Hartlepool United's 2020-21 half-season report: Time for Pools to finally realise their potential in the National League

We’ve had no supporters, nine postponements, two confirmed coronavirus cases and the ever-present threat of of a global pandemic to contend with, not to mention the chance that it all could have been for nothing due to a null and void vote earlier this month.

Thankfully for Dave Challinor’s side, that vote failed and they’ve now made it 22 games into the National League campaign ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Wrexham.

When the season first kicked off back in October, almost everyone would have happily taken Pools sitting comfortably in a play-off position at the midway point.

After three seasons of stagnation in the fifth tier, it has been refreshing to see the side finally realise their potential and become genuine contenders in the division, for half a season at least.

It’s not a familiar position for a Hartlepool side to be in. It’s been 14 years since the club last achieved a top 10 finish in any division – a depressing run that really ought to come to an end this season.

Anything less than a top 10 finish now would prompt serious questions. Anything less than a play-off finish would be disappointing but the side still have a massive task on their hands in order to realise that.

Pools started the season as one of the favourites for the National League title with only big spending Stockport County and last season’s beaten play-off finalists Notts County available at shorter odds before a ball was kicked.

The side kept hold of several key players for Challinor’s first full season in charge –a manager who has at least made the play-offs in every full season he’s had since stepping into management. There was a clear expectation to deliver from the very start and it’s something Pools have lived up to in their opening 22 matches.

The first half of the season has given Pools a platform to continue their momentum and develop the consistency required to maintain their challenge at the top.

They have just over three months to complete the rest of the season, the games will be coming thick and fast for everyone and they still have every side except Yeovil and Wrexham (as of Tuesday night) left to play.

Over the years, a sort of complex has been developed that nice things just can’t happen to this club anymore, that somehow things won’t work out.

Yet this season, in some backwards way, the more successful Pools are the more depressing it becomes that fans have not been able to witness a single minute of it in person.

Apologies for that reminder but we’ve got to a point where every win Pools have is met with a tiny sense of frustration. Football has been turned into a cold and business like affair this season, one Pools are excelling in.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Fans should be allowed back just in time for the penultimate match of the season with Pools taking on fellow play-off challengers Sutton United away on May 22.

But with a dark sense of irony, Pools’ only remaining home match that would have permitted fans to attend is scheduled to be against Dover Athletic – a side who have already taken matters into their own hands and cancelled their season.

It poses and interesting question as to what fans would prefer. Winning the league without playing in front of a home crowd or a top five play-off finish knowing that you’re guaranteed at least one match in front of 4,000 supporters at Victoria Park?

Personally, you have to think with your head and just take the guaranteed promotion and look forward to watching Pools back in the EFL next season.

This is all hypothetical of course. Only two sides can go up and Challinor’s men are one of several well-fancied teams at the moment with over 60 points left to play for.

Hartlepool just need to keep doing what they’re doing, grinding out results and finding ways to win. But it’s crucial the side find some consistency away from home otherwise they could be staring down the barrel of another season in the fifth tier.

Next month’s match at Torquay United will prove a strong test of the side’s credentials heading into the business end of the season.

Regardless of what transpires – in little over 15-months, Challinor has slowly but surely started to iron out over a decade’s worth of disappointment and misfortune at Victoria Park and helped the side bring a genuine sense of hope and belief back to the fan base.

The Pools boss has been questioned, of course – a run of one win in eight which included a 5-0 home defeat to Torquay proved to be a particularly difficult period for the side.

But a combination of determination to put things right and continued backing from chairman Raj Singh has helped Pools improve in the areas they needed to and turn things around.

The side were crying out for a goalscorer, they found one in Luke Armstrong who has quickly became one of the most deadly hit men in the National League, forming a formidable partnership with Rhys Oates.

Jamie Sterry and Tom White have subsequently helped add some real Football League quality depth to the side as they’re now in a really solid position to build on their fine start and mount a serious challenge.

While the away form still needs addressing, seven straight home wins at Victoria Park has helped propel Pools into a favourable position in the table.

It’s been 14 years since Hartlepool last won seven in a row at The Vic, the same 14 years since their last top half finish as they achieved promotion from League Two.

Could history repeat itself in the National League this season? Why not?

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