Dominic Scurr's Hartlepool United year in review timeline part one: Injury issues, racism controversy and Craig Hignett's sacking

One year ago today, I kicked-off my role covering Pools for the Hartlepool Mail. Despite knowing the season would likely throw up a few surprises, no one could have possibly anticipated how things would eventually unfold both on and off the pitch.

Here’s a month-by-month analysis of the past year...

June 2019

This time last year, there was a wave of positivity surrounding Pools. Their recruitment drive was seemingly going well with the permanent signing of Luke Molyneux from Sunderland providing a real boost following his impressive displays whilst on loan during the club’s encouraging end to the 2018-19 campaign.

It was a marquee signing that then United manager Craig Hignett described as ‘a real coup’ for the club as they fought off EFL interest for the youngster’s signature.

This was quickly followed by the capture of the enigmatic forward, Gime Toure. The Frenchman arrived at Victoria Park with a slightly mixed reputation after struggling to settle at each of his previous three National League clubs.

The Pools boss, confident he could get the best out of Toure, stated that making the player feel ‘loved’ and ‘at home’ would be key to his success at the club.

Despite having to trim his playing budget to a reported £700,000, Hignett seemed noticeably proud and excited with the team he had been able to assemble. By the time the squad started their first full pre-season training session, 22 players were already signed up.

The ship had been steadied by chairman Raj Singh and this was expected to the be season where the club could now really push on and challenge in the National League.

Hignett felt the key to any play-off challenge would be to make the team the ‘fittest in the division’. And the added physicality brought to the side by the off-season signings of Toure, Nicke Kabamba, Michael Raynes and, Gus Mafuta was with the aim of making the side ‘horrible to play against’.

Plenty of anticipation was growing to see this team in action as pre-season kicked-off.

July 2019

The month started with the release of the 2019-20 National League fixture list as Hartlepool discovered that they’d be hosting Sutton United on the opening weekend of the season.

After brushing aside Northern League opposition in their opening three pre-season matches, Pools’ hosted Championship side Middlesbrough at The Vic for what would be their first real friendly test.

The game would end 4-0 in Boro's favour but there was still plenty of signs of encouragement to take from the game.

Former Carlisle United midfielder Jason Kennedy was emerging as a stand-out performer whilst on trial during the early part of pre-season.

Despite Pools having a squad overflowing with midfielders already, Kennedy was rewarded for his pre-season performances with a one-year contract.

Molyneux was already showing glimpses of what he could bring to the side over the coming season with four goals and an assist in his opening three friendly matches.

But that pre-season promise was devastatingly dashed during the trip to York City as the winger was on the receiving end of a Paddy McLaughlin challenge that caused significant damage around his lower leg and foot.

Despite early x-rays initially looking promising, the injury would ultimately keep Molyneux out of the side until the new year. And before the competitive season had kicked off, Pools were already without one of their ‘match-winners’.

But another of the side’s potential match-winners, Luke Williams, was nearing his long-awaited return to full fitness in time for the start of the National League season.

The 26-year-old, cited by Hignett as ‘the best player in the National League, when fit’ had been handed a new deal at The Vic despite failing to make a single first-team appearance during the previous season.

Williams’ minutes in pre-season were limited as the manager claimed a ‘cautious approach’ was required. But he was still able to impress off the bench with a fine strike in the 4-2 win over Sheffield United under-23s.

That game also saw young midfielder Josh Hawkes suffer a bad hamstring injury as the side’s treatment table was getting more crowded before the competitive season had started.

Along with Molyneux and Hawkes, club captain Ryan Donaldson missed the whole of pre-season while defender Myles Anderson saw his time on the pitch limited as he recovered from mouth surgery.

The decision to operate with a fairly large squad by National League standards would ultimately work in Pools’ favour in terms of dealing with their early season injury issues.

Overall, pre-season was a positive one for Pools – the squad had been strengthened and the performances had been promising on the whole.

And when the side brushed aside League Two Macclesfield Town in their final pre-season outing, they looked a team ready to challenge going into the new fifth tier campaign.

August 2019

After the borderline overwhelming positivity coming out of the club during the summer so far, the start of the National League season was always going to provide a much-needed dose of reality to proceedings.

And the season couldn’t have got off to a worse start as Pools found themselves 2-0 to Sutton inside the opening 25-minutes of their first match of the season at Victoria Park – a match they would eventually lose 3-1.

Things went from bad to worse the following Tuesday at Halifax Town as the Shaymen capitalised on some poor defending to secure a 2-0 win.

The game would also see Williams make his long-awaited second debut from the bench. But any hope of an impactful return for the midfielder was shortlived as a hyperextended knee injury picked up shortly after would keep him sidelined until November.

Two matches into the season and this supposed promotion challenging Pools squad were sat in the relegation zone without a point to their name.

The side had been unconvincing opposed to terrible as they enjoyed large spells of possession without posing a significant threat.

New goalkeeper Ben Killip seemed to be struggling after being easily beaten on a few occasions already. Hignett suggested that some of the players were struggling with the ‘intimidating’ transition of moving from a smaller club to playing in front of thousands every week at Pools – a fair assessment that highlighted the realities of the club’s position in non-league football.

But the return of club captain Ryan Donaldson for the trip to Maidenhead United would see Pools claim their first win of the new season thanks to a second-half Niko Muir strike.

The victory stopped the early rot for Pools but they couldn't quite fully kick-on from there as they threw away a 2-0 lead late on to Dave Challinor’s AFC Fylde side at The Vic before losing 3-2 at home to Bromley.

Five matches in, Hartlepool had just four points to their name – hardly the start they would have been hoping for.

The pressure was already mounting on Hignett and his side, who had been talking a good game before a competitive ball had been kicked. But there was still plenty of time to turn things around.

One shining light from the opening month of the season was the performances of summer-signing Toure. The Frenchman became the early goalscoring pacesetter in the National League following a brace in a 4-2 win over Wrexham which took his goal tally to five in his opening six matches.

The impressive Wrexham win relieved some of the early pressure as the side went on to follow that up with an equally strong display and 2-1 victory following a mammoth journey down to Torquay.

All of a sudden, Pools were ninth in the table and things were finally looking up.

September 2019

Hartlepool started the month with a third straight win away against a tough Barrow thanks to a second-half strike from Donaldson and an inspired goalkeeping display from Killip.

After a slow start to the season, things seemed to finally be moving into place as the side had some momentum behind them having moved level on points with the play-off places after nine matches.

But any hope of the side kicking on was short-lived as the three-game winning streak proved to be something of a false dawn.

A five-game winless run saw Pools drop back down the table with the low-point from that undoubtedly the 2-0 defeat at home to Dover Athletic on September 21.

A disappointing defeat, paired with one of the worst refereeing performances seen at Victoria Park in recent years which involved three sendings off for Pools ultimately came secondary to the shameful scenes in front of the Town End following Dover’s opening goal.

Striker Inih Effiong was subject to racist abuse from individuals in the crowd in an incident that threatened to postpone the match.

The match would eventually be played to a conclusion but Hartlepool’s reputation was in tatters as they would later be charged and fined £7,500 by the FA.

The event was significant in further highlighting the continued presence of racism in football and society as a whole. It gained national attention and led to a powerful anti-racism stance from the club.

While Pools’ response to the incident was generally commendable, the club wouldn’t officially ban those responsible from Victoria Park until it was highlighted in an FA report.

The events of the Dover game also saw the Hartlepool manager red-carded and handed a two-match touchline ban for improper conduct following comments made towards the match officials.

It was another set-back for Hignett and his side that he’d ultimately struggle to recover from.

The month ended with another interesting turn as midfielder Liam Noble was allowed to join Northern Premier side Morpeth Town just months after signing a new deal at The Vic.

An over saturated midfield mixed with indifferent performances from the side and whispers of unrest behind the scenes ultimately paved the way for Noble’s exit.

It was a move that benefitted all parties in reality. It provided a much-needed reduction in the number of midfielders and allowed the likes of Gavan Holohan to step up and take his opportunity after several criminal omissions from the side.

October 2019

Pools started the month by ending their winless run in dramatic fashion against a high-flying Yeovil Town side. The hosts put in one of their performances of the season so far against the Glovers as they were minutes away from claiming a deserved 1-0 victory.

But a rollercoaster period of stoppage time saw Yeovil equalise only for Jason Kennedy to pop up at the death to reclaim victory for Pools. It was a win that epitomised the club’s ‘never say die attitude’ – although it was made far more difficult than it ought to have been.

The match would also prove to be Kennedy’s final start for the club despite a man of the match display.

After the highs of the Yeovil win, Hartlepool and Hignett were brought back down to earth just a few days later in front of the BT Sport cameras at Stockport County as the manager served the first of his two-match touchline ban.

A woeful first-half display saw Pools trail 2-0 at the break. The side was able to produce some form of a response in the second half but it ultimately wasn’t enough as the game ended 2-1.

This would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the Pools boss as the side sat 16th in the National League table with five wins from their opening 16 matches.

I was partway along the M62 when I heard the news of Hignett’s sacking. Like many, I was initially shocked by the decision – things weren’t going too badly, the team were four points off the play-off places and had suffered numerous injuries.

But after taking a moment to reflect on things, this was meant to be the season where Pools finally challenged and they’d ultimately flattered to deceive under Hignett.

In hindsight, the decision was arguably vindicated, but it should have been handled better. The fact that Hignett was dismissed over the phone by chief executive Mark Maguire without having any contact from club chairman and supposed close friend Raj Singh left a bitter taste.

Singh later issued a statement in which he claimed the decision was ‘one of the toughest of my professional life’. But a feud would soon start to develop following comments made by Hignett after his dismissal.

Assistant manager Ged McNamee followed Hignett out of the club as Pools legend and coach Antony Sweeney was put in caretaker charge of first-team affairs.

And Sweeney, who made 444 appearances for Hartlepool as a player, impressed right out of the gate following a hectic start to his new role.

The 36-year-old’s first match in charge saw Pools pick up their biggest win of the season so far at Aldershot Town as goals from Josh Hawkes, Nicke Kabamba and Gavan Holohan sealed an impressive 3-0 victory.

Meanwhile in the National League, 2019 play-off finalists AFC Fylde announced the departure of Dave Challinor after eight successful seasons at the club.

This immediately sparked Pools’ interest, although Challinor wasn’t initially planning on a quick return to management.

Pools’ were prepared to be patient in their search for a new manager as the team’s form under Sweeney started to suggest that their next manager could be right under their nose following three successive wins and clean sheets.

But Sweeney maintained that he would only do the job as long as it was necessary, as the manager search narrowed down.

Read part two of Dominic Scurr’s review of the past 12 months at Hartlepool United here...