Hartlepool United Club Profile

Despite having a successful amateur club called West Hartlepool, formed in 1881, the town had to wait almost 40 years to gain admission to the Football League who felt they were too close to the football hotbeds of Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.


But Hartlepool United were allowed into the new Third Division North in 1921 and have played in the lower reaches of the League ever since.


However, they can claim to have started the managerial career of Brian Clough who went on to become a legend of the game with Derby and Nottingham Forest. Clough took over as manager in 1965 before moving to Derby.
 Another famous ex-manager is Cyril Knowles who took over as manager in 1989 and the following season helped the Pools win promotion to the Third Division.


Hartlepool United won promotion to League One in 2007 after Danny Wilson took over and got the club up in his first season in charge.

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