2011–12 Hartlepool United F.C. season

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Hartlepool United F.C.
2011–12 season
OwnerIOR
ChairmanKen Hodcroft
ManagerMick Wadsworth
(until 6 December)
Neale Cooper
(from 28 December)
StadiumVictoria Park
League One13th
FA CupFirst round
(Eliminated by Stevenage)
League CupFirst round
(Eliminated by Sheffield United)
Football League TrophyFirst Round
(Eliminated by Scunthorpe United)
Top goalscorerLeague: Antony Sweeney (8)
All: Antony Sweeney (9)
Highest home attendance6,800 (vs Sheffield Wednesday)
Lowest home attendance2,744 (vs Stevenage)

The 2011–12 season was Hartlepool United's 103rd year in existence and their fifth consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.

Background and pre-season

In pre-season, Hartlepool received media attention having announced a season ticket deal whereby the price would be only £100 if over 4,000 tickets would be sold.[1] The club ultimately sold over 5,600 season tickets.[1] The club also announced the signing of former Newcastle United player Nolberto Solano.[1] During pre-season, Hartlepool played a testimonial for the club's record appearance maker Ritchie Humphreys against local side Sunderland.[1]

Review and events

The club began the 2011–12 campaign with a trip to Milton Keyns Dons.[1] Hartlepool twice took the lead thanks to goals by Adam Boyd and James Brown but were pegged back late in the match to draw 2–2.[1] They were subsequently eliminated in the first round of the League Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Sheffield United.[1] Hartlepool would draw three matches in a row before winning five in a row to go 3rd in the league.[1] This was the first time in the club's history that they had gone unbeaten in their first nine matches of a season.[1] This run was ended with a home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in early October.[1] The following week, Pools suffered defeat once again away to Notts County, losing 3–0 in the televised fixture.[1] Despite the impressive start, Hartlepool would suffer poor home form. Six consecutive home defeats was a club record and signalled the end of Mick Wadsworth's tenure as Hartlepool manager.[2]

Former manager Neale Cooper was announced as Wadsworth's successor.[1] Cooper's first match back at the club saw Hartlepool's eighth successive home defeat.[2] In the next home fixture, Cooper took the decision to start 17-year old Luke James. James scored in the 2–0 win against Rochdale to become the youngest goalscorer for the club in its history.[2] This was a theme at the beginning of Cooper's second spell; giving opportunities to many younger players whilst criticising the performances of more experienced players.[3] This win against Rochdale was followed up with an impressive away point at Sheffield Wednesday and then a comprehensive 4–0 home victory against rivals Carlisle United which gave hopes for a late play-off charge.[2] However, Hartlepool would suffer a 5–0 away defeat to relegation threatened Wycombe Wanderers.[2] Pools struggled in front of goal for their remaining matches and ultimately finished in 13th position.[2][3]

Players

As of End of Season.[4]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Scott Flinders
2 DF England ENG Neil Austin
3 MF England ENG Ritchie Humphreys
4 DF England ENG Gary Liddle
5 DF England ENG Sam Collins
6 DF England ENG Evan Horwood
7 FW England ENG James Brown
8 FW England ENG James Poole
9 FW Scotland SCO Colin Nish
10 FW England ENG Adam Boyd
11 MF England ENG Andy Monkhouse
14 MF England ENG Nathan Luscombe
15 MF England ENG Antony Sweeney
16 DF England ENG Steven Haslam
18 DF England ENG Jack Baldwin
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF England ENG Jordan Richards
20 MF England ENG Paul Murray
21 GK England ENG Andy Rafferty
23 FW England ENG Callum Hassan
24 MF Peru PER Nolberto Solano
26 DF England ENG Paul Johnson
27 FW Northern Ireland NIR Colin Larkin
28 DF England ENG Josh Rowbotham
29 DF England ENG Peter Hartley
30 DF England ENG Darren Holden
33 FW England ENG Luke James
34 MF England ENG Lewis Hawkins
35 FW England ENG Ryan Noble
36 MF England ENG Greg Rutherford

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Player From Fee Ref
13 May 2011 FW James Poole Manchester City Free [5]
13 May 2011 MF Nolberto Solano Leicester City Free [6]
27 June 2011 FW Colin Nish Hibernian Free [7]
22 July 2011 DF Jack Baldwin Faversham Town Undisclosed [8]
2 September 2011 DF Stephen Wright Brentford Free [9]

Transfers out

Date Position Player To Fee Ref
16 June 2011 MF Leon McSweeney Leyton Orient Free [10]
23 June 2011 MF Joe Gamble Limerick Free [11]
23 June 2011 FW Denis Behan Limerick Free [11]
11 July 2011 DF Dylan Purvis Blyth Spartans Free [11]
5 August 2011 FW Michael Mackay Consett Free [11]
7 August 2011 FW Billy Greulich Durham City Free [11]
10 August 2011 MF Fabián Yantorno Sud América Free [11]
13 August 2011 MF Billy Blackford Whitby Town Free [11]
15 September 2011 DF Ármann Björnsson ÍA Free [11]
11 January 2012 DF Jordan Mellish Blyth Spartans Free [12]
24 January 2012 DF Stephen Wright Wrexham Free [13][14]

Loans in

Date from Position Player From Date until Ref
2 March 2012 FW Samuel Adjei Newcastle United 2 April 2012 [15]
20 March 2012 FW Ryan Noble Sunderland 1 June 2012 [16]

Loans out

Date from Position Player To Date until Ref
12 August 2011 FW Callum Hassan Harrogate Town 12 September 2011 [17]
19 September 2011 FW Callum Hassan Whitby Town 19 October 2011 [18]
19 September 2011 MF Lewis Hawkins Whitby Town 19 October 2011 [18]
4 November 2011 DF Paul Johnson Workington 3 March 2012 [19][20]
4 November 2011 FW Steven Snaith Workington 4 January 2012 [19]
16 March 2012 DF Paul Johnson Darlington 1 June 2012 [21]

Results

Pre-season friendlies

11 July 2011 Den Bosch 2–2 Hartlepool United De Vliert, Den Bosch
18:30 Reniers 50'
Karg 53'
Mooney 21'
Nish 28'
23 July 2011 Workington 2–3 Hartlepool United Borough Park, Workington
15:00 McNiven ?' (pen.)
Johnson ?' (o.g.)
Boyd ?' (pen.)
Hassan ?'
Sweeney ?'
25 July 2011 Whitby Town 0–2 Hartlepool United Turnbull Ground, Whitby
19:00 Larkin 45'
Poole 54'
27 July 2011 Harrogate Town 0–3 Hartlepool United Wetherby Road, Harrogate
19:30 Austin 48'
Nish 54'
Luscombe 90'
2 August 2011 Hartlepool United 1–3 Sunderland Victoria Park, Hartlepool
19:30 Solano 8' Gyan 31'
Colback 49'
Larsson 59'
Attendance: 5,757

League One

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 AFC Bournemouth 46 15 13 18 48 52 −4 58
12 Tranmere Rovers 46 14 14 18 49 53 −4 56
13 Hartlepool United 46 14 14 18 50 55 −5 56
14 Bury 46 15 11 20 60 79 −19 56
15 Preston North End 46 13 15 18 54 68 −14 54
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2012. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 14 14 18 50 55  −5 56 6 6 11 21 22  −1 8 8 7 29 33  −4

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAHA
ResultDDDDWWWWWLLLWLLDWLLLLWLLWDDWDLWLWDLDDLWLDDLDWL
Position9131416126653791071013121011131314121617131313101014911119111111121111121213141113
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
13 August 2011 2 Hartlepool United 1–1 Walsall Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Nish 5' Macken 3' (pen.) Attendance: 5,170
20 August 2011 4 Stevenage 2–2 Hartlepool United Broadhall Way, Stevenage
15:00 Harrison 69'
Laird 88'
Hartley 34'
Boyd 41' (pen.)
Attendance: 2,831
27 August 2011 5 Rochdale 1–3 Hartlepool United Spotland Stadium, Rochdale
15:00 Akpa Akpro 16' Boyd 7'
Poole 47', 87'
Attendance: 2,600
3 September 2011 6 Hartlepool United 2–0 Exeter City Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Liddle 4'
Luscombe 89'
Attendance: 5,152
10 September 2011 7 Carlisle United 1–2 Hartlepool United Brunton Park, Carlisle
15:00 Loy 74' (pen.) Liddle 21'
Boyd 41'
Attendance: 4,765
17 September 2011 8 Hartlepool United 3–0 Bury Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Solano 33'
Nish 51', 74'
Attendance: 5,343
24 September 2011 9 Bournemouth 1–2 Hartlepool United Dean Court, Bournemouth
15:00 Gregory 37' Solano 42'
Horwood 87'
Attendance: 5,275
9 October 2011 11 Notts County 3–0 Hartlepool United Meadow Lane, Nottingham
16:30 Hawley 29', 55'
Montano 90+1'
Attendance: 6,172
22 October 2011 13 Chesterfield 2–3 Hartlepool United B2net Stadium, Chesterfield
15:00 Clarke 10'
Holden 52'
Murray 17'
Poole 19', 48'
Attendance: 5,937
25 October 2011 14 Hartlepool United 0–2 Tranmere Rovers Victoria Park, Hartlepool
19:45 Akins 46', 66' Attendance: 5,200
5 November 2011 16 Leyton Orient 1–1 Hartlepool United Brisbane Road, Leyton
15:00 Cox 23' Austin 54' (pen.) Attendance: 4,424
26 November 2011 18 Hartlepool United 0–1 Yeovil Town Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 N'Gala 25' Attendance: 4,604
10 December 2011 20 Brentford 2–1 Hartlepool United Griffin Park, Brentford
15:00 McGinn 80'
Alexander 85'
Collins 83' Attendance: 6,352
26 December 2011 22 Oldham Athletic 0–1 Hartlepool United Boundary Park, Oldham
15:00 Poole 7' Attendance: 4,459
31 December 2011 23 Sheffield United 3–1 Hartlepool United Bramall Lane, Sheffield
13:00 Flynn 12'
Porter 34'
Evans 42'
Hartley 90+3' Attendance: 20,372
7 January 2012 25 Hartlepool United 2–0 Rochdale Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Brown 74'
James 80'
Attendance: 4,663
14 January 2012 26 Exeter City 0–0 Hartlepool United St James Park, Exeter
15:00 Attendance: 4,016
28 January 2012 28 Hartlepool United 4–0 Carlisle United Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 James 6' 67'
Sweeney 17'
Nish 81'
Attendance: 5,995
14 February 2012 30 Preston North End 1–0 Hartlepool United Deepdale, Preston
19:45 Mayor 76' Attendance: 14,191
18 February 2012 31 Hartlepool United 3–0 Notts County Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Sweeney 37' (53)
Monkhouse 78'
Attendance: 4,718
25 February 2012 32 Wycombe Wanderers 5–0 Hartlepool United Adams Park, Wycombe
15:00 Hayes 5' (55)
Doherty 11'
Beavon 42' (71)
Attendance: 4,408
28 February 2012 33 Bury 1–2 Hartlepool United Gigg Lane, Bury
19:45 Worrall 79' Humphreys 45+1'
Boyd 74'
Attendance: 2,072
10 March 2012 36 Walsall 0–0 Hartlepool United Banks's Stadium, Walsall
15:00 Attendance: 3,751
17 March 2012 37 Hartlepool United 0–0 Stevenage Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Attendance: 4,484
24 March 2012 39 Yeovil Town 0–1 Hartlepool United Huish Park, Yeovil
15:00 Noble 65' Attendance: 4,033
9 April 2012 42 Hartlepool United 0–0 Brentford Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Attendance: 4,292
14 April 2012 43 Hartlepool United 1–2 Chesterfield Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Liddle 37' Whitaker 59'
Bowery 69'
Attendance: 4,004

FA Cup

12 November 2011 1 Hartlepool United 0–1 Stevenage Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Summary Laird 10' (pen.) Attendance: 2,744
Referee: Mark Heywood

League Cup

Football League Trophy

30 August 2011 Round 1 Scunthorpe United 2–0 Hartlepool United Glanford Park
19:00 Grant 59', 66' Attendance: 1,763

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player Total League One FA Cup League Cup Other
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK England ENG Scott Flinders 48 0 45 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
2 DF England ENG Neil Austin 49 1 46 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
3 MF England ENG Ritchie Humphreys 32 1 30 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
4 DF England ENG Gary Liddle 40 4 37 4 1 0 1 0 1 0
5 DF England ENG Sam Collins 37 1 36 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
6 DF England ENG Evan Horwood 44 1 41 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
7 FW England ENG James Brown 25 1 24 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
8 FW England ENG James Poole 30 7 27 7 1 0 1 0 1 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Colin Nish 20 4 19 4 0 0 1 0 0 0
10 FW England ENG Adam Boyd 36 6 33 6 1 0 1 0 1 0
11 MF England ENG Andy Monkhouse 48 3 45 3 1 0 1 0 1 0
12 DF England ENG Stephen Wright 11 0 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF England ENG Nathan Luscombe 16 1 13 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
15 MF England ENG Antony Sweeney 42 9 39 8 1 0 1 1 1 0
16 DF England ENG Steven Haslam 11 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
17 MF Sweden SWE Samuel Adjei 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 DF England ENG Jack Baldwin 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 DF England ENG Jordan Richards 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF England ENG Paul Murray 46 1 45 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
21 GK England ENG Andy Rafferty 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW England ENG Callum Hassan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 MF Peru PER Nolberto Solano 16 2 14 2 1 0 1 0 0 0
27 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Colin Larkin 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
28 DF England ENG Josh Rowbotham 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 DF England ENG Peter Hartley 47 4 44 4 1 0 1 0 1 0
30 DF England ENG Darren Holden 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 MF England ENG Luke James 19 3 19 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 MF England ENG Lewis Hawkins 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 FW England ENG Ryan Noble 9 2 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 MF England ENG Greg Rutherford 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Goalscorers

Rank Name League One FA Cup League Cup Other Total
1 Antony Sweeney 8 0 1 0 9
2 James Poole 7 0 0 0 7
3 Adam Boyd 6 0 0 0 6
4 Peter Hartley 4 0 0 0 4
Gary Liddle 4 0 0 0 4
Colin Nish 4 0 0 0 4
7 Luke James 3 0 0 0 3
Andy Monkhouse 3 0 0 0 3
9 Neil Austin 2 0 0 0 2
Ryan Noble 2 0 0 0 2
Nolberto Solano 2 0 0 0 2
12 James Brown 1 0 0 0 1
Sam Collins 1 0 0 ) 1
Ritchie Humphreys 1 0 0 0 1
Nathan Luscombe 1 0 0 0 1
Paul Murray 1 0 0 0 1

Clean Sheets

Rank Name League One FA Cup League Cup Other Total
1 Scott Flinders 13 0 0 0 13
2 Andy Rafferty 1 0 0 0 1

Penalties

Date Name Opposition Scored?
20 August 2011 Adam Boyd Stevenage Green tickY
15 October 2011 Adam Boyd Wycombe Wanderers Green tickY
5 November 2011 Neil Austin Leyton Orient Green tickY

Suspensions

Date Incurred Name Games Missed Reason
13 August 2011 Nathan Luscombe 3 Red card (vs. Walsall)
5 November 2011 Paul Murray 1 Red card (vs. Leyton Orient)
12 November 2011 Scott Flinders 1 Red card (vs. Stevenage)
31 March 2012 Peter Hartley 1 Red card (vs. Sheffield United)

Awards

End of Season Awards Winner
Hartlepool Mail Player of the Year Peter Hartley
Players' Player of the Year Peter Hartley
Michael Maidens' Goal of the Season Luke James vs Rochdale
Supporters' Association Youth Team Player of the Year Josh Rowbotham

Aftermath

Following the conclusion of the season, Cooper opted to release experienced players such as Adam Boyd and James Brown.[2] Steve Haslam, Nolberto Solano and Colin Larkin also departed.[2] The 2012–13 season saw Hartlepool relegated to the fourth tier after six seasons in League One.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Errington, Malcolm (2012). Hartlepool United The Complete Record. Derby: The Derby Books Publishing Company Limited. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-78091-030-7.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Errington, Malcolm (2012). Hartlepool United The Complete Record. Derby: The Derby Books Publishing Company Limited. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-78091-030-7.
  3. ^ a b Errington, Malcolm (2012). Hartlepool United The Complete Record. Derby: The Derby Books Publishing Company Limited. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-78091-030-7.
  4. ^ "First team profiles". Hartlepool United F.C. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Pools seal Poole capture". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 13 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Pools Make Sensational Swoop For Solano". Hartlepool United F.C. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Hartlepool United complete move for striker Colin Nish". BBC Football. 27 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Hartlepool United sign defender Jack Baldwin from Faversham". BBC Football. 22 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Stephen Wright completes Hartlepool United move". BBC Sport. 2 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Leyton Orient sign Hartlepool United's Leon McSweeney". BBC Football. 16 June 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ten leave Hartlepool". Northern Echo. 12 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Mellish heads to Blyth". Sky Sports.
  13. ^ "Hartlepool United part with defender Stephen Wright". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ "Wrexham secure ex-Liverpool right-back Stephen Wright". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ "Adjei Joins Hartlepool On Loan". Newcastle United F.C. 2 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Noble heads to Pools". Sunderland A.F.C. 20 March 2012.
  17. ^ "Pools loan Hassan to Harrogate". Sky Sports.
  18. ^ a b "Pools Duo Set For Whitby Town Loan". Hartlepool United F.C. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Johnson And Snaith Make Workington Move". Hartlepool United F.C. 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Johnson Remains With Workington Reds". Hartlepool United F.C. 3 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Johnson Joins Darlington On Loan". Hartlepool United F.C. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012.