Pools stars of the past and present graced the same game

The official season had just come to a close but there was still a fantastic footballing occasion to enjoy that May.

Every player gave their services free for a fundraising match which attracted a gate of 1,220 people.

It brought together former stars such as Joe Allon, Paul Baker, Don Hutchison, Paul Dalton, Rob McKinnon, Steve Tupling, Mick Smith and Andy Davies.

Other past heroes such as Keith Houchen, Andy Saville, Andy Toman, Mark Prudhoe and Kevin Dixon were all there too.

They were up against the current 1993 team which included Dean Emerson, Brian Honour, Nicky Southall, Chris Lynch, Denny Ingram and Paul Thompson.

As it was, the invitation team went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat in which Joe Allon certainly brought back lots of great memories.

He scored the first goal after going close three times in the first three minutes - first denied by Steve Jones, then chipping over and lastly hitting a post.

John McPhail headed home Brian Honour’s free kick for the opener. Lee Ellison tapped home number two when Prudhoe failed to hold Southall’s shot.

Joe Allon pulled one back when he slotted home after intercepting a pass, and Dalton equalised with a shot which bounced in off the post after he was set free by McKinnon.

Then came a couple of penalties for the hosts - and each had the same ending.

Thompson fired against the bar from the spot when he was brought down by Prudhoe just second 16 seconds into the re-start after Dalton’s goal.

And Lynch was denied a goal from the spot by Prudhoe 23 minutes later when Dobson handballed.

It was all square going into the last 14 minutes but it was Southall who finished the scoring 14 minutes from time when he blasted home the winner.

After the match, Joe Allon was keen to pay tribute to the supporters.

He said: “It is great to be back and the fans are just the same as ever - magnificent!

“They are still among the best in the country.”

The match generated £5,000 and the Hartlepool Mail reporter at the time described the game as having “no shortage of attempts on goal.”

Were you there and what do you remember about the match which brought together a string of Pools heroes?

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