' Hartlepool United '
Hartlepool could go into administration unless they can raise £200,000 in the next fortnight.
One of my best mates in a Hartlepool fan of over 30 years standing. He has informed me tonight that they need to raise some £200k over the next 2 weeks to stave off the threat of administration. You may well recall that a late Newport County winner on the last day of last season relegated Hartlepool to the National League after some 90 odd years in the Football League.
My pal has been a regular visitor to watch the Bluebirds for many a year and similarly, when playing in the south, I have gone with him to support 'Pools' at the likes of Swindon, Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol Rovers. Hartlepool are very much one of the 'old school' teams we use to play ( like Rochdale ) in the bad old days, and some of you might well recall Earnie scoring his 1st ever goal with an overhead kick for the Bluebirds away at the Victoria Ground.
When the boot was on the other foot and Middlesboro were in financial problems and had their ground closed in the mid 80's,Hartlepool allowed them to play at the Victoria Ground. It is now payback time and I understand Boro fans are now going to support Pools at the Victoria Ground when Boro are away at QPR a week on Saturday. I am something of a dinosaur on IT matters - so cannot put the link on here - but there is a crowd funding/ just giving page where people can pledge funds to support Hartlepool through this difficult period ( Administration would mean a 10 point deduction - which could relegate them again to the National League North. Bearing in mind they were 8 mins away from the Championship in the play off final of 2005 at the Millennium against Sheffield Wednesday in front of almost 60k fans, this would be a sad demise.
I am sure Jeff Stelling is sure to highlight this over the coming days, but if you are able to pledge any support to the just giving page ( £15k raised in 2 days to date ), this would be much appreciated.