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Post by localboy86 on Jul 31, 2019 13:17:50 GMT
And just like that the pre-season schedule is over and we find ourselves at the start of another 9 month slog in the National League kicking off with a long trip up north to Hartlepool.
With a new look management team in place and a fair amount of new faces on the playing side of things too I’m intrigued to see how Sutton fare this season. I was pretty impressed with what I saw at Tonbridge and against Chelsea U-23s on Saturday in our final friendly.
Safe trip to those heading up to Hartlepool - a tough ask but we’ve said that plenty of times before in this league - would be nice to bring some points back on the opening day!
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Post by Del on Jul 31, 2019 14:02:21 GMT
Going to be my first visit to Hartlepool. Plenty of Sutton fans made the trip to Harrogate first game of last season so it would be great if that could be repeated.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Jul 31, 2019 14:49:25 GMT
Should be a good test for us in Matt Gray's first competitive fixture.
We're undefeated against Pools in four NL encounters (three draws plus last October's 3-2 win up there), but they do seem to be finding their feet under Craig Hignett, having finished 15th and 16th in their first two seasons at this level. They've signed burly midfielder Gus Mafuta from Salford and, of course, Gimé Touré from us. They have lost highly-rated keeper Scott Loach to Barnet, replacing him with England C international Ben Killip from Braintree.
Pools have sold over 3,000 season tickets this year so there should be a big crowd for their opening fixture, with expectations that they'll be in the promotion mix this term. I'm sure the Sutton contingent will make plenty of noise. Any chance of Tommy Wright winding up Jeff Stelling again? 😁
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Post by Del on Jul 31, 2019 16:53:16 GMT
Hartlepool United Season Tickets are a mere 299 quid ....250 early bird............. That's not bad. £20 admission over 23 matches = £460. Quite a good discount. Makes ours look ridiculously cheap !
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Post by pinewalker on Jul 31, 2019 19:38:44 GMT
Going to be my first visit to Hartlepool. Plenty of Sutton fans made the trip to Harrogate first game of last season so it would be great if that could be repeated. If you have never been to the town of Hartlepool, and have a mental picture based on the stereotypes of the North East beloved of the press, then you are in for a pleasant surprise. Also since it looks like being fine day, go a short distance past the ground and visit Hartlepool historic dockyard and HMS Trincomalee.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Aug 1, 2019 7:11:15 GMT
Fun fact: Hartlepool was once two separate towns, which is why the football club was originally called Hartlepools United (and why the rugby club is still called West Hartlepool). The towns were merged during a local government reorganisation in the 1960s.
You can learn all about this in the town museum, co-located with the Royal Navy museum mentioned by Pinewalker.
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Post by sallycat on Aug 1, 2019 9:11:09 GMT
That explains why their nickname is the Pools, not the Pool. I did wonder.
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trev
1st team skipper
In Matt We Trust
Posts: 2,477
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Post by trev on Aug 1, 2019 12:37:57 GMT
Hence the phrase 'pooling your resources.
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Post by Andy K on Aug 1, 2019 12:42:16 GMT
Hartlepool - my experience is nice town, nice people, nice ground. Like said a few times above, if you've not been you'll be surprised and I think it's up there with some of the best. In August too it should be more pleasant than we've experienced and the forecast is looking like being much more comfortable than either Harrogate last year and Leyton Orient the year before!
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Post by guildrover on Aug 1, 2019 13:27:27 GMT
Yup when we went to Hartlepool the season before last the wife and I were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it.
The Marina is nice for a meal out and as previously said the Naval and local museum's are of interest too.
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oxford
Youth Team Player
Posts: 230
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Post by oxford on Aug 1, 2019 18:27:01 GMT
Have missed last two visits so hope to be getting to this one
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Post by Del on Aug 1, 2019 20:31:30 GMT
Anyone know what the parking is like ?
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Post by Andy K on Aug 1, 2019 20:53:01 GMT
Anyone know what the parking is like ? Theres a few pay and display places within 5 min walk, but the town centre is only 10min away too. The cost from what I remember 2 seasons ago were a couple of quid.
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Post by Stewart on Aug 1, 2019 21:48:51 GMT
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Post by shrewsbury posse on Aug 1, 2019 21:51:03 GMT
Anyone know what the parking is like ? Free parking at the naval museum, 10 minute walk to the ground
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