2011–12 Hartlepool United F.C. season

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.

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)

Background and pre-season

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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

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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

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As of End of Season.[4]

Current squad

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

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

Transfers

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Transfers in

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Pre-season friendlies

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11 July 2011 Den Bosch 2–2 Hartlepool United De Vliert, Den Bosch
18:30 Reniers   50'
Karg   53'
Mooney   21'
Nish   28'
20 July 2011 Blyth Spartans 1–3 Hartlepool United Croft Park, Blyth
19:0 Armstrong   ?' Hassan   ?'
Poole   ?', ?'
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'
30 July 2011 York City 2–1 Hartlepool United Bootham Crescent, York
15:00 Chambers  
Fyfield  
Boyd   Attendance: 1,241
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

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League table

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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

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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

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAHA
ResultDDDDWWWWWLLLWLLDWLLLLWLLWDDWDLWLWDLDDLWLDDLDWL
Position9131416126653791071013121011131314121617131313101014911119111111121111121213141113
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
6 August 2011 1 Milton Keynes Dons 2–2 Hartlepool United Stadium:mk, Milton Keynes
15:00 Chadwick   53'
Ibehre   90+1'
Boyd   20'
Poole   85'
Attendance: 7,287
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
15 October 2011 12 Hartlepool United 1–3 Wycombe Wanderers Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Boyd   89' (pen.) Donnelly   15'
Beavon   36'
Sam Collins   82' (o.g.)
Attendance: 5,421
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
29 October 2011 15 Hartlepool United 0–4 Charlton Athletic Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Wright-Phillips   9', 37'
Hollands   55'
Wagstaff   84'
Attendance: 5,333
5 November 2011 16 Leyton Orient 1–1 Hartlepool United Brisbane Road, Leyton
15:00 Cox   23' Austin   54' (pen.) Attendance: 4,424
19 November 2011 17 Scunthorpe United 0–2 Hartlepool United Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
15:00 Monkhouse   21'
Sweeney   77'
Attendance: 3,861
26 November 2011 18 Hartlepool United 0–1 Yeovil Town Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 N'Gala   25' Attendance: 4,604
29 November 2011 19 Hartlepool United 0–1 Preston North End Victoria Park, Hartlepool
19:45 Mellor   22' Attendance: 4,156
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
2 January 2012 24 Hartlepool United 1–2 Scunthorpe United Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Monkhouse   83' Togwell   32'
Thompson   74'
Attendance: 5,289
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
21 January 2012 27 Sheffield Wednesday 2–2 Hartlepool United Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
15:00 Johnson   58'
Madine   75'
Hartley   47'
Sweeney   87'
Attendance: 17,469
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
31 March 2012 40 Hartlepool United 0–1 Sheffield United Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Evans   79' (pen.) Attendance: 5,825
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
21 April 2012 44 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Hartlepool United Prenton Park, Birkenhead
15:00 Welsh   40'
Williams   72'
Sweeney   69' Attendance: 4,757
28 April 2012 45 Hartlepool United 2–1 Leyton Orient Victoria Park, Hartlepool
15:00 Sweeney   23'
Noble   73'
Campbell-Ryce   34' Attendance: 4,502
5 May 2012 46 Charlton Athletic 3–2 Hartlepool United The Valley, Charlton
15:00 Hollands   70'
Haynes   78'
Kermorgant   81'
Hartley   31'
Liddle   86'
Attendance: 26,749

FA Cup

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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

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Football League Trophy

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

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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

Goalscorers

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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

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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

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

Suspensions

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

Awards

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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

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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

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  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.