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Hartlepool FC

You are in: Tees > Sport > Hartlepool FC > Hartlepool United are off to Cardiff - here's the definitive guide

Wilson took charge of Pools in June 2006

Wilson took charge of Pools in June 2006

Hartlepool United are off to Cardiff - here's the definitive guide

By Paul Anderson

After their dramatic penalty shootout win over Tranmere in the League One play-off semi-finals, Hartlepool United are now one game away from their first ever foray into the Championship.

It was nail-biting stuff at Prenton Park.

After a comfortable 2-0 first leg win over Tranmere Rovers at The Vic, all Martin Scott's men had to do was defend the lead for 90 minutes on Merseyside for a place in the play-off final in Cardiff.

The first half was like the Alamo; with wave after wave of white shirts attacking Konstantopoulos in the Pools goal.

But Pools kept them out until the 70th minute when Ryan Taylor snuck in a free kick. 

Cue a "backs to the wall" approach from Hartlepool... which worked perfectly, if terrifyingly, until a sweet shot from David Beresford 3 minutes from time sent the game into extra time and Hartlepool fans into despair, fearing the worst.

To everyone's delight, and relief, It didn't happen - and when 30 more minutes passed without a goal - we had penalties.

Those of a nervous disposition had to close their eyes and cover their ears.

Pools boss Martin Scott

Pools boss Martin Scott

When Ritchie Humphreys showed a huge amount of bottle to score the decisive penalty thousands of screaming Pools fans knew they were on their way to Cardiff and potentially a place in local history.

After all, Hartlepool have never played in the second tier of English football, no matter what it's called.

History in the making 

And doesn't playing in 'The Championship' sound a lot grander than 'Division One', or if you cast your mind back further, 'Division Two'?

The Millennium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium

Before we get ahead of ourselves though, there's the small matter of beating Sheffield Wednesday in the final at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday 29th May.

Off to Cardiff?

If you're planning to travel to Cardiff you could do worse than speak to any friends who are Middlesbrough fans - if you have any - you might remember that part of Teesside took over the South Wales city for the Carling Cup final last season.

You'll hear stories of nightmare traffic jams, hotels fully booked up within hours and hours and hours of waiting around.

But, they won.  So you'll hear even more stories of it being the greatest footballing weekend of their lives as thousands and thousand of supporters celebrated an unprecedented achievement.

Hopefully we'll be hearing a similar story from Hartlepool supporters come the end of May.

If you do get a ticket and are going, then check out our guide to Cardiff by clicking on the link in the top right hand corner of the page.

It'll tell you how to get there, where to stay and what to do when you arrive (apart from the small matter of a football match).

Total coverage

If you can't make it then there's full match commentary on BBC Radio Cleveland.

Coverage starts at 11am on the day - keep listening to find out more - but you can be assured it'll be the best coverage from the station that's number one for sport in the North East and the only station who have covered every single Pools match of the season, HOME AND AWAY.

You won't find that level of dedication to the Pools on any other radio station.

On the day itself we want you to send us your pictures - it's easy if you have one of those posh camera-phones e-mail them to us at tees@bbc.co.uk

Best of luck to the Pools - we're all behind you!

last updated: 02/07/07

Have Your Say

Come on the Pools! Give us your message for Martin Scott's heroes in the making. Do you think they'll do it?

The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

david scobie
we lost with a flag in our hands and hartlepool united in our hearts.good luck next deason p.s we wil beat darlo

Laura Thompson
Cardiff yesterday...spell of bad luck once again. With 2 of our great players injured, and westy sent off, things couldnt get any worse the penalty changed the whole game around and it was so uncalled for the penalty wasn't deserved and sheff wed should see themselves lucky! Well Done Pools for getting this far love ya till the end x

alma
i have been a darlo fan all my life but well do hartlepool. come on the lads do it for the north east

sharron - rotherham south yorks
Although i live near to sheffield i work with a lot of Sheff Weds fans and my boyfriend supports them too but i just wanna say to Hartlepool, do us all a favour and PLEASE PLEASE beat them on sunday. In the local press down here they have won and gone up already, me and lots of other supporters of local south yorkshire teams can't stand weds they think they are a big team but they live in the past. As i wave my boyfriend off on sunday for his long and i hope wasted journey to Cardiff i'll be rooting and cheering for "THE POOL". Also martin scott used to play for my side Rotherham Utd so i'd like to wish him all the best.

Eric Mudd
My Dad was a Hartlepool supporter from the 40's throughout the 60's - seldon missed a match, home or away. He would be proud to have seen 'Pools go this far. Up the 'Pools

Dave
i like andy wish pools well, but also feel dicriminated against by the club for not haveing a credit card

Tony Coates
From a Poolie fan in Canada Born & Bred poolie come on lads make us proud on Sunday

ian gascoyne from chesterfield
Dear Hartlepool, I work in an office with several Sheffield Wednesday fans. As far as they are concerned they have won already and you needn't bother turning up. Please win and do yourselves and me a masive favour. All the very best and good luck for Sunday!!

Ann from tyneside
I WISH HARTLEPOOL ALL THE VERY BEST OF LUCK IN CARDIFF ON SUNDAY HOPE THEY DO WELL ANG GET THE PROMOTION

andy
i wish pools well just wish i had the chance of a ticket as i and a lot of other fans do not have credit cards shame on you pools staff for the situation

tin pan, waller
super pools,played well all season,more than good enough to win on sunday

Rich Dimon
All the very best lads! You deserve it. Good luck on Sunday, you have done the Club and the NE proud.

oioi
come onnnnnnnnnnn pools

Karen Evans
We deserve to win. Pools are now making other teams stand up and take notice!!! Come on Pools - All of us are behind you.

Shannon
I'm back in Oz but still follow the 'Pools thanks to a local whi i worked with in London. He sadi he'd sell his first born to get tickets to the match! Go Hartlepool!!! Its the biggest day in the clubs history and i hope you achieve promotion

rach carty
cant wait til cardiff, come on pools you can do it

Ruth Savage
I now live in New Zealand, but still faithfully follow Hartlepool United. Well done for getting this far & good luck @ Cardiff!!

Sam Sengelow
I've been through all of Pools' play-off heartbreaks, but last night was the greatest night of my life. My whole family's going to Cardiff. COME ON HARTLEPOOL- WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!

Rebecca Drane
Come on pools you can do it and we might even be thought of above Darlo!!! We can do it Well done Richie that took some bottle!!

Les Brown - Hebburn Tyne / Wear
Good Luck Hartlepool United in Cardiff. Come on ! You can do it CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL HERE WE COME.

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