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...
13. Learning From Set-backs
Discussing the 5-0 defeat to Torquay United, Challinor commented: "I think once we’ve performed in a manner where we’ve looked solid defensively for three, four, five, 20 games, I might move on from it but that should fester in the back of the players’ memories for the rest of their careers really because it wasn’t good enough and we’ve got to try and right the wrongs." Photo: Mark Fletcher
14. Ambitions
"As a manager it’s about developing players – that’s what it has to be about. You have to put it bluntly at times and I am aspirational and want to be managing in the Football League. Where the ceiling of that is? Who knows. It has to be a players’ responsibility as well and I wanted to play as high as I could as a player. You have to be ambitious and want to improve day by day." Photo: Mark Fletcher
15. Wanting Fans Back
"I’m really happy with the start my big disappointment is that our supporters aren’t able to be here to enjoy it and be part of it. Hopefully by the time they come back we’ll still be giving them something to shout about." Photo: Christopher Booth