Season Preview 2026/27

 

Once more, with feeling.

But this season feels different. For anyone living under a rock for the last 12 months, Hartlepool United has undergone major surgery both off and on the pitch. Landon Smith took control from controversial - and now former - owner Raj Singh on New Year's Eve 2025, heralding a new age at Victoria Park (and a celebration across the town not seen since the famous day at Ashton Gate in 2021). He made promises of change, of a club to be proud of. One that has the community at it's heart and can challenge for a return to the EFL.

And he is delivering in spades.

An underwhelming end to the season, which saw Nicky Featherstone's side miss out on a play-off place, has been met with swift changes. The manager was relieved of his duties before the final game at Boston, and the retained list was brutal. There were 13 players let go, with only seven confirmed to be staying under contract. Four more were signed following contract discussions to leave a big overhaul required.

Not least in the dugout. Lee Clark arrived at the Vic in May as Pools' 11th permanent manager since the departure of Dave Challinor in November 2021. A man with significant north-east pedigree following his time as a Newcastle player, he has previous with Bromby and Partners - the consultancy firm brought in to oversee football operations. They employed him at Huddersfield, where he reached two consecutive play-off finals. The Terriers also went 43 league games unbeaten (in the regular season, not play-offs) under Clark's stewardship. His record has been less than stellar since then, but his determination to get the club back into the Football League was evident from his first interview.

The squad is looking strong.

Recruitment started with the return of Jordan Hugill, who fans remember fondly from his loan spell in 2014/15. He scored the winner against Exeter in the penultimate game - which confirmed Pools' survival - before netting twice in the final-day comeback at Carlisle. Jack Nolan followed through the door, which caught the eye of many due to his status as one of the division's most sought-after prospects following Morecambe's relegation.

It arguably proved that Pools - unlike previous years - had promotion ambitions, and the means to attract in-demand players. Brooklyn Ilunga, Corey McKeown, Owen Hampson, and Chris Popov also made the move to the north-east.

Then the big one.

Rumours had been persisting for a while - backed up by BBC Radio Tees Sport's Rob Law - that the club were pushing hard to secure Halifax Town's Will Harris. And they got their man. Harris was unveiled at the Vic, to the fury of the West Yorkshire club who insisted he was still contracted to them. He continues to play for Pools.

A healthy mix of youth and experience followed - the likes of Charlie Penman and Terry Bondo look to be good future prospects, while Liam Gibson brings a wealth of experience in defence. The next big signing was a welcome surprise, with the return of Cameron John following his loan spell last season. The keeper position was filled by on-loan Chelsea stopper Max Merrick, while Nathan Fisher signed as back-up after a spell on trial.

The standout from pre-season was arguably Neo Eccleston. The 22-year-old signed following his release from Huddersfield Town, and has produced eye-catching displays on the right-hand side. He looks a handful for defences with his speed and trickery, and can contribute at both ends of the pitch. Popov, too, deserves a mention. His relentless energy and budding partnership with Harris points to a potential starting berth against Barrow in the season opener.

Off-pitch matters are as good as they've been in years.

Raj Singh's tenure as Hartlepool United owner was divisive, to put it mildly. His highs - the 2020/21 promotion season being the obvious one - were often overshadowed by almost comical lows. The 63% debacle will go down in Vic infamy, and the disconnect between fans and the board had never been greater.

Enter Landon Smith.

The American took control on New Year's Eve, and quickly endeared himself to the supporters. Communication was open and transparent - something which the previous regime was roundly criticised for - with an open letter released a couple of weeks after the takeover. Among his manifesto points were:

• Returning the club to the Football League (and keeping them there)
• Building a financially strong and sustainable club
• Developing the youth squads and supporting their pathways to the first-team
• Building relationships with the community, and uniting the town and the club.

And his actions have backed up his words. Jeff Stelling returned to his role as Honorary President and Savannah Marshall was appointed Club Ambassador. Brian Honour was also welcomed back to the club as Matchday Ambassador. A supporters survey was launched in the off-season to address all areas of the club. An U21 Professional Development Squad was created to bridge the gap between the Academy and the First Team. The pitch - long admired, before taking a huge dip in quality over the last few years - has been brought up to scratch. And of course, the investment in the playing squad, including multi-year deals for incoming personnel.

The fixtures handed Pools some interesting quirks.

An opening-day test at home to Barrow will be a welcome one for Pools fans, who have been forced to travel to Yeovil in the last two season openers. Away treks to Aldershot and Sutton follow, before a Friday night clash with Eastleigh at the Vic round off August.

Will Harris should relish a Tuesday night trip to former club Halifax on September 1. Unlike last season, fans can be pleased that a number of close away days are on Saturdays/Bank Holidays. Away games at the likes of Scunthorpe, Gateshead, Carlisle, Barrow, and Boston are all 3pm kick-offs as it stands.

DAZN have confirmed TV picks up to the end of January, so there shouldn't be any interference to kick-off times due to TV meddling. A bonus for fans, who rightly complained that they were left out of pocket for trains and hotels that could not be rearranged.

The run-in looks a tricky one for Pools. A final-day showdown at Southend could potentially be a decider for the title, or a play-off clash. A Good Friday game with Carlisle is a tasty prospect - with only five games to play after that, it has the potential to be a classic encounter. Boreham Wood could also prove to be extremely tough opposition at the beginning of April. Last season's play-off final losers have kept the bulk of their squad together despite interest (as of the time of writing!) and manager Luke Garrard remains an outstanding manager at this level. They could be involved in the title fight this year alongside the likes of Pools, Carlisle, Southend, and others.

Is this the year for Pools?

There is every chance.

The squad look to be in a great position to challenge - the only concern seems to be around central midfield, where options are slightly thinner. Given Clark has seemingly opted for a 4-4-2 formation, there will be a lot asked of the two men in the centre of the park. There is an argument that no side in the league has a better attacking unit than Pools, with the strike force of Harris, Popov, Hugill, and Bondo being supported by wingers such as Nolan, McKeown, Charman, and Ilunga. The defence is reminiscent of last year, when new Vice-Captain Reiss McNally, Maxim Kougoun, and John reigned supreme. And while Harvey Cartwright is no longer backing them up, there are high hopes for incoming keeper Merrick.

Midfield appears the weakest area on paper. New club captain Jack Hunter, Nathan Sheron, and Jamie Miley are still the main options in the centre, with Hampson also in contention for a starting berth on his return from injury. But there is a consensus among fans that the club looks light in that area. A potential weak spot, but given the strength elsewhere, it remains to be seen if the players can step up to do the work required of the midfield two.

If Pools can overcome the jinx of the August Bank Holiday weekend - a killer in previous seasons at this level - and still be around the top three at Christmas, there could be a generational season in the offing. Do I think that automatic promotion is a genuine possibility? Yes. Do I think it will happen? No - but if a quality central midfielder is signed, then I may change my mind.

Until then, it promises to be a rollercoaster season, and one which I think will end at Wembley.

Prediction - Second

2025/26 Season Preview

 And so, it begins again.

Another season of ups and downs, trials and tribulations, ecstasy and agony. Hartlepool United head into the new campaign with a sense of cautious optimism - an impressive recruitment drive, a manager with previous experience of building promotion-winning sides, and a mostly promising pre-season suggest good times ahead.

However, the dark cloud over the club refuses to dissipate completely.

The rift between the passionate fanbase and owner Raj Singh has grown exponentially since the final game against Forest Green Rovers. Singh - who has held control of the club since 2018 - called a controversial ballot in which he demanded season ticket holders cast their vote on whether he should step back into the role of chairman. And he won with 63% of the count, a number that has entered Pools folklore since.

Multiple PR missteps have exasperated the issues too. From club statements being released without a media officer in place, to a public spat with beloved club icon Jeff Stelling, and alleged stadium bans against the likes of BBC Radio Tees' Rob Law, the Hartlepool Mail's Robbie Stelling, and former club captain Micky Barron, the tendency for self-destruction has been there for all to see.

But despite all that, the on-field prospects look positive.

A high turnover of players in non-league is nothing new. It happens most seasons, due to the short lengths of contracts. But there were concerns when key players did not re-sign - Mani Dieseruvwe being a prime example. The striker netted 39 league goals in his two seasons at the club, and fans were pessimistic that he could be adequately replaced.

But two quality signings may have put pay to that idea. Danny Johnson and Alex Reid arrived at the Prestige Group Stadium with excellent pedigree. Reid has good knowledge of the division, having spent time at Oldham and Wealdstone and is a proven scorer at this level. Johnson has had a standout pre-season, showing his predatory instincts in the six-yard box. Jermaine Francis is also one to watch, given his pace and trickery in his showings so far - he also netted against Pools last season for Braintree.

At the back, Jay Benn looks a coup. The right wing-back - who made the move from Lincoln City - has shown a tendency to bomb down the wing and cross from the byline, which has been a rarity for full-backs here. Besart Topolloj brings promotion-winning experience on the opposite side from his time at Bromley, and Cameron John looks a smart bit of business. Reiss McNally is a very strong signing at centre-back, with Pools supposedly beating Carlisle United to his signature, while Maxim Kouogun turned down a new contract at Scunthorpe United to join the club. A keeper finally arrived two days before the start of the season - Harvey Cartwright joined from Hull City, with previous loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Grimsby Town. And it all began with Brad Walker's return to the north-east in June.

But arguably one of the best bits of business came not with a signing, but a re-signing. The future of Nathan Sheron was up in the air post-season, with fans universally wanting him to stay after a superb debut campaign in the midfield. And the news of his two-year contract was received as enthusiastically as expected - the 27-year-old was a top contender of Player of the Season, and will be a key cog once again. As will fellow candidate Tom Parkes, who has been named as captain following the departure of Luke Waterfall.

There was another change of manager, and a controversial one at that.

News broke that despite Anthony Limbrick still holding the role of Head Coach, the club had approached Boston United for permission to speak to Graham Coughlan. Which went down very badly with supporters - not because Coughlan would not be a good choice for the role, but because Limbrick was still there. And thus, another PR misstep.

Boston - predictably - rejected the approach, after Coughlan had masterminded a great escape from relegation at the end of the term. Ironically, their worst game in the second half of the season came at Pools, when they were handed a 4-1 beating amid an excellent run of form.

Nevertheless, Limbrick was removed later that week, and Simon Grayson was installed as his successor on the same night. Reaction was mixed, given the nature of the Australian's sacking, but Grayson has proved to be affable and, more importantly, flexible in deploying tactics. He has stated that he has no issue with changing formation mid-game - something which fans will be pleased to hear.

An opening run of fixtures gives the team something to build upon.

For the second season running, Pools open their campaign at Yeovil. They did the double over the Somerset side last term, and will hope for more of the same here. Home games against Braintree, Woking and Boreham Wood before the end of August gives the team the chance to get a solid points return, while tricky away trips to Altrincham and Southend will provide a litmus test for Grayson's burgeoning side.

The trip to Roots Hall in particular will be pivotal to the season as a whole. For the last two seasons, the Bank Holiday Monday fixture in August has derailed a promising start. At Chesterfield two years ago, Pools were two goals up inside seven minutes before talisman Antony Mancini limped off injured. The Spireites won 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner and romped to the league title, while Pools - who were the league leaders at the time and had outplayed their opponents prior to Mancini's injury - deteriorated to finish 12th.

Last year, it was Woking - in eerily similar circumstances - who stopped Pools in their tracks. A double from Joe Grey put the visitors two goals up, but this time it was Jack Hunter's sending off that turned the game. And once again, the hosts won 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner. Simon Grayson will be looking to snuff out any suggestion of a repeat at Southend this year.

The League is as northern as ever this year.

A healthy northern contingent will be welcomed by Pools fans, after some punishing campaigns that have included distances of over 10,000 miles in total. The likes of Gateshead, Carlisle, York, Rochdale, Morecambe - provided they are rescued from the clutches of stubborn owner Jason Whittingham - Halifax, and Altrincham provide light relief for Poolie vehicles everywhere. However, the quirk of the fixture list is that the majority of those away games are midweek, something which hasn't been lost on supporters. Nevertheless, these games - with Scunthorpe, Boston, Solihull, and Tamworth also within respectable driving distance - are a nice change from the southern-based campaigns of years gone by.

There is always a catch though.

Truro City will be celebrating their first-ever season in the fifth tier, and the first Cornwall-based club to do so. Former Pools manager John Askey - in charge for the aforementioned Chesterfield collapse - guided the Tinners to glory last season, and the club have now gone full-time. The distance between the two stadiums is (according to Google Maps) a monstrous 445 miles - around seven-and-a-half hours. Pools will host Askey's men in November, while the return fixture will take place in March.

With the likes of Yeovil, Eastleigh, Forest Green, Aldershot, and the usual London contingent still around, long-distance travelling will still be on the agenda.

Pools have the capability to finish in the play-offs.

If a keeper is added to an already-strong squad, a top-seven berth is the minimum that should be expected. From that point onwards, Poolies everywhere will hope the lottery of the play-offs favours them. As Dave Challinor's side proved in 2021, anything can happen!

Prediction: Sixth

End-of-season awards 2024/25

 And so, another season comes to an end.

It has been another year of National League mediocrity for Hartlepool United - a campaign that promised so much at the outset, but ended with a whimper on Bank Holiday Monday against Forest Green.

Amidst uncertainty and disappointment, there were some bright moments. And its time for the Pools Pod's first end-of-season awards!

Five categories to be awarded, with some debate inevitable. Feel free to comment with your choices!

Player of the Season

There are three standout choices for this award - Nathan Sheron, Tom Parkes, and Reyes Cleary. Mani Dieseruvwe netted 17 times in the league, far and away Pools' top scorer, and could also have a claim to being the POTS. As for Cleary - the on-loan West Brom winger has been electric since his move to the north-east in the winter transfer window, with six goals and three assists in 21 appearances. Fans will be hoping he returns to the club for next season, given his contract at the Baggies runs out in the summer.

Vice-captain Parkes has stepped up as de-facto skipper in the absence of Luke Waterfall, and has been a standout at the back. Through a multitude of changes to the backline, he has proven a reliable presence and a strong leader. A moment that stuck in the mind came at Halifax, when he put everything on his line - his head in particular - to stop an effort on goal. A warrior.

The iron man of the side, Sheron has been a consistent presence in midfield - and occasionally at right back - since signing in the summer. Arguably a signing that went under the radar, his availability, robust tackling, and versatility has been a revelation in the side. As such, he is the Pools Pod POTS.

1) Nathan Sheron

2) Tom Parkes

3) Reyes Cleary

Goal of the Season

Another three standouts here. Cleary gets another nomination for his wonderful effort away at Eastleigh in March, while David Ferguson's audacious free-kick just days earlier could also be a worthy winner.

But the award goes to Gary Madine for his ridiculous effort away at Gateshead - an improvised lob from long range that would make it into any highlight reel.

1) Gary Madine v Gateshead, Dec 26.

2) David Ferguson v Fylde, Mar 4.

3) Reyes Cleary v Eastleigh, Mar 8.

Signing of the Season

There can only be one.

Nathan Sheron is our POTS, so it would feel disingenuous not to give him this award too. Reyes Cleary would be the likely winner if he had been signed in the summer rather than January, and Gary Madine deserves a mention too - despite his injury problems in the first few months of the campaign, he has left his mark on the team with his undoubted quality.

1) Nathan Sheron

2) Reyes Cleary

3) Gary Madine

Result of the Season

There are a few results that could be argued are the most impressive, such as the NYD victory over Oldham, or the Easter Monday win over Gateshead. The two results against Sutton were also excellent, given the circumstances and the fact they have proved difficult for Pools in past seasons.

But this award goes to the 4-1 win against Boston in March. The Pilgrims were in inspired form at the time - unbeaten in six, and had won five consecutive away games. But the out-of-form Pools put in arguably their most complete performance to put the visitors to the sword at the Prestige Group Stadium.

1) 4-1 v Boston, Mar 22.

2) 3-2 v Gateshead, Apr 21.

3) 4-3 v Sutton, Oct 5.

Surprise of the Season

Good and bad surprises are part and parcel of football, and Pools have been no exception. Some might say that Nathan Sheron and Reyes Cleary have been very pleasant ones, while Darren Sarll and Adam Campbell have unfortunately not hit expectations.

But the Pools Pod Surprise of the Season is the appointment of Anthony Limbrick to the manager's role in February. Lennie Lawrence had steadied the ship after Sarll's departure, and had stated he would remain in charge until the season's end. But the veteran stepped back unexpectedly to allow the Aussie to take the reigns with three months to go.

1) Limbrick takes over.

2) Sarll leaves in October.

3) Sheron proves a huge hit.

Do you agree? Leave your thoughts in the comments or on the socials!