on our last visit. © Hugh Gleave Jackson's Arms: Street corner local a few hundred yards south of the Railway Station and not much more than ten minutes walk from the ground. Draught Bass is the house beer, with three additional guests that change frequently. Has a pool table and darts. Drinkers pub, no meals. Opening is 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. (10.30 p.m. Sundays). This pub was closed on our last trip to Hartlepool. Couldn't tell if this was temporary or permanent. Jackson's Arms, Tower Street, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7HH. Tel: 01429 862413. Map: Click Here.

Down by the sea - well sort of sea. © Hugh Gleave Jackson's Wharf: Just a few minutes walk from the away end in the marina development, but has been popular with home fans as well as visitors. Does a wide range of drinks including some real ale, and serves food. Has Sky Sports. Masses of free parking all around, but word has it it is trying to deter football types these days. Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool Marina, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 0XZ. Tel: 01429 862963. Map: Click Here.

Slightly better than average Wetherspoon. © Hugh Gleave King Johns Tavern: The Wetherspoon in the town. Usual format. Has outside area but no parking. Ten minutes walk to the stadium. King Johns Tavern, 1, South Road, Hartlepool, Durham, TS26 9HB. Tel: 01429 274388. Map: Click Here.

H'Angus the Monkey, Mayor, was caught in here doing some er, research. © Hugh Gleave The Office: If strippers er, exotic dancers are your thing you could try this pub. Less than a minute east of the Railway Station. No idea when the young ladies engage in their performance art mind - you'll have to check when you see a bloke in a mac. Sorry girls, think this one is exclusively Gypsy Rose Lee rather than Chippendales country. The Office, 51-52, Church Street, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7DX. Tel: 01429 232399. Map: Click Here.

A Lloyds No.1 Bar. © Hugh Gleave The Ward Jackson: A Lloyds No.1 bar - the supposedly younger funkier arm of Wetherspoon. In practice we don't notice a lot of difference. A few more people drinking ridiculous cocktails with supposedly witty names, some video and TV screens, and marginally more interesting menu tends to be about it. Some have live music and a late licence - but not this one. Closes at 11.00 p.m. The Ward Jackson, 6-9, Church Square, Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7EU. Tel: 01429 850140. Map: Click Here.

White House: 25 minutes walk from the ground, so more one for those staying up over the weekend to seek out. This is an Ember Inn, one of Mitchells & Butlers many 'themed' chains. We've fulminated in these guides about the execrable monstrosity that is Mitchells & Butlers before. But even a turd may float to the surface now and again, and this is one of the rare occasions they've got it right. Well, with over 2,000 outlets even they are bound to make the odd mistake and let a decent one or two slip through. It's a converted school with around eight different rooms. Draught Bass is the house beer, with another five changing guests. Food is served through to 8.00 p.m. Opening is 11 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (12.00 noon - 10.30 Sundays). Has own parking. White House, Wooler Road, Hartlepool, Durham, TS26 0DR. Tel: 01429 224392. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

In my poverty stricken student hitching days I once got a lift of over 200 miles with a lorry driver from the North-East. He talked non-stop for four hours and in that time, what with the roar of the engine and the board 'Geordie' accent, I understood not one single word. It seemed to matter naught. On the brief occasions he paused for a split second to suck in some oxygen a random 'yep' or 'nope' was sufficient to launch him on again.

Top-Tip :

Take some warm clothing. If you don't believe us you obviously weren't at Grimsby! If the wind is whipping off that North Sea it is COLD. And if it turns out that global warming has reached Hartlepool one day a decade then just leave those thermals in the car.

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