shannon2007

\o/

BTW Ive mailed you

retired_bbcarr

The close season was a busy one for Rob, as nine players come into the club whilst five left. The board had been generous with the amount of money given him to spend, especiall as they required merely respectability as a return. However, Rob was more than confident that with the squad now at his disposal, Hartlepool would be a Championship side for the 2003/04 season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">============================================= ================================================== = 2002/3 Transfers========================================= ================================================== =====Date Player In From Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------26.6.02 Stephen Lovell Dundee £300K 27.6.02 Robert Edwards Wolves Loan 27.6.02 Harold Wapenaar Portsmouth £190K 6.7.02 Liam Chilvers Free Transfer Free 9.7.02 Paul Merson Free Transfer Free 15.7.02 Stuart Lovell Livingston £150K 22.7.02 Tony Roberts Dag & Red £12K 26.7.02 Stuart Wardley Torquay £100K 3.8.02 Dean Ashton Crewe £600K Date Player Out To Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------27.6.02 Matty Robson Released Free 30.6.02 Darrell Clarke Lincoln £80K 10.7.02 Jim Provett Q.P.R. £500K 24.7.02 Philip Bayliss Released Free 9.8.02 Mark Tinkler Watford £100K </pre>


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Hartlepool United - Saturday 10th August 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== Squad============================================= ================================================== =No Name Position(s) Nat Born Age Caps Gls Wages Expires Value------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ashton, Dean S C ENG 24.1.80 22 - - £2.5K 28.6.05 £650K 19 Bass, Jonathan D R ENG 1.1.73 29 - - £700 30.6.03 £45K 16 Boyd, Adam S C ENG 22.5.79 23 - - £300 1.7.03 £24K 20 Brackstone, John D L ENG 9.2.82 20 - - £150 11.6.05 £22K 25 Brackstone, John D L ENG 24.7.82 20 - - £150 19.6.06 £22K 27 Carpenter, Richard M C ENG 30.9.69 32 - - £1.7K 17.6.05 £75K 24 Chilvers, Liam D RC ENG 6.11.78 23 - - £3.3K 1.6.05 £180K 50 Duncan, Kevin GK ENG 9.10.78 23 - - £775 1.6.04 £14K 26 Edwards, Robert D C WAL 12.10.78 23 3 - £1.5K 25.5.03 £850K 8 Humphreys, Ritchie AM/F LC ENG 30.11.74 27 - - £1.5K 30.6.03 £300K 15 Jordan, Andy D C SCO 14.12.76 25 - - £1K 30.6.03 £60K 14 Lovell, Stephen S C ENG 6.12.77 24 - - £1K 23.6.05 £425K 21 Lovell, Stuart DM C AUS 9.1.69 33 2 - £1.4K 15.6.04 £90K 28 McCann, Ryan AM L SCO 21.9.78 23 - - £750 30.6.03 £85K 4 McManus, Stephen D/DM C SCO 10.9.79 22 - - £180 17.6.05 £60K 11 Merson, Paul AM C ENG 20.3.65 37 21 3 £4.6K 3.6.05 £22K 9 Porter, Joel S C AUS 25.12.75 26 4 5 £2.7K 20.6.07 £525K 13 Roberts, Tony GK WAL 4.8.66 36 2 - £2.1K 18.6.03 £10K 12 Robertson, Hugh DM LC SCO 19.3.72 30 - - £1K 13.6.04 £80K 22 Robson, Mattie DM L ENG 23.1.82 20 - - £150 16.6.05 £22K 2 Ross, Jack D/DM R SCO 5.6.73 29 - - £1K 1.7.04 £110K 5 Sagi Burton D C ENG 25.11.74 27 - - £750 2.6.05 £160K 17 Stephenson, Paul AM RLC ENG 2.1.65 37 - - £950 30.6.03 £22K 18 Strachan, Gavin DM C SCO 23.12.75 26 - - £750 1.6.03 £80K 23 Sweeney, Anthony M C ENG 5.9.80 21 - - £150 30.6.04 £14K 3 Van Dommele, Adam D L AUS 3.1.81 21 - - £950 4.6.04 £60K 1 Wapenaar, Harold GK HOL 10.4.67 35 - - £3.5K 26.6.03 £50K 29 Wardley, Stuart AM/F RC ENG 10.9.72 29 - - £5.75K 23.6.05 £230K 6 Westwood, Chris SW/D C ENG 13.2.74 28 - - £600 1.7.03 £55K 49 Williams, Eifion S C WAL 15.11.72 29 - - £1K 5.9.04 £90K </pre>

retired_bbcarr

With a strike force that he felt could match any in the league (indeed, the only one which it was felt could match it was the Andy Cole/Kenny Miller partnership that Bradford would sport into the new campaign) Rob was utterly convinced that his side had what it took to push for an automatic promotion spot. With Rob Edwards, Sagi Burton and Liam Chilvers making a solid backline and Harald Wapenaar providing plenty of experience between the sticks, it was unlikely that defensive problems would undo the good work done upfront. The starting line up for the season opener at home to Bradford was:

GK: Harald Wapenaar
DR: Liam Chilvers
DC: Rob Edwards
DC: Sagi Burton (captain)
DL: Adam Van Dommele
MR: Stuart Wardley
MC: Stuart Lovell
MC: Gavin Strachan
ML: Ritchie Humphreys
SC: Stephen Lovell
SC: Dean Ashton

Unfortunately, after Ashton had marked his debut with a goal inside three minutes, Bradford began to show why they were many people's pre-season pick for the title as they piled on the pressure. And it was pressure that eventually told as second half goals from Andy Cole and Kenny Miller gave the Bantams the win. A trip to Burnley followed, and despite being outplayed, Carpenter's 88th minute effort stole Hartlepool's first points of the new season. Sunderland came to Victoria Park in the League Cup and left on the right side of a 5-3 win, and the hangover lasted into 'Pool's trip to Sheffield to face Wednesday as a dull game ended 1-0 to the home side. That game saw Humphreys rupture ankle ligaments, and the five months he would be out meant that a new left winger was required. Enter Nigel Quashie, recruited from Portsmouth for £600K.

Wins against Walsall and Luton were sandwiched either side a defeat to Doncaster, and though a visit to Stockport brought about a 3-2 win thanks to a Dean Ashton double, Hartlepool were sent crashing back to earth when Blackpool took a 4-1 success from Victoria Park. The inconsistencies that had plagued Rob's first season in charge were showing again as they won at Rochdale, but in the very next game conceded all three points at home again, this time Colchester were the victors. Stephen Lovell was proving a hit with the fans as he netted his eigth of the season in the first game of October as Huddersfield were downed 4-1 at the McAlpine Stadium, and wins over Cambridge and Port Vale either side of a 1-1 with Plymouth made sure that 'Pool got together the beginnings of a run.

That was all over in the next tie, though, as they lost two late goals to go down 2-1 at Chesterfield, but they bounced straight back to overcome Bournemouth 4-1 on their own patch thanks to doubles from Stephen Lovell and Joel Porter. November began with a win over Wycombe followed by a draw with Peterborough and then an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Oxford. Brighton were put to the sword on the return to league action as Lovell got another double and the month ended with himself, Merson, Porter and Wardley all on the score sheet in a 4-1 defeat of Oldham.

The final month of the year saw Vans Trophy defeat against Scunthorpe, but not before the league campaign had kept going with a 2-0 win over Wrexham. A loss in the return against Walsall dented 'Pool's confidence somewhat, but wins over Burnley and Swindon (both by 2-0) and a draw with Sheffield Wednesday left them well placed for a real tilt at the promotion spots during the second half of the season. Bradford were proving the class of the field, but Hartlepool had shown themselves as good as anyone else in the league and hopes of finishing in that runner-up place were very real indeed.

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Saturday 28th December 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2002/3 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Bradford 25 10 1 0 23 8 7 1 6 29 27 53 2nd HARTLEPOOL 25 8 2 3 29 15 7 1 4 22 14 48 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Walsall 25 8 2 1 18 9 6 1 7 17 24 45 4th Rochdale 24 10 1 1 23 12 3 4 5 12 14 44 5th Stockport 24 8 2 1 25 13 4 3 6 23 23 41 6th Plymouth 24 6 4 3 26 17 5 2 4 21 19 39 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Peterborough 24 8 3 2 25 7 2 5 4 16 18 38 8th Chesterfield 24 9 1 3 25 16 3 1 7 14 22 38 9th Colchester 25 7 1 5 23 12 4 3 5 12 16 37 10th Bournemouth 24 5 3 3 18 16 6 1 6 16 20 37 11th Blackpool 24 7 1 3 22 18 4 1 8 18 18 35 12th Cambridge Utd 24 8 3 2 24 10 1 4 6 11 18 34 13th Burnley 24 8 1 2 24 8 1 4 8 12 22 32 14th Port Vale 25 7 4 3 23 20 2 1 8 10 20 32 15th Sheff Wed 24 5 2 4 14 17 4 3 6 14 20 32 16th Brighton 24 8 2 3 24 12 0 4 7 16 29 30 17th Luton 24 5 0 5 18 18 4 3 7 20 27 30 18th Swindon 24 5 3 3 19 15 3 2 8 14 25 29 19th Wycombe 24 3 6 4 23 21 3 3 5 12 18 27 20th Shrewsbury 24 5 4 5 24 21 2 2 6 9 19 27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Doncaster 24 5 3 3 16 17 2 3 8 15 30 27 22nd Huddersfield 24 5 4 4 25 22 1 2 8 11 25 24 23rd Wrexham 25 4 2 7 19 23 1 4 7 15 29 21 24th Oldham 24 3 4 5 16 21 0 1 11 9 29 14 </pre>

retired_bbcarr

The new year presented a tough challenge to start with, a New Year's Day trip to Bradford. However, a red card for John Achterberg made things ar easier for 'Pool, and goals from Stephen Lovell and Porter claimed an edgy 2-1 win. The momentum was carried on with a win over Shrewsbury at Victoria Park before defeat at home against Stockport and a draw in Blackpool put the brakes on to a degree. A Stephen Lovell hat-trick put Doncaster to the sword in a thrilling 5-2 win, and he hit another treble in a 5-0 demolition of Rochdale. Sandwiched in between those two results, was a hard fought 3-3 draw at Luton. A draw at Colchester followed before a third five goal haul in five matches materialised when Huddersfield fell to goals from Stephen Lovell (2), Merson, Ashton and Porter.

Cambridge dented Hartlepool's progress with a 3-1 win at The Abbey, but they bounced back and downed Plymouth 3-1 in their very next game. Then two clean sheets and nine goals came their way in the next two games as they destroyed Port Vale 6-0 (including a Dean Ashton hat-trick) and thumped Chesterfield by a 3-0 margain at Victoria Park. Defeats to Bournemouth and Peterborough came either side of another big win (tihs time 5-1 over Wycombe) and then two draws (against Shrewsbury and Brighton) threatened 'Pool's position at the top of the table.

However, the title was won with two great wins in their final three games, as Oldham fell 5-3 in a wonderfully entertaining game and then Ashton and Porter saw to it that Wrexham were sent home on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat. A 4-1 loss in Swindon rounded out the campaign, but the result mattered not as the trophy had been secured with the points won against Wrexham. Rob had come to Hartlepool with the intention of gaining them a promotion before moving on. Well, now that he had secured that, it was time to start looking elsewhere. Unfortunately, if he was to keep his plan of emulating the great Brian Clough, he would have to stick around at Victoria Park for a while yet. Derby had improved on a 13th placed finish last season to sneak a play-off spot in division one, though they eventually lost in the final. Another club eligible for Rob was Leeds, but they too were off limits for now as they'd won the play-off final against Derby and were unlikely to part with Mr Blackwell at current times.

So a Championship campaign awaited Rob at Victoria Park, and he knew he'd have to strength the squad heavily if they were to avoid a swift drop back to League One.


Stage One Completed

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Thursday 29th May 2003********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2002/3 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C HARTLEPOOL 46 16 3 4 60 22 10 5 8 46 36 86 2nd P Bradford 46 15 3 5 35 23 11 1 11 55 48 82 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd P Stockport 46 15 4 4 53 32 8 6 9 37 38 79 4th Peterborough 46 13 4 6 40 19 8 8 7 34 30 75 5th Burnley 46 15 5 3 45 16 6 7 10 27 34 75 6th Cambridge Utd 46 14 5 4 44 22 7 6 10 37 37 74 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Rochdale 46 18 1 4 54 36 4 7 12 22 38 74 8th Colchester 46 11 5 7 39 24 9 8 6 29 23 73 9th Brighton 46 16 3 4 44 17 5 6 12 38 51 72 10th Bournemouth 46 11 4 8 38 33 10 5 8 26 29 72 11th Plymouth 46 9 9 5 38 28 10 5 8 45 42 71 12th Chesterfield 46 13 5 5 43 29 8 2 13 28 42 70 13th Walsall 46 10 5 8 33 27 10 4 9 31 33 69 14th Blackpool 46 12 5 6 43 33 8 2 13 41 43 67 15th Shrewsbury 46 11 5 7 41 37 6 6 11 30 43 62 16th Luton 46 11 2 10 45 43 6 6 11 29 40 59 17th Sheff Wed 46 8 10 5 29 28 6 6 11 25 37 58 18th Port Vale 46 9 7 7 36 44 6 6 11 29 40 58 19th Swindon 46 9 7 7 38 36 5 3 15 28 51 52 20th Huddersfield 46 10 5 8 47 39 3 5 15 26 51 49 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st R Wycombe 46 6 9 8 39 38 5 3 15 26 51 45 22nd R Doncaster 46 8 4 11 35 41 4 5 14 28 55 45 23rd R Wrexham 46 7 4 12 41 46 3 8 12 25 48 42 24th R Oldham 46 4 7 12 38 56 2 1 20 27 58 26 </pre>

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Hartlepool United - Sunday 4th May 2003********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2002/3 Senior Club Stats============================================= ================================================== =No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Ashton, Dean 35 (3) 17 0 0 12 1 0 10 8.13 19 Bass, Jonathan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- 16 Boyd, Adam 6 (4) 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 6.90 20 Brackstone, John 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.50 25 Brackstone, John - - - - - - - - ---- 30 Carbon, Matthew 13 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 7.38 27 Carpenter, Richard 14 (4) 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 7.17 24 Chilvers, Liam 36 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 7.03 12 Davidson, Callum 27 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 7.07 50 Duncan, Kevin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- 26 Edwards, Robert 45 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 6.98 8 Humphreys, Ritchie 12 (5) 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 7.06 15 Jordan, Andy 6 (2) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.88 14 Lovell, Stephen 38 (4) 29 0 3 (2) 7 4 0 10 8.24 21 Lovell, Stuart 19 (2) 8 0 0 2 2 1 1 7.33 28 McCann, Ryan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---- 4 McManus, Stephen 11 (9) 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 7.00 11 Merson, Paul 37 10 0 0 10 1 0 1 7.27 9 Porter, Joel 23 (16) 17 0 0 9 4 1 2 7.72 7 Quashie, Nigel 36 (2) 5 0 0 13 5 1 1 7.29 13 Roberts, Tony 5 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 22 Robson, Mattie - - - - - - - - ---- 2 Ross, Jack 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.77 17 Stephenson, Paul 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.67 18 Strachan, Gavin 25 (1) 8 0 0 9 2 0 1 7.65 23 Sweeney, Anthony 4 (1) 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 7.60 3 Van Dommele, Adam 17 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.59 1 Wapenaar, Harold 44 0 56 0 0 0 0 0 7.18 29 Wardley, Stuart 37 (2) 6 0 0 9 2 0 1 7.28 6 Westwood, Chris 3 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.25 </pre>

retired_embartl

Congratulations! That strike force did indeed prove prolific - and nice to see magic merse still chipping in :thup:

shannon2007

Well done Simon, good luck in the next stage

retired_bbcarr

cheers, guys

---------------------------

2003-04

The Squad


Goalkeepers:

After a good season in the promotion campaign, Rob had determined to keep faith with his ageing number one, Harald Wapenaar. The 36 year old Dutch man had signed a one year deal at the beginning of the previous season, but after protracted negotiations, agreed to a further two years and will, bar any serious dip in form, keep goal for that time. After the shock retirement of Tony Roberts during the summer, Rob had to move to bring in someone to back Harald up, and that someone was 25 year old Paul Rachubka, accquired from Charlton for £300,000. Third choice for the season, as he was for last season, will be Englishman Kevin Duncan. Not really good enough to challenge for a first team place, he will, however, be kept in case of serious injury or death.

Starting Goalkeeper: Harald Wapenaar


Defenders:

Rob Edwards spent the 2002-03 season at Victoria Park on loan from Wolves, and after impressing in the 45 games that he played, the first thing Rob Watson did over the summer was to secure Edwards' signature on a permanent basis. Wolves held out for a £600,000 fee, but it should prove to be money well spent on the Welshman. His partner at the back will be new club captain, Bobby Mann. The 32 year old Scot was brought in from Dundee on a free transfer, and should stable up a backline that looked a bit creaky at times last season. Challenging them for a spot will be Matt Carbon, who was brought in during the second half of last season when Sagi Burton left for Blackburn. Starting full backs will be Callum Davidson and Liam Chilvers, though new signings Mark Clyde and David Murphy will be waiting for them to slip up.

Starting Defensive Line: Liam Chilvers, Rob Edwards, Bobby Mann, Callum Davidson


Midfielders:

There would be little change in the midfield department from the team that got Hartlepool to Division One. The retirement of assistant manager Paul merson frmo the paying staff meant that one hole had opened up, and Rob signed two players to fill it. Shane Tudor cost him £500,000 from Division Two outfit Cambridge Utd, whilst Martin Fotheringham was brought in on a bosman free transfer, though they had to pay £14,000 compensation to St Johnstone as he was under 24. On the left wing, Ritchie Humphreys would battle for the position with Nigel Quashie whilst Stuart Wardley was the clear #1 choice on the right. In the centre of the park, it would be crowded, with Tudor, Fotheringham, Stuart Lovell, Richard Carpenter and Gavin Strachan all in with a chance of grabbing one of the two positions.

Starting Midfield Line: Stuart Wardley, Martin Fotheringham, Gavin Strachan, Nigel Quashie


Strikers:

If Hartlepool were to stay up, then the strikers would have to be on top of their game. Between them, Joel Porter, Dean Ashton and Stephen Lovell grabbed 63 goals in the promotion campaign, and though a season quite that good was unlikely, one not far off would be needed if they were to make any impact on the division. After Adam Boyd left for Blyth Spartans, Rob felt the need to bring in a fourth frontman, and did so in the shape of Alex Williams from Morton. Costing £110,000, Williams had netted 42 goals for Morton in the 2002-03 season (and 30 in the 2001-02 campaign) and was expected to be able to make the step up in level.

Starting front line: Dean Ashton, Stephen Lovell