Two Hartlepool United Supporters Talk To Vital Lincoln City
The last time The Imps hosted today’s opponents Hartlepool United was on Tuesday 9th October 2007 in the Second Round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, in front of a crowd of 936. Mark Stallard scored both goals for City (4′ PEN &, 77′), with Joel Porter bagging a hat-trick for the visitors (28′, 50′ & 75′), with Michael MacKay (69′) and Ian Thomas-Moore (71′) scoring the other two.
Ahead of today’s match, we have done a Q&A with two Hartlepool United supporters, so thank you to Michael and Jack for answering our questions! The answers have been published on two pages. To get to the second set of answers, press “Next” at the bottom right of the page.
If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Lincoln City v Hartlepool United Match Thread! Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
First up, the answers provided by Michael:
How long have you supported Hartlepool United?
32 years.
Where did you finish last season?
Play-off winners in the National League.
What do you think of your manager?
This is his first game! Heart says a great appointment, head says it is a big challenge for his first appointment.
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2021/22 season?
After such a short turnaround after winning the play-offs then staying away from the bottom two has always been the key aim.
One(s) to watch?
Jamie Sterry usually but he is suspended. Matty Daley is on loan from Huddersfield and is always a good bet for conjuring up some magic.
Which teams do you think will finish in the top seven in League Two?
Forest Green, Newport, Port Vale, Exeter, Swindon, Sutton and Salford.
Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom two in League Two?
Scunthorpe and Oldham.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
A team and model that Pools should be aspiring to. Seem to be well-ran and have had success without putting the club at risk.
What do you think the score will be?
A sneaky one-nil win for Pools.
Random fact about your Club?
In 1916, the ground was bombed by a German Zeppelin, destroying a stand. After the war, Pools tried to claim compensation from the German government in order to fund the new stand. It didn’t work.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
We lack a goal scorer so whoever your top scorer is!
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Hartlepool United supporter?
Proudest is also one of the most disappointing when we lost against Sheff Wed in the 2005 play-off final.
Embarrassing is any game we lost at home in the National League to part-time teams.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
David Ferguson probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves yet he works tirelessly up and down the left flank and puts some great crosses in.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
Yes. Attempts have been made to purchase shares for fan representation but sadly these have been turned down. However, HUST tries and work collaboratively with the Club with constructive feedback, community initiatives, and asking difficult questions when required.
Which was your favourite match involving Hartlepool United?
The play-off final against Torquay although I would have preferred doing it the easy way rather than conceding a last-minute equaliser from the opposition GK and having to rely on penalties.
Which was your least favourite match involving Hartlepool United?
Dover at home a couple of seasons ago. Awful game, result, and referee but even worse was the racist abuse of one of their players. Awful to see and upsetting for the decent fans that get tarnished with the same brush.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Hartlepool United?
No, but HUST does have good links with ex-players and have held different events with them including a fans versus legends game a couple of years ago that ended up 19-0 (will let the readers guess to which team).
Hartlepool United (h - 04/12/21): Will The Imps Win, Lose or Draw?
The second set of answers:https://t.co/ezy5ddPLDR#ImpsAsOne #Pools #FACup
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) December 4, 2021
If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Lincoln City v Hartlepool United Match Thread! Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
And now for the answers provided by Jack:
How long have you supported Hartlepool United?
Since birth, I attended my first home game when I was three years old.
Where did you finish last season?
4th in the National League, promoted via the playoffs.
What do you think of your manager?
Graeme Lee has just been appointed after the departure of Dave Challinor to Stockport – it’s a gamble, but he deserves the backing of the fans to give it a shot.
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2021/22 season?
To stay up. Anything else is a bonus.
One(s) to watch?
Jamie Sterry at right wing-back is too good for League Two. Tom Crawford has been a bright spark in a dismal league run recently.
Which teams do you think will finish in the top seven in League Two?
Forest Green and Exeter almost certainly will be based on performances against us. I’d be surprised if Newport, Northampton and Port Vale weren’t up there as well.
Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom two in League Two?
Scunthorpe and Oldham. Struggling sides, Oldham are suffering off the pitch.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
Solid League One side, the great story under the Cowleys. Never been before, will hopefully tick it off the list in years to come.
What do you think the score will be?
I have a good feeling about it – we beat Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe away in November. I’d take a draw to be in the hat for the third round. 1-1.
Random fact about your Club?
The Cyril Knowles Stand was hit by a German bomb and destroyed in the First World War.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
We need a clinical striker, so I’d probably have Chris Maguire.
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Hartlepool United supporter?
Proudest would be the play-off final in June against Torquay. A brilliant day for everyone connected with the club.
Most embarrassing would probably be a home defeat to Blyth Spartans live on BBC Two in the FA Cup.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Tom Crawford. Didn’t get much of a look-in until recently, but is starting to show promise.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
We do, they are there to act as a voice for the fanbase and to hopefully ensure that the club does not fall into financial difficulties again.
Which was your favourite match involving Hartlepool United?
For the occasion, the playoff final against Torquay. For entertainment, the 5-2 win at Morecambe in 2016 or the 3-3 draw at Carlisle in 2015.
Which was your least favourite match involving Hartlepool United?
Take your pick, we’ve had some shockers! The one that comes to mind is Easter Monday 2017, a 2-1 defeat away to Leyton Orient who were all but down themselves and played a lot of youth team players that day.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Hartlepool United?
Not that I am aware of, but former players regularly make an appearance.
Hartlepool United (h - 04/12/21): Will The Imps Win, Lose or Draw?
The second set of answers:https://t.co/ezy5ddPLDR#ImpsAsOne #Pools #FACup
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) December 4, 2021