Trevor Carson saultes Hartlepool United fans ahead of marathon season

Trevor Carson has hailed the support of the Hartlepool United fans and hopes the team can bring them success in 2016-17.
Trevor CarsonTrevor Carson
Trevor Carson

Pools fans face another mammoth journey to support their team next season.

Poolies clocked up a record 10,542 miles in League Two last term and while several northern sides have come into the division, like Blackpool, Doncaster and Grimsby, the new mileage is still considerable – 10,070.

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“Our fans have been brilliant,” said Carson. “Our attendances last season were great, they never once dipped under 3,000 [in the league].

“The support at the Vic was great and the most pleasing thing for me was the fans who have followed us away.

“There were games with not much riding on it but they still came in their numbers and were loud.

“Seeing and hearing that, as one of the lads who have not been at the club that long, I just wonder what it would be like if we were up at the top challenging?

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“It makes me think this club can go places – if things are going well the Hartlepool people will come and follow us.”

Pools fans already know who they will be playing but will have to wait until June 22 to discover when.

That is the fixture release day for the Football League, whose season starts on August 6 and ends on May 6.

The date of the final awayday will be one of the first points of interest – it is a special one for Poolies who don fancy dress.

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Last season a massive 521 fans were at Plymouth, many decked out as Stormtroopers, the Star Wars theme following on from Bob Marley and Thunderbirds.

Home Park (388) has featured as the final away fixture for two of the last three campaigns and it could again after Argyle were beaten by Wimbledon in Monday’s play-off final.

Had they overcome the Wombles and gone into League One, the distance for Pools fans next season would have dipped under 10,000, though not by much.

There is still a long way to travel with four grounds over 300 miles-plus.

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York’s relegation from the Football League has removed the shortest journey (59 miles) meaning Carlisle (89) and Doncaster (99) are the only two destinations under 100 miles.

And while Blackpool (139), Crewe (162.5), Doncaster and Grimsby (140) have come into the division, so too have Cheltenham (237) and Colchester (267).

It will be interesting to see where Pools are over the festive period.

The Christmas/New Year programme appears not to be as congested as it has been in the past, with Pools due to be in action on Saturday, December 17, Monday December 26, Saturday, December 31 and Monday, January 2.

Pools 2016-17 mileage

Accrington 104

Barnet 246

Blackpool 139

Cambridge 211.5

Carlisle 89

Cheltenham 237

Colchester 267

Crawley 306

Crewe 162.5

Doncaster 99

Exeter 345.5

Grimsby 140

Leyton Orient 258

Luton 229

Mansfield 127

Morecambe 108

Newport 281

Notts County 140

Portsmouth 329

Plymouth 388

Stevenage 226.5

Wycombe 266

Yeovil 336