Dave Challinor has this Christmas Day message for Hartlepool United squad

Pools host Halifax Town at The Vic on Boxing Day (KO 3pm) and head into the busy festive run of fixtures full of confidence after the midweek thrashing of Stockport County.

Challinor, speaking about his Christmas Day plans for the squad, told the Mail: “We trained Wednesday and Christmas Eve before having Christmas Day off.

"It’s a difficult one because we have lads up here who want to go home and spend time with their families but they’ll be spending time with each other.

"When you’re involved in football for so long, Christmas is football and it’s much easier being a player than a manager over Christmas if I’m being honest.

"Hopefully it’ll be an enjoyable Christmas after a weird year and we can head into the new year with a bit of light on the horizon so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

He added: “Christmas Day, I’ll get myself back home and enjoy the day with my family then get myself back up here for Boxing Day.

"Christmas Day for me as a player was about getting up early, watching the kids open the presents then going to training.

"As a manager it’s a bit different but you trust them to enjoy it but not too much. It’s difficult for the lads who have families further away because they won’t be able to travel and see people so it’s a strange situation.

"I’ll be spending it with Kate and the kids but I’ve been in football for 25-years so it’s more around the game on Boxing Day.”