Hartlepool United v Mansfield: Men United March man will get hero's reception

Hartlepool United’s chief executive reached Wembley Stadium yesterday to end the Men United March.

He joined club president and Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling on the walk from Hartlepool to London to raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK.

Green will be at Victoria Park on Saturday for a lap of honour of the pitch for completing 10 gruelling 26-mile walks in 10 days.

Pools boss Craig Hignett, who walked the opening leg from the Vic to Marske, saluted Green and Stelling for their efforts.

“What they’ve done has been phenomenal,” Hignett said.

“The money and awareness they have all raised is brilliant – Russ is a hero.

“It’s a fantastic effort and I can’t wait to see him.

“When we stopped off on the way to Orient to meet up with him on Sunday he was wasting away, he’s half the man he was!

“But he deserves every bit of praise thrown his way, he’s a top, top man.”

Green may not pass a fitness test for Saturday’s home game against Mansfield Town but Hignett says he has a full squad to pick from.

“We’ve a clean bill of health,” said Hignett.

“There are no injuries and it’s hard to change because the lads are playing so well, the team is picking itself.

“I really thought about changing it on Monday, but with the clean sheets and winning games, the players in now deserve to stay in.

“I let them go again and the performance was not short of fantastic.”