Hartlepool United fans are joined by the players for Millennium Square Bristol celebrations after dramatic promotion win

What a weekend it was for Hartlepool United, the players, the manager and backroom staff, the owner and most importantly of all - the fans.

It had just about everything. The game itself was packed with drama, intensity, passion, a determination from the players to keep going despite the absolute hammer-blow of a goalkeeper scoring a 95th minute equaliser past you.

Torquay United goalkeeper Lucas Covolan did a little dance close to Gary Liddle when he netted the equaliser.

He wasn't dancing at the end, though.

No, it was the Pools fans still celebrating late into the night in Millennium Square, in the centre of Bristol their base for the weekend

You'll have seen the videos and pictures of the fans gearing up for the final on the evening of Saturday, well the scenes come Sunday were something else - and they were joined by some of the Pools squad.

The squad had stayed down in Bristol on the Sunday evening and celebrated their incredible achievement with those supporters who have had to endure so much in recent seasons.

Relegation to the National League for the first time in the club's history, the well-documented financial problems that almost saw the club go under before Raj Singh and Jeff Stelling came to the rescue.

Fans have also had to put up with not being allowed into The Vic this season until the final few games.

Sheer emotion came pouring out in Millennium Square and across Bristol this weekend.

Ben Killip, who recovered from injury to be part of the last two squads, was still wearing his goalkeeping strip - and National League promotion medal - in the square, hours after kick-off.

Gavan Holohan too among the players joining in the celebrations, Nicky Featherstone – on the shoulders of one fan – joining in too, he has led the side so brilliantly this season, what a joy to see him celebrating after suffering the heartache and pain of relegation four years ago.

This weekend will live long in the memory for Pools fans and they certainly made the most of it.

From joining the players on the pitch, to celebrating with them in the square afterwards.

They have their club back and the Football League now awaits.

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