Hartlepool United history: Club Foundation: Two important dates
- 1881 – the birth of organised football in Hartlepool with West Hartlepool AFC (amateur roots).
- 1908 – Hartlepool United is founded as a professional club.
So while the official club history starts in 1908, local football heritage stretches back more than 140 years.
Football League Re‑Election (1910–1984)
Hartlepool United holds a record: 14 re‑election attempts between 1924 and 1984. Until 1986, bottom clubs had to be voted back into the League.
| Year | Attempt | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | Election (1st) | 2 | Not elected |
| 1911 | Election (2nd) | 1 | Not elected |
| 1921 | Election (3rd) | – | Elected to Div 3N |
| 1924 | 1st re‑election | Unopposed | Re‑elected |
| 1929 | 2nd re‑election | 33 | Re‑elected |
| 1939 | 3rd re‑election | 38 | Re‑elected |
| 1960 | 4th re‑election | 34 | Re‑elected |
| 1961 | 5th re‑election | 32 | Re‑elected |
| 1962 | 6th re‑election | 40 | Re‑elected |
| 1963 | 7th re‑election | 34 | Re‑elected |
| 1964 | 8th re‑election | 36 | Re‑elected |
| 1970 | 9th re‑election | 42 | Re‑elected |
| 1971 | 10th re‑election | 33 | Re‑elected |
| 1977 | 11th re‑election | 43 | Re‑elected |
| 1978 | 12th re‑election | 33 | Re‑elected* |
| 1983 | 13th re‑election | 36 | Re‑elected |
| 1984 | 14th re‑election | 32 | Re‑elected |
*after second ballot
Kits Through The Years
Pre‑War (1881–1939)
1881‑1910 (West Hartlepool) · 1908‑11 · 1912‑20 · 1921‑22 · 1922‑23 · 1924‑26 · 1926‑27 · 1928‑30 · 1931‑32 · 1932‑35 · 1935‑36 · 1936‑37 · 1937‑39
Post‑War (1946‑1989)
1946‑47 · 1946‑56a · 1947‑52 · 1952‑54 · 1954‑59 · 1959 · 1960‑63 · 1963‑65 · 1965‑76 · 1966‑67 · 1967‑71 · 1972‑73 · 1972‑74a · 1973‑74 · 1974‑75 · 1975‑77 · 1975‑76a · 1977‑78 · 1979‑80 · 1980‑81 · 1981‑83 · 1983 · 1983a · 1984 · 1985‑87 · 1986a · 1987a · 1988 · 1988a · 1989
Recent (1990‑2010)
1990 · 1990a · 1991 · 1991a · 1992 · 1992a · 1993‑94 · 1993‑94a · 1995‑96 · 1995‑96a · 1997‑98 · 1997‑98a · 1999 · 1999a · 2000‑01 · 2000‑01a · 2002 · 2002‑03a · 2003 · 2004‑06 · 2004a · 2004‑05 3rd · 2005‑06a · 2006‑08 · 2007‑09a · 2006‑08 3rd · 2008 · 2009‑10 · 2009‑10 3rd
Current – home · away · third (latest season)
Top Goalscorers (all-time)
| Player | Goals | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Paynter | 49 | 2000s |
| James Proctor | 42 | 1930s |
| Joe Grey | current | 2020s |
| Johnny Wigham | 16 (one season) | 1935–36 |
Full A–Z of 1,500+ players exists in original PoolStats archive.
Managerial History (key names from original staff archive)
| Manager | Tenure | Staff ID (if known) |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Westgarth | 1943–1957 | – |
| Jimmy Hamilton | 1935–1943 | staff/009 |
| Bob Gurney | 1963–1964 | staff/014 |
| Brian Clough | 1965–1967 | – |
| Ken Hale | 1974–1976 | – |
| Billy Horner | 1976–1986 | – |
| Bobby Moncur | 1988–1989 | – |
| Cyril Knowles | 1989–1991 | – |
| Chris Turner | 1999–2002, 2008–2010 | – |
| Neale Cooper | 2003–2005, 2011–2012 | – |
| Danny Wilson | 2006–2008 | – |
| Dave Challinor | 2019–2021 | – |
| Lee Clark | 2026–present | – |
Full list of all managers from 1908 to today is preserved from the original fan archive.
Season Stats Example – 1935/36 Appearances (selected players)
| Player | League Apps | League Goals | Cup Apps | Cup Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Bonass | 39 | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| Reg Hill | 39 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Jackie Mittel | 39 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Jack Proctor | 39 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Billy Allison | 34 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Stan Thompson | 34 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Johnny Wigham | 31 | 16 | 6 | 3 |
| Alec Robertson | 30 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Aubrey Heward | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Full season data for other years (1967‑68, 1971‑72, etc.) available in original PoolStats archive.
This page consolidates historical material from the original PoolStats fan project (mid‑2000s) and serves as a permanent archive for Hartlepool United statistics, kits, players, managers, and re‑election history. All data verified against official club records and external sources (historicalkits.co.uk - , Soccerbase, 11v11).
Football betting resources
This historical archive is part of a broader football analysis platform. For current Hartlepool United odds, next manager markets, and match previews, visit our Football Betting Not on GamStop - Not on gamstop football betting sites page. For a full comparison of offshore bookmakers accepting UK players, see Online Bookies Not on Gamstop - Not on gamstop