Hartlepool United F.C. Women
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Hartlepool United Women F.C.
| image =
| upright = .8
| fullname = Hartlepool United Women Football Club
| nickname = Pools
| founded = 2015
| ground = Metcalfe Park, Wolviston
| capacity =
| manager = Gareth Horwood
| chairman =
| chrtitle =
| league = North East Regional Women's Football League Northern Division
| season = 2023–24
| position = 11th in NERWFL Premier Division (relegated)
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| pattern_sh1 = _hartlepool2425h
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| pattern_la2 = _hartlepool2425a
| pattern_b2 = _hartlepool2425a
| pattern_ra2 = _hartlepool2425a
| pattern_sh2 = _hartlepool2425a
| leftarm2 = 000000
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| website = https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/teams/women/
}}
Hartlepool United Women Football Club are an English women's football club affiliated with Hartlepool United F.C. and based in Wolviston, County Durham. They are currently members of the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern Division, the sixth tier of the English women's football league system.
The club were formed in September 2015 and won the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern division in their first year. They achieved back-to-back promotions, defeating Sheffield Wednesday in a play-off final. For the following seasons, Pools would fare well at the top of the fifth tier but were relegated in 2022. Hartlepool would bounce back immediately to the fifth tier after a successful promotion application, before being relegated the following season.
History
In 2015, a Hartlepool United Ladies team was launched.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34270168 |title=Hartlepool United set up women's team |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=7 December 2020}} In their first season, they were crowned Durham FA Women's League 1 Champions and won promotion to the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern division, the sixth tier of women's football in England.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-ladies-are-crowned-durham-fa-womens-league-1-champions-396228 |title=Hartlepool United Ladies are crowned Durham FA Women's League 1 Champions |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=25 April 2016 |access-date=13 August 2022}} They also won the Durham FA League Cup, defeating Bishop Auckland 3–1 in the final.{{cite news|url=http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Match2.aspx?oid=6348 |title=Hartlepool United v Bishop Auckland Girls |publisher=In The Mad Crowd |date=15 May 2016 |access-date=29 May 2023}}
Hartlepool enjoyed an equally successful second season as the side reached the first round proper of the Women's FA Cup for the first time, narrowly losing to local rivals Middlesbrough 1–0.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/the-inside-track-on-pools-womens-team-ahead-of-fa-cup-first-round-clash-3456492|title='Come over and support them' – the inside track on Hartlepool United Women's team ahead of FA Cup first round clash with Leeds United |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=13 November 2021 |access-date=29 May 2023}} They also made it back-to-back promotions, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 in the league's play-off promotion final.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/hartlepool-united-3-sheffield-wednesday-1-pools-ladies-win-promotion-play-off-392008 |title=Hartlepool United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1: Pools Ladies win promotion play-off |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=14 May 2017 |access-date=29 May 2023}} Pools adapted to life in the fifth tier well and finished third in the 2017–18 season{{cite news|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=839279&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=61198624&selectedCompetition=0 |title=North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier
|publisher=The FA |date=1 June 2018 |access-date=29 May 2023}} and runners-up in the 2018–19 season.{{cite news|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=427430784&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=61198624&selectedCompetition=0 |title=North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier |publisher=The FA |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=29 May 2023}}
The team was twice denied the opportunity to gain promotion to the FA Women's National League in the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. In the 2019–20 season, Hartlepool were in third position when the season was cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had the highest points-per-game record, having played fewer games than the teams above them.{{cite news|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=871457851&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=61198624&selectedCompetition=0 |title=North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier |publisher=The FA |date=1 June 2020 |access-date=29 May 2023}} However, a decision was made by the FA to have no promotion and relegation for tiers three to seven of women's football.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/03/26/all-english-football-below-national-league-ended-with-results-expunged/|title=All English football below National League ended with results expunged |publisher=Express and star |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=29 May 2023}}
In the 2020–21 season, despite leading the division before the season was cancelled and having the highest points-per-game in the division,{{cite news|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=91526957&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=61198624&selectedCompetition=0 |title=North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier |publisher=The FA |date=1 June 2021 |access-date=29 May 2023}} Hartlepool decided not to apply for promotion and third placed team Alnwick Town made a successful application to take the promotion spot.{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/AlnwickTownLFC/status/1400108293285101569 |title=We Are Going Up |publisher=Twitter |date=2 June 2021 |access-date=29 May 2023}}
In the following season, Hartlepool were relegated from the Premier division having finished in tenth place.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-women-relegated-from-north-east-regional-womens-football-league-premier-division-3714222 |title=Hartlepool United Women relegated from North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division |author=Joe Ramage |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=30 May 2022 |access-date=13 August 2022}} While the team enjoyed good form in the FA Cup, reaching the first round for a second time where they were defeated by Leeds United,{{cite news|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/womens/29050/live-updates-hartlepool-united-women-vs-leeds-united-women |title=Whites Progress In The FA Cup! |publisher=Leeds United FC |date=14 November 2021 |access-date=29 May 2023}} the side won only four of their twenty league games. After finishing third in the 2022–23 season, Pools were granted promotion following a successful application.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2023/june/pooles-ladies-promoted/ |title=Pools Ladies Promoted! |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=2 June 2023 |access-date=2 June 2023}} Towards the end of the 2023–24 season, Matt Gatiss was named as the club's new manager.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/matt-gatiss-appointed-womens-manager/ |title=Matt Gatiss appointed Women's manager |website=Hartlepool United FC |date=16 May 2024 |access-date=16 May 2024}} Twelve days after Gatiss' appointment, the club were relegated on the final day of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-women-relegated-following-heartbreaking-final-day-defeat-to-sunderland-west-end-4644490 |title=Hartlepool United Women relegated following heartbreaking final day defeat to Sunderland West End |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=28 May 2024 |access-date=11 June 2024}} At the end of the 2023–24 season, it was announced that Hartlepool would no longer play home games at the Grayfields and would instead move to Metcalfe Park.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/pools-women-move-to-metcalfe-park/ |title=Pools Women move to Metcalfe Park |website=Hartlepool United FC |date=2 July 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024}}
Players
=Current squad=
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Ella Field}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Chelsea Basnett}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Emily Booth}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Charlie Geary}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Maddy Hillyer}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Aimee May}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Mae Rackstraw}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Emily Stuart}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Rachel Tuff}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Abi Cope}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Anya Geary}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Maddy Gray}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Morgan Johnson}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Rebecca Palliser}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Katie Robinson}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Millie Simon}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Olivia Bell}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Zara Johnson}}
{{fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Libbie Trainor}}
{{fs end}}
Managers
:As of 26 July 2024.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left" | |||||
| Name | Nationality | From | |To | |Honours | class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left|Andy Stuart
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|September|13}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|May|20}} |align=left|Durham FA Women's League One: 2015–16 | |||||
| align=left|Craig Devon
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|May|24}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2019|February|15}} |align=left | |||||
| {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Official_HUFC/status/999604122268635137 |title="It's a great challenge and an exciting role so I just want to get my teeth in to it now." Craig Devon is the new Manager of Hartlepool United Ladies - and he can't wait to get started |publisher=Twitter|accessdate=3 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Official_HUFC/status/1096408429349007361 |title=#Pools Women's Team have parted company with boss Craig Devon by mutual consent and appointed a new management team for the rest of the season. |publisher=Twitter|accessdate=3 August 2023}} | |||||
| align=left|Jonathan Gibbon-Hayes
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2019|February|15}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2021|March|17}} |align=left | |||||
| {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Official_HUWFC/status/1372279808797859843|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=3 August 2023}} | |||||
| align=left|Chris Murphy
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2021|April|27}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2022|July|1}} |align=left | |||||
| {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Official_HUWFC/status/1387119613490696193 |title=HUWFC are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Murphy as our new first-team manager |publisher=Twitter|accessdate=3 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Official_HUWFC/status/1542994387424231427 |title=HUWFC are looking for a new first-team manager for the 2022-23 season. We ask that all applicants have a minimum FA Level 2 coaching qualification.
|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=3 August 2023}} | |||||
| align=left|Craig Bage
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2022|July|24}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2023|December|10}} |align=left|NERWFL Northern League Promoted: 2022–23 | |||||
| align=left|Andy Stuart (caretaker)
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|January|14}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|May|16}} |align=left| | | |||||
| align=left|Matt Gatiss
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|May|16}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|July|25}} |align=left| | |||||
| align=left|Alex Curl
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|July|25}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|December|20}} |align=left| | |||||
| align=left|Gareth Horwood
|{{ENG}} |align=left|{{dts|format=dmy|2025|January|15}} |align=left|Present |align=left| |
Records and statistics
= Club records =
As of the end of the 2023–24 season
- Best FA Cup performance: First round, 2016–17, 2021–22
- Highest winning margin: 12–0{{cite web|url=http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/HUWFC.aspx |title=Hartlepool United Women's Football Club |publisher=In The Mad Crowd |access-date=29 July 2023}}
- vs. Prudhoe, 30 October 2016
- vs. Castleford White Rose, 18 February 2018
- Highest league finish: 2nd in NERWFL Premier, 2018–19
- List of seasons spent at level 5 of the women's football league system: 6
- List of seasons spent at level 6 of the women's football league system: 2
- List of seasons spent at level 7 of the women's football league system: 1
=Most appearances=
As of 23 December 2024
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| width="30" style="background:blue;color:white" |Rank
! width="150" style="background:blue;color:white" |Player ! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |{{Tooltip|Apps|Appearances for Hartlepool in league and cup competitions}} ! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |Goals ! width="100" style="background:blue;color:white" |{{Tooltip|Career|Career with Hartlepool}} |
|---|
| 1
|align="left"|Emily Stuart |166 |12 |2016– |
| 2
|align="left"|Jade Pye |134 |41 |2015–24 |
| 3
|align="left"|Justine Robinson |118 |81 |2015–23 |
| 4
|align="left"|Sarah Bartlett |87 |5 |2015–21 |
| 5
|align="left"|Sarah Rowbotham |81 |22 |2015–21 |
=Most goals=
As of 23 December 2024
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| width="30" style="background:blue;color:white" |Rank
! width="150" style="background:blue;color:white" |Player ! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |{{Tooltip|Apps|Appearances for Hartlepool in league and cup competitions}} ! width="50" style="background:blue;color:white" |Goals ! width="150" style="background:blue;color:white" |{{Tooltip|Career|Career with Hartlepool}} |
|---|
| 1
|align="left"|Justine Robinson |118 |81 |2015–23 |
| 2
|align="left"|Caitlin Bates |69 |72 |2015–20, 2020–21, 2024 |
| 3
|align="left"|Robyn Foster |65 |51 |2019–24 |
| 4
|align="left"|Jess Dawson |62 |42 |2016–19, 2021–22 |
| 5
|align="left"|Jade Pye |134 |41 |2015–24 |
Honours
League
- North East Regional Women's Northern League (level 6)
- Promoted: 2022–23
- Play-off winners: 2017
- Durham FA Women's League One (level 7)
- Champions: 2015–16
Cup
- Durham FA League Cup
- Winners: 2015–16
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/teams/womens/}}
{{Hartlepool United F.C.}}
Category:Women's football clubs in England
Category:Association football clubs established in 2015