Aldershot Town defender Robbie Tinkler discusses return to the north east ahead of Hartlepool United clash and how close he came to signing for Pools last summer

The former Middlesbrough and Gateshead right-back left his native north east for the first time last summer as he joined Hartlepool’s National League rivals Aldershot Town.

The Shots sit just below Pools in the National League table with this weekend’s clash shaping up to be an interesting battle as the home side look to continue their strong run of form at The Vic.

For Tinkler, it’s a match that marks his first footballing return to the north east as he expects around 40 friends and family members behind him come 3pm.

“It’s just nice to be back home,” admitted the Trimdon born defender.

“I’ve played at The Vic a few times so it is a bit of a homecoming. I’m sure the Pools fans won’t see it that way but it’s nice to come home and nice to see everyone again.

“There will be quite a bunch at The Vic tomorrow, I couldn’t give you an exact figure but I think about 40 of my friends or family will be there so it will be good.

“It’s a nice little bit of pressure to have and it’s always good to play against my most local side.”

While he expects a strong backing at Victoria Park, there is one of Tinkler’s close family members who may have reservations in getting fully behind the 23-year-old.

“My dad is a big Hartlepool fan,” revealed the Aldershot vice-captain.

“There’s a fair few of his friends that will be there supporting Hartlepool but I think everyone else will be rooting for me.

“I’d like to think my dad wants me to play well regardless, but we’ll just have to see!”

Tinkler has been a long-term target for Hartlepool with former manager Craig Hignett believed to be keen to bring the versatile defender to the club last summer.

And Tinkler revealed that a deal to join Pools was all but confirmed following the 2018-19 season.

“It was pretty much dead on to happen to be honest,” he added.

“When Craig was in charge, everything seemed really good at the time. But when you looked at the defenders the club had, I think they had seven or eight already signed so I think it was a case of me struggling to fit into that even though Craig wanted me.

“Then the opportunity obviously came to sign for Aldershot and it was one of those where I was excited because it was a new life experience and a career experience I wanted to jump at.”

After helping Gateshead to an unlikely play-off challenge last season prior to the club’s financial collapse and subsequent demotion, Tinkler opted to make the 300-mile move down south to Hampshire to progress his career with Aldershot.

And despite being just 22 at the time, it’s a move he’s glad he made.

“It’s been a good transition to be fair,” admitted the Boro academy graduate.

“I moved down on my own initially and then Megan, my partner, came down with the dog and we got our own place and we settled in really quickly.

“Moving away from the north east was something I felt I had to experience because I felt I’d had it quite lucky obviously being at Middlesbrough and then having local loan moves after that.

“We prepared ourselves that it wasn’t going to be a north east career for me as such so I think going down when we did was a good life experience as well as a career experience so I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”

Tinkler made the move to Aldershot after they were reprieved from relegation at the expense of his former club Gateshead.

The Shots have been enjoying a slightly more successful campaign this time out as they sit just four points behind Pools in 18th.

With 13 games remaining this season, Danny Searle’s side will be looking to calm any relegation fears as they currently find themselves six points clear of the bottom four.

And their campaign sounds like it’s been fairly similar to Hartlepool’s as Tinkler explained: “The season here has been a bit hit and miss, we haven’t found a great deal of consistency.

“But it’s been one of those where there’s been a lot of nearly moments for us this season.

“Having said that, I’ve still really enjoyed it and moving down here has been a great move for me.”

Tinkler is out of contract at Aldershot in the summer and Pools are still searching for a permanent replacement for Peter Kioso following the right-back’s transfer to Luton Town last month.

Fleetwood Town loanee Macauley Southam-Hales is set to return to his parent club at the end of the current season which could pave the way for a summer arrival in the full-back position.

But could a north east return be on the cards for Tinkler?

“You can’t count anything out,” he said.

“Obviously at the moment my focus is on Aldershot and us staying in the league first and foremost.

“Hopefully we can have a big push between now and the end of the season. But beyond that, I think you’ve just got to see what happens and develops.

“I really enjoy playing for Aldershot and working with the gaffer down here so we’ll just have to see how things play out and what the future holds.”