Council chiefs plan parade for town to celebrate Hartlepool United's promotion back to Football League

Pools secured a dramatic National League play-off final victory on Sunday, beating Torquay United 5-4 on penalties at Ashton Gate.

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs have now confirmed they will be in talks with the club over arranging a celebration event, such as a parade, to pay tribute to their success.

Council leader Councillor Shane Moore congratulated Dave Challinor's side during Monday's council finance and policy committee meeting.

He said: "I'm sure everybody will join me in congratulating Hartlepool United on their fantastic result, it was an emotional roller coaster for anybody who followed the game.

"It has been brought to me by numerous councillors and also members of the public as well that, as a borough council who are very proud of the club, what will we be doing to celebrate it?

"After a discussion with the council managing director, we've agreed that we will be reaching out to the club management to see what kind of parade, be it an open top bus or whatever else, we can do to celebrate Pools being back where they belong."

He added any parade or celebration would have to comply with existing Covid-19 regulations in place.

The council’s managing director, Denise McGuckin, added: "I’d like to say a massive congratulations to everyone at Pools.

"They have really done the town proud and the town is rightly proud of them.”

New town MP Jill Mortimer also said: “Absolutely fantastic – to have it first ripped from our finger tips in the closing moments then play on through extra time and penalties to sudden death – the lads did us proud.

"It will take a while for my nerves to recover but thank you Hartlepool United FC you’ve done what I thought was impossible and made a total football fan of me! Up the Pools."

More than 3,000 Poolies made the trip to Bristol over the weekend to support the team, with thousands more watching at home and in pubs across the town.

It comes after Hartlepool council and football club chiefs last week pledged to work together to modernise the ground and regenerate the Mill House area.

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