Blue & White Army - Let's give Jeff something to shout about!

[gamestar]

I wanted a real challenge with my next game so i decided to take my hometown club Hartlepool United, a mediocre league 1 team based in the North-East with little funds (probably known to you lot as Jeff Stelling's favourite team or the town that has the club mascot H'Angus the Monkey as mayor of the town ), but i am really determined to do well with this one, in it for the journey!

Formed - 1908
Stadium - Victoria Park (7,681)
Key Players - James Brown, Ben Clark, Andy Monkhouse
Main Rivals - Darlington
Other Rivals - Carlilse, Leeds
Club Colours - Blue and White Stripes
Nicknames - Pools, Monkey Hangers
Club Mascot - H'Angus the Monkey​

Famous Fact - The club where football legend Brian Clough started his managerial career​

Shock announcement at the Vic​

OUT - Chris Turner​

TAYLOR NAMED AS POOL BOSS

Hartlepool United today unveiled Liam Taylor as the club's new manager. Hartlepool born Taylor was seen by many as an outsider for the job to replace former manager Chris Turner, and has been given a two-year contract by Pools chairman Ken Hodcroft, who had this to say​

"I firmly believe Liam is the right man for the job, he's young, he's hungry for success and it's his home town club which makes this a special moment not only for him, but for the fans aswell"​

Taylor, 38, has had no previous experiance in management although he has had coaching roles with Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Everton since his retirement as a player 5 years ago. Taylor has however been at Hartlepool before in his playing days when he had a brief loan spell there in the early 90's as a youngster coming through Middlesbrough's youth system. The former striker tallied up 21 appearances for Pools scoring 5 goals. Sat alongside Hodcroft at the press conference Taylor had this to say on his new job​

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and i am thankful to Ken for giving me my first job in management. I'm delighted to be here at Hartlepool, it's my home town club, i used to stand in the Mill House Terrace as a boy and i want to do well for this club which is close to my heart"​

Upon being asked about his lack of experiance of management Taylor's response was
"I can understand people such as yourselves (the media) and fans are a bit wary of my lack of experiance but youve got to start somewhere and you have to learn quick in the Football League, the average life span of a Football League manager these days is short, there is massive pressures to management and i hope to thrive under them."​

Hartlepool struggled last season under Chris Turner and narrowly avoided relegation from League One. Many are predicting another struggle this season for Taylor's men in the fiercley competitive 3rd tier of English football.​

"This season our aim is to consolidate our position in League One, that is the most important thing and hopefully next season push on from there. It is a very competitive league, there are some top sides in this division the likes of your Norwich's, Leeds, Southampton's and Charlton's are really a cut above and they will be tough challenges for team's in League One" said Taylor​

"I will be looking at strengthening the squad also, not greatly as we don't have mega funds here at Hartlepool, but i will be looking at bringing in another midfielder, possibly a striker also. I have a good idea of who is in my plans and who isnt but everyone will have the chance to show what they can do here"​

Taylor will kick off his reign at Victoria Park with pre season outings against Macclesfield, Burnley, Billingham Town, Dutch side Cambuur-Leeuwarden and Spanish outfit Tenerife's B side.​

More to Follow (any feedback would be much appreciated as i am relativley new to this )........​

 

[Deano]

good first post, will be following.

 

[gamestar]

THREE IN AND ONE OUT AT THE VIC

NEW FACE AT POOLS - KEEGAN​

New Hartlepool United boss Liam Taylor has been busy in the transfer market since his appointment last week, the club confirmed the arrival of three new faces at Victoria Park yesterday which confirmed as midfielder Paul Keegan from Irish club Bohemians and defenders David Gray and Laurence Gaughan.​

Ex-Leeds midfielder Keegan joins Pools on a two year contract for a nominal fee, Dublin born Keegan originally came through Leeds' academy in 2000 but failed to make a first team appearance before moving back to Ireland to play for Drogheda and Bohemians respectively.​

Meanwhile Pools also secured the services of 21 year old Manchester United right back David Gray on a 3 month loan deal. Also arriving at Hartlepool is Irish defender Laurence Gaughan. Gaughan, 19, was recently released by Celtic and originally came through the ranks at Liverpool. The other news Pools confirmed forward David Foley had left for Hereford on a free transfer.​

"I am pleased to welcome these three lads to the club, Paul and David will go straight into the first team for pre-season game at Macclesfield, Laurence will be training and playing pre-season with the reserves to see how he gets on, i'm not expecting major things yet of the lad."
"Paul has signed a two-year deal, David has joined on loan for 3 months initially and Laurence has signed a one year deal"
said Pools boss Liam Taylor.​

David Gray - Loan Ranger​

Laurence Gaughan - One Year Deal​

David Foley - Hereford Bound​

 

[charby19]

2 good signings there, good luck!

 

[leedsunited1987]

good luck with this i will follow becasue i used to live in hartlepool

 

[Mike]

Good luck, enjoy reading the challenges.

Wonder if Jeff plays FM... (A)

 

[Deleted member 79730]

really nice story mate

 

[gamestar]

Cheers folks, much appreciated nice to see i have a following!

POOLS COMPLETE DOUBLE SWOOP

DONALDSON - LOAN DEAL​

Hartlepool United today sealed the signings of two new players to bolster their squad for the upcoming League One campaign.
Newcastle forward Ryan Donaldson has joined Liam Taylor's side on an initial 3 month loan deal. Toon boss Chris Hughton was keen on giving Donaldson,19, some valuable first team experiance and believes Hartlepool is a good move for the Newcastle born striker.
Donaldson is likely to challenge Pools forwards Adam Boyd, James Brown, Denis Behan and Colin Larkin for a place in the first eleven at Victoria Park.​

Hartlepool have also secured the services of Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper Scott Gallacher on a free transfer. 20 year old Gallacher had been with the scottish giants since 2005 but failed to make a single appearance since coming through the ranks at Ibrox.​

Hartlepool manager Taylor had this to say on his new signings
"I'm pleased to have signed them both, Ryan is a fine young player with an eye for the net and i'm hoping he'll do well here, if it does there is an option to extend his loan deal. I also heard Scott was available and we only have two keepers in our squad and i felt we needed another one, he's only 20 and thats young for a keeper i'm hoping he'll learn his trade and be one for the future here at Hartlepool"​

PRE - SEASON RESULTS​

Macclesfield 0 - 2 POOLS Fredriksen, Boyd
POOLS 1 - 5 Burnley Donaldson
Billingham Town 2 - 2 POOLS Gray, Sweeney
Tenerife 'B' 1 - 2 POOLS Brown, Keegan
Cambuur 4 - 0 POOLS X11​

More comings and goings​

Goalkeepers
Scott Flinders, Mark Cook, Scott Gallacher​

Defenders
Ben Clark (c), Peter Hartley, Neil Austin, Sam Collins, Steve Haslam, David Gray, Julian Cherel, Armann Bjornsson, Laurence Gaughan​

Midfielders
Gary Liddle, Ritchie Jones, Leon McSweeney, Ritchie Humphreys (vc), Paul Keegan, Andy Monkhouse, Jon Arne Fredriksen, Antony Sweeney, Jonny Rowell, Alan Power​

Forwards
Adam Boyd, Denis Behan, Colin Larkin, James Brown, Ryan Donaldson​

KAMMY'S PREVIEW TO LEAGUE ONE​

HARTLEPOOL UNITED​

​

Kammy says "I think it'll be a tough old season for Hartlepool...sorry Jeff! new manager Liam Taylor has had no experiance at this level and he will have to learn fast, come the end of the season i expect them to be slogging it out with the likes of Yeovil and Exeter in the relegation places but it all depends how key players such as James Brown and Adam Boyd do for me, if they can get those two scoring goals they might just save themselves, they have quite a small squad and Taylor has tried to add players to it such as Paul Keegan and the young lads theyve got in on loan. Another thing vital for Pools will be their home form, if they can turn Victoria Park into a fortress teams like Leeds, Norwich and Charlton who are used to luxuries won't like going up there on a freezing cold tuesday night, let me tell ya!"​

KAMMY'S CALLS​

KEY MAN - JAMES BROWN, WILL GIVE THEM AN EDGE
ONE TO WATCH - PETER HARTLEY, YOUNG LOCAL DEFENDER SIGNED FROM SUNDERLAND
MUST IMPROVE - RITCHIE JONES, ONCE ON THE BOOKS AT MAN UTD, NEEDS TO SHOW WHY​

PROMOTION ODDS - 40/1​

KAMMY'S PREDICTION - 20th - JUST AVOIDING THE DROP​

 

[Mike]

Superb layout mate, only wish there were more stories like this.

All the best for the campaign, it's gonna be a long one (A)