Since then, we’ve seen the National League season shut down due to a global pandemic and matches played primarily behind closed doors in what has been a chaotic 12 month spell.
But Challinor’s year at Pools, while unpredictable and uncertain, has largely been positive at the side made a late play-off charge last season prior to lockdown and have started the 2020-21 campaign brightly despite the odd hiccup.
Here we look back at some key quotes from Challinor’s tenure so far – scroll down and click through the pages to reveal them...
5. Hard Work
“In terms of our work rate, the lads have bought into what we want and training will continue to be at a higher intensity. There are visible signs with the data that things are moving forward and we’re getting a different type of performance from them which is massively rewarding.” Photo: Jacques Feeney
6. Never Say Die
Challinor following 2-2 FA Cup draw at Exeter City: "It says on the back of our shirt ‘never say die’ and that’s what the supporters want and we’ve shown that in spades in the short period I’ve been at the club." Photo: Paul Paxford
7. Increased intensity
Challinor following 2-0 win over Notts County: "The intensity has completely changed, I don’t want to be critical of how things were done previously but what I wanted the side to do when I first arrived, they couldn’t do. Now they can because they’ve trusted what we’ve demanded of them. They worked their absolute socks off and the intensity was unbelievable." Photo: Jacques Feeney
8. First Career Red Card and Touchline Ban
Challinor following 1-0 defeat at home to Ebbsfleet United:"After 500 games as a professional and 500 games as a manager, that’s my first sending off. Has anything happened? No – it’s handbags, I’ve tried to solve a problem and their players were trying to antagonise a volatile situation." Photo: Mark Fletcher