Never Say Die: Nick Loughlin's Hartlepool United ramblings

 The Magic Of The Socially Distant FA Cup FOOTBALL without fans is nothing. Football with some fans, listed as socially distant ones at that, is at least something. Pools went to Ilkeston Town in the FA Cup. There’s still something uneasy about Hartlepool United being in the qualifying round of the competition, but that’s where the club is now.  So while three divisions separated the teams, there was also a six goal difference in the end.  And while the likes of Tamworth and Frickley Athletic still bring out a cold sweat when mentioned, Ilkeston were dispatched with ease.  It was the same ease Danny Wilson’s side saw off Gainsborough Trinity by the same scoreline in November 2007.  Pools’ two biggest away victories have now both been recorded in the FA Cup.   The home side were allowed to sell 400 tickets for the game, away fans not permitted. I'd be lying if I didn't expect to see a couple of familiar faces in the ground, someone who would have drove down ...

Victoria Park - wet, windy and goalless THREE games in, three wins. The second home game of the season and it’s shirt sleeves, balmy summer sunshine, a raucous and passionate Victoria Park. At least it normally is.  Instead the second home game, Pools v Bromley, possess a bleak outlook. It’s a textbook Hartlepool December night in October, when it should be August.  It’s tossing down, the wind whipping furiously down the pitch from Rink End to Town End. The puddles in the raggy dolomite behind the Neale Cooper Stand are filling up. There’s no cars to break the water and splash it all over, no feet drenched as they step in a hole.    The terraces and stands are empty. The only passion and noise is coming from the living room. Your living room. Supporters are in the home warmth, watching their blue and white heroes on a laptop screen, an iPad or a smart TV. The stream was, according to one living room season ticket holder, akin to watching the opening credits of Rooba...

AT Chesterfield in their new, yellow away kit for their opening away game of the season,  Hartlepool United returned home with victory. Cyril Knowles, Brian Honour, Paul Dalton and Co engineered the win to set them on their way to a memorable season. That was 1990. Forward 30 years. Pools went at Chesterfield in their new, yellow away kit for the opening away game of the season and headed back up the M1 with a victory. It’s two wins from two for Pools at the start of the National League season. There’s a bit of optimism around what Dave Challinor is moulding. After three stale and unmemorable seasons outside the Football League, could Pools this time around sustain a bash at promotion? In the opening two games, the signs have been positive. Pools have carried on in the manner and style they were in when last season was curtailed. There’s a style of play under Challinor and the players have bought into it. The 4-3-3 set-up is set, Nicky Featherstone dictating the tempo from in front...