Hartlepool United's 10 top performers from the 2023/24 National League season
By Robbie Stelling
Published 24th Apr 2024, 15:54 BST
Hartlepool United’s National League season came to an end on Saturday after Pools edged a seven-goal thriller at relegated Dorking Wanderers – as the dust settles on another turbulent campaign, here’s a look at 10 of their best performers.
Despite only establishing himself as a regular in the side last month, Stephenson has added pace, impetus and energy to the Pools XI, dovetailing well with Joe Grey down the right flank. While he still has work to do on the defensive side of his game, marauding full-backs are rarely watertight when it comes to defending and some of his overlapping runs and crosses into the opposition box have been outstanding. As a home grown 18-year-old, he always gives the crowd a lift and he stepped up when it mattered most, producing a man-of-the-match performance as Pools bounced back from shipping seven at Gateshead with a 1-0 win against an in-form Halifax side that relieved most of the mounting relegation pressure. Photo: Mark Fletcher
Ultimately, Mancini's season has the distinct feel of 'what could have been' but the Frenchman's unbelievable start to his Pools career secures him a place in this list. Within 10 or 15 minutes of his debut in pre-season, at which point he was on trial, Pools fans were getting excited - and with good reason. For four memorable weeks in August, the former Accrington midfielder set the National League alight with a string of dazzling performances but his progress was halted when he was forced off with a hamstring injury against Chesterfield having tormented the eventual champions for 25 minutes. Never really looked fully fit after returning, although he did score a sensational winning goal at Ebbsfleet in January, before a persistent groin problem curtailed his campaign after an abortive comeback attempt against Southend. Other than perhaps Tyler Burey, it's hard to think of a more bums-off-seats type of player to have graced the Suit Direct in recent seasons and Poolies will be hoping he can return from France feeling fit and refreshed. Photo: FRANK REID 2022
The metronomic midfielder has always tended to divide opinion in the decade he has been at the club, but his contribution this season should not be overlooked. He was conspicuous by his absence in the first couple of months of the campaign as Pools lacked control in the centre of the pitch and has been a calm and composed presence since he returned in October. The 35-year-old went straight back into the side, despite not having had a proper pre-season and not playing competitively since May 8th, but slotted back in seamlessly and has started every game since. He took over the captaincy, which allowed David Ferguson to play with newfound freedom, and while his age and the lack of a pre-season might have caught up to him in the last three or four weeks, he continues to be an important part of the midfield. Photo: Mark Fletcher
Endured a torrid start to the season and appeared to struggle with the weight of the captain's armband but has shown great character to respond and get back to something approaching his best form in the second half of the campaign. Might not have had quite the same attacking impact as he had when Pools were last in the National League, but the 29-year-old has been generally solid and reliable, despite being asked to operate in a number of different positions. Played 46 times this season and never gives anything less than his all. Photo: Mark Fletcher
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