Ex-Hartlepool United favourite Ian 'Buster' Gallagher on Ronnie Moore, Dave Challinor & Pools memories ahead of 'Evening with..'

There aren't many former club physios who would go on to star on the popular Undr The Cosh podcast or be preparing for their very own 'Evening with..'

But Ian 'Buster' Gallagher is no ordinary physio. The former professional footballer-turned physio has a long association with Hartlepool United and while he hasn't worked for the club for four years - he remains a very popular figure in town. So much so, that he has sold out an upcoming evening in aid of Hartlepool Rovers Juniors' set-up, with all proceeds going to help the next generation of town rugby talent.

Buster - as he is affectionately known - admits he was surprised to see how popular the evening has proved to be as he prepares to recount some of the many tales from his days working for Pools and under some of the most recent successful managers to grace the dugout including Ronnie Moore during THAT Great Escape season and Dave Challinor, who steered Pools to promotion back to the EFL during his time in charge.

Buster, who now runs successful local business First Team Physiotherapy from its Hartlepool Rovers' headquarters, has many, many stories from his time at Pools. A standout period in the dugout was working alongside Moore during the infamous Great Escape campaign, Moore having taken over in December 2014 with the club bottom of League Two and six points from safety - and looking dead and buried in March - before securing survival in the penultimate game of the season, a 2-1 win over Exeter City. Cue bedlam and a week - or two - of celebrations off the pitch for Buster, Moore & Co. Who could forget the infamous 'Who's the best manager in the Football League...' chant after all.

Buster told the Mail: "When you reflect and look back, the Great Escape was as good as promotion because we were gone, weren't we? We were dead and buried. He was a breath of fresh air, Ronnie. We clicked instantly. He used to tell the players 'This time next year, you'll be collecting trolleys in Asda!' That's how bad the situation was. He was motivational and half the time the players just wanted to prove him wrong," chuckles Buster.

Moore wasn't keen on signing players based purely on video footage, he had to see them in the flesh, which included an infamous trip to watch a Plymouth Argyle reserve match midweek to see Marvin Morgan in action. His key Pools signings included David Mirfin, Aaron Tshibola and Jordan Hugill. All three making an incredible impact.

"Mirfin, who for me should have a statue for what he did - he was unbelievable. Tishy was a baller, phenomenal at the time, and Jordan too - look at the career those two have had, all brilliant signings. I love Ronnie as a man, he was brilliant, he was great for the club and the only one who could have kept us up at the time," added Buster, who keeps in touch with Moore, who was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in July 2025 and has since successfully completed his chemotherapy treatment.

Buster, having left the club, returned to The Vic under Challinor as the now Stockport County boss led Pools to promotion. Gallagher, who spent a total of 25 years at Pools before his shock exit in 2017, had been head physio at Victoria Park since 2012 working under nine managers including John Hughes, Moore, Craig Hignett and Dave Jones. He knew Challinor well, though, as the pair had previously done a physio degree course together.

Reflecting on his time under Challinor, Buster - who also had a spell as physio with York City before returning to Clarence Road - said: "I had to stay loyal to York initially because they looked after me but I'd said to him, I would walk up there, and I mean, bare feet over broken glass, but I had a job to finish first. As soon as he was appointed Pools boss, I told my mates he'd get us up. He's intelligent, he's a grafter, and he just gets the best out of his players. He's the most intelligent manager I've known. Ronnie's the only one who could have kept us up. Dave's the only one who could have got us up.

“He's done a great job at Stockport, hasn't he? Nothing surprised me with him. It amazes me he wasn't linked more strongly with the likes of Middlesbrough, Sunderland etc in recent years. What more does he need to do?" added Buster, who started playing for Hartlepool as a YTS trainee in 1994 and 27 years later was part of Challinor’s backroom team when Pools returned to the Football League after a four-year gap.

Pools’ thrilling 3-2 win over Harrogate Town at Victoria Park in League Two - coming back from 2-0 down - proved to be a fitting send off for fan favourite Buster, who celebrated with the North West Corner. As for modern-day Pools, the club's National League play-off hopes were ended in recent weeks. Another year in the fifth tier beckons with all eyes now on Landon Smith and what he does this summer - with Nicky Featherstone's future as manager still to be determined - plus the inevitable now annual squad revamp.

When quizzed on Pools' hopes for next season, Buster said: "The proof will be in the pudding this summer, the appointments and the recruitment is absolutely vital and who they get to recruit.

"The budget will be key, I think they will have to double the budget to at least compete with the likes of Scunthorpe United, Carlisle United, Southend United - if they don't go up. "And then you've got the teams coming down too, it will once again be a very competitive division next year the National League with easily 4/5 big clubs competing again."

But the potential is there, of course it is, and the fanbase has a big role to play. I remember my final games, when we'd won promotion back to the EFL and the atmosphere was incredible - it was like watching Galatasaray or something.

"Opposition managers would often comment how good the home fans are, it's like having a 1-0 advantage they'd say. I'd sit there as the proudest Poolie watching on. When it's going well, incredible. Flip side, it can be ruthless when things aren't going well. If they can get the buzz back at the club, the potential is huge though."

Buster added: "And like Ronnie always used to say Great Escape season, if you think non-league, you'll end up in non-league, and if you end up getting relegated and continue to think non-league, you'll end up non-league forever."

Buster - who finally did the popular Undr The Cosh podcast after being worn down by co-host Jon Parkin - will be joined by some Pools greats at his 'Evening with...' with a couple of surprise appearances lined up for his 'Dream Team' section of the evening. From promotions to relegations, Buster will recount some great memories and stories at the event, which is being hosted by former Northern Echo sports editor Nick Loughlin on Friday, April 24.

"I'll be warning everyone at the beginning they won't be getting their money back if it's rubbish!" jokes Buster.

There is no danger of that. Pools fans are in for a nostalgic treat down memory lane as they hope for brighter days for the club.

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