By Owd Jim.

Town’s opponents-Hartlepool United(formerly Hartlepools United up to 1969 then Hartlepool up to 1977)


The overall League record is:

Best and Worst Gates:

Only games played after the teams met in the Football League are included. I know that we met in non league football in the North Eastern League and for the sake of accuracy I record that these games were:

1908/09-01Jan1909 Away 1-4
-21Apr1909 Home 0-0

The results are NOT included in the overall statistics.

Not too many games have been played between the two sides. The first meeting came in the FA Cup Round 3 on 24th January 1966. Played at Leeds Road, in front of the best gate ever – 24,505 – Town won easily 3-1. John Quigley scored 2 goals and Tony Leighton netted the third. Quigley stayed with Town only a short time and scored only 8 goals in his 70 games plus 1 substitute appearance.

The first set of League meetings came at the bottom end of the Great Slide in Division 4, from 1975/76 up to and including 1979-80. During those years Town won all 5 home games. The highest score of 4-1 was achieved when 5,493 folk saw Johnson, Baines and Fowler score, with a contribution from Creamer (og) to complete the total. The best League gate came in the final match of the memorable Championship winning season of 1979/80 when 16,807 turned up to see Robins score Town’s 100th and 101st goals of the season in a 2-1 win. Away from home the Terriers did not fare so well, only managing a 1-2-2 3-7 record. The 0-3 defeat in 1977/78 drew the worst gate ever between the sides at Victoria Park with only a measly 1,926 bothering to watch.

In 1976/77 we met in the League Cup Round 1 with Town winning first the home leg 2-0 (Baines, Newton) and then the return fixture 2-1 (Newton, Butler). The gates were poor, 3,603 and 2,000 respectively.

The next set of League games came in the seasons from1991/92 up to and including 1993/94 in the old Division 3 and the revised Division 2. Town lost the 100% record at home in the final home game up to that point, managing only a 1-1 draw in front of 5,717. This time Andy Booth scored for Town. The other home games were won 3-0 and 1-0, while the away games were mixed. In 1991/92 the result was 0-0. Next season the Pools won 1-0 and the final away game, in 1993/94 saw the Terriers really find form in a great 4-1 win on 27th December 1993. Bullock, Jepson, Onoura and Trevitt found the net for the Terriers while 3,286 watched.

In 1990/91 Town suffered its first home reverse, in the Lower Divisions Cup Preliminary Round. The Terriers lost 1-4 with O’Regan scoring from the penalty mark being the only bright ‘spot’ of the day. It is fitting that this game drew the worst ever attendance of a miserable 1,405 to mark a miserable result.

In 2004/05 Town suffered its first home league loss 0-2 in an uninspired display. Then near the end of the season they put in a great display away and won 1-0.

In 2005/06 Town won 2-1 at home. A great start of 2 goals in the first 18 minutes was not maintained and Pool came back to lose only 1-2. The return match the home side won comfortably 3-1 after a 1-1 half time score.

When hostilities resumed in 2007/08 Town, which had been very poor up till that time, turned in a good performance and won 2-0 (Cadamarteri, Beckett) gaining two successive wins for the first time in the season. The return match was different. Town was as usual lacking punch up front and gave the home side a start by conceding 2 goals. Nathan Clarke got one back mid way through the second half but that was all.

In 2008/09 Town went to Victoria Park and led three times up to half time when the score was 3-2. Pools had come back from half time deficits quite regularly up until then and Town forgot this, failed to put away their chances in the second half and making a series of schoolboy errors gave up 3 goals in the last 7 minutes to end up deservedly losing 3-5. In the return match Town outplayed the Pools for most of the first half but after an own goal by Pools they were let off the hook and drew level by half time. In the second half Nardiello was sent off but Town as usual failed miserably against 10 men and ended up losing 2 points in a 1-1 draw.

2009/10 saw Town entertain a side undefeated in 5 league games while Town had not conceded a goal in 5 home games. This all went pear shaped after 18 minutes when the visitors scored. Town remained solid thereafter and in a great second half display a Pilkington effort ended up in the net officially charged as an own goal by Hartley to be followed by a wonder Williams strike (right footed!) ten minutes later to seal a great, battling 2-1 win. The return game saw a Town side always in control and a Roberts penalty plus a goal from Novak saw Town win 2-0 and gain a second “double”.

2010/11 saw Town entertain Pools with a chance to go second and, as usual, Town blew it. Though Town had most of the possession a momentary defensive lapse together with an outstanding performance by the visiting keeper saw Town lose 0-1 for a third home defeat of the season, but only the second ever at home to Pools.
The return match on Tuesday March 1st saw Pilkington score an early goal for Town and in a game of many yellow cards (5 for the Monkeyhangers and 4 for the Terriers), Town as usual made their fans nervous but hung on through over 8 minutes of added time for a 1-0 win.

In 2011/12 Town went to Victoria Park and in a boring game broke the club’s unbeaten record of 27 games by “earning” a 0-0 draw. That just about says it all, other than that it was poor stuff. Pools have a reasonable away record so far although their last 6 have not been so good;1-2-3 5-12. Interestingly their last away match was at Bury 2-1 win and at Wycombe they LOST 5-0 just 4 days earlier.

After the shambles in the last 2 games and with uninspiring home performances of late I do not expect a win by Town. Hartlepool games are usually low scoring and I expect a 1-1 draw. While I got the score wrong on Saturday I did unfortunately get the result correct. Let’s hope that Town can prove me wrong this time and get 3 points.

Read more:http://www.downatthemac.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=66401#ixzz1oGyFjKph

by Owd Jim

Town’s Opponents – Bury

The overall League record is:

Best and Worst Gates:

*Estimate; **Also 1919/20;***No figures available for 1914/15 or 1919/20

We have a long history of games against Bury. We have played them in all four divisions and when Town first hit the bottom of The Great Slide Bury was senior to us. The first meeting in the basement was inauspicious for Town as Bury ran out 2-1 winners at Gigg Lane in September this year. We have also played them in all 3 cup competitions.

The early games were played long before any of us were born, even Owd Jim himself. The first series being in Division 2 in 1912-13. Town won 4-0 at home on September 3rd 1912, which was the FIRST match of the season, in front of about 6,000 fans (accurate gate records were not kept consistently prior to 1925-26). Scorers that day were Millington (og), Elliott, Macauley and Jee. The return game was on Christmas Day when Town won 2-0, gate about 6,500, and Fayers(pen) and Mann were the scorers. Macauley scored 13 goals in 26 games that season and was transferred to Preston in April 1913.

Town’s biggest home win, 5-0 occurred in their promotion season of 1919-20, Cock(3) and Mann scoring in front of a poor crowd of about 4,000. Their biggest away win was 6-0 in 1988-89 just after the drop from Division 2 when Craig Maskell scored 3, the crowd was 4,145. Strange that Town’s biggest wins were watched by the smallest crowds. So it seems that for Town to get a big win, no one should go to watch! This was the last time Town won away. Next season Town lost at Bury by the same score.

Strangely enough all the first 8 meetings in Division 2 between 1912 and 1920 took place either early in September or around Christmas/Yew Year and most matches since have occurred early in the season, at Christmas/NewYear or at Easter.

Town has done the ‘double’ 7 times and Bury twice. It is interesting to note that the best and worst league gates and the average league gates are very similar both home and away.

In the FA Cup only 3 games have been played, all in Round 3. Town won at home in 1929-30 3-0 after a 0-0 draw away. The gates were 20,731 at home and 25,085 away. In 1968-69 Town won away 2-1 in the same round, watched by 14,251. In the League cup Town won the only encounter, away 2-0 in 1965-66 in Round 2, the crowd was 5,629 which was not bad for that competition. Two meetings in the Lower Divisions Cup, both away have been won and lost by the score of 2-1. The first in 1991/92 in the quarter final drew 1,786 only and the next in 1994/95 in the Northern quarter final drew slightly better at 3,311.

Games resumed in 2011/12 with the Shakers visiting on opening day. With Town’s hopes high after an active close season the game was rather a damp squib from Town’s point of view. Some industry but there was no real sparkle. In fact the Terriers were lucky not to concede a penalty after 10 minutes which could have seen Peter Clarke sent packing. Roberts scored mid way through the second half but a Kay error led to a deserved Bury equaliser and the game ended 1-1.

Recent games have not been kind to Bury at Gigg Lane. In reverse order the results were, Hartlepool 1-2, Orient 1-1, Chesterfield 1-1, Yeovil 3-2, Blades 0-3, Walsall 2-1 for a total of 6 2-2-2 8-10 8/18 points. Town away has fared even worse, 6 1-4-1 15-11 7/18 points. Since 1988/89 when Town won 6-0 the Terriers have not won once in 7 games at Gigg Lane which ended 0-6, 1-2, 4-4, 2-2, 2-2, 0-0 and 1-2 for a total of 0-4-2 9-16. After the late collapse on Tuesday which saw Town throw away a 2 goal lead yet again I cannot be overly optimistic and rather expect yet another draw 2-2.

Town’s Opponents – Stevenage

Stevenage Borough rose like a phoenix from the ashes of Stevenage Athletic. Borough was formed in 1976 and progressed up the pyramid to its present Div 3 status at the end of last season. On entering the Football League the club dropped “Borough” from its name although signs at the ground still befer to “The Boro”.

The first ever game between the sides came in 2011/12 at the Galpharm on 8th October. Town did not play particularly well although they seemed in control. Late in the first half Roberts gave Town the lead, but in true Town like fashion the home side gave up an equaliser mid way through the second half. Fortunately Novak restored Town’s lead only for a late penalty against Kay to give the visitors a lifeline. The penalty was blazed over the bar and Town hung on for a 2-1 win. The gate was 12,890.

Tuesday’s game is a must win for both sides so it should be a good game. Stevenage need to win to get back into the top 6 and Town need to win to return to 3rd place and keep the pressure on the Blades. Town finally got back to winning ways on Saturday last albeit against a modest Exeter outfit. Stevenage has done well at home against the current top 6. Results have been as follows:

Every one of the top 6 which has visited The Lamex Stadium has come away empty handed. Stevenage will be very anxious to win after two successive away defeats, 0-2 at Charlton and before that 0-1 at Notts County. It will be tough for town to do any better and as Grayson has not had time to stamp his personality on the club I have a nasty feeling that Town will fare no better than the rest; Stevenage to win 3-1.

by Owd Jim

Town’s Opponents – Exeter City

P W D L F A GD
Home 11 3 4 4 12 6 +6
Away 12 7 1 4 26 19 +7
Total 23 10 5 8 38 25 +13

Town has met Exeter only since the Great Slide when the sides met in Division 4 in 1975/76. They met again the following season then three seasons in Division 3 from 1980/81 to 1982/83. The next of four seasons came in the same Division from 1990/91 to 1993/94. Hostilities resumed in 2009/10.

League Best Worst Average
Home 2010/11 = 13,108 1990/91 = 4,317 7,312
Away 2009/10= 8,383 2009/10= 8,383 4,035

They have never met in any cup competition.

The Grecians have actually done better on The Terriers’ turf than on their own as noted above.

The first 4 meetings in Division 4 all went the way of Exeter. In 1975/76 on 6th December Town lost 0-1 in front of 5,007 at Leeds Road. The return match was even worse as Town was thrashed 1-4 on 27th March when 3,925 saw Sidebottom score Town’s only goal. The next Season saw Town lose 0-2 at St. James Park on 12th November watched by 3,657 and another defeat followed at Leeds Road on 23rd April 0-1 watched by 5,057 hardy souls. Not an auspicious start, four games, four defeats 1 scored and 8 conceded. Exeter went up in second place that season.

When Town finally joined them in 1980/81 the Terriers won their first and only ‘double’ against the Grecians, in front of 4,769, the best gate to date at St. James Park, on 11th October Kindon scored a hat-trick and Stanton joined in to see Town to a 4-1 win. The return match on 7th April was even better, watched by 12,009 the best home gate to date, the Terriers hammered the opposition 5-0 with goals from Hanvey, Lillis(2) and Stanton(2). Thus in two games the goal difference changed from -7 to +1. The following season was a let down. On opening day 29th August 8,647 saw Kindon score for Town in a 1-1 draw. The penultimate game of the season saw Town lose once more by a 0-1 score in front of 2,888 which was within 6 of the worst gate ever between the two sides. The teams finished 17th and 18th with Town shading it on goal difference.

Since then Town has lost only once, four games have been drawn and five games won (four away!). In 1982/83 another opening day draw at Leeds Road finished 1-1 with Maurice Cox scoring for Town, watched by 5,168 but the return match was watched by the lowest gate ever, only 2,882 bothering to turn up on 15th January. Town won 4-3 with goals from Lillis, Wilson, Stanton and Cowling. All seven goals came in the second half. Town won promotion in third place that season and did not meet them again until 1991/92 when they played for four seasons. The scores were, 1990/91 1-0 and 2-2, 1992/93 0-0 and 1-0, 1992/93 0-0 and 2-1 and finally in 1993/94 0-1 and 3-2. The 1990/91 home fixture on drew the lowest home gate of 4,317 and Iffy Onoura scored the winner for Town. The only defeat came in the last season the teams met early on 11th September at Leeds Road and the game ended 0-1 watched by 5,266. Revenge came at St. James Park on 5th March with Dunn and Bullock scoring in a 3-2 win in front of 2,939 yet another poor gate.

In 2009/10 the sides met again as a result of City’s promotion from the basement. On 10th October at the Galpharm Town played their socks off and were too strong for a City side including former Town hero Marcus Stewart and goals from Novak and Rhodes(3), the hat-trick coming in 8 minutes either side of the break and all from headers, saw Town to a comprehensive 4-0 win in front of 11,748 with tickets sold totalling 13,438.

On the last day of the season Town went to Exeter to play a side needing a win to be 100% sure of Div 3 survival. Town got off to a great start with a Roberts goal after 2 minutes. From then on it was all City and they deservedly won 2-1.This meant that, despite their lowly position they were undefeated at home against the top 8 sides.

In 2010/11 the home game was dire. Town lacked ideas and against an only average Exeter side the inability to defend set pieces was evident as City scored from a corner and ran off with all three points 1-0. The return match was much better and four second half goals by Cadamarteri, Roberts, Pilkington and Kilbane saw Town safely home 4-1.

Early on this season when the Grecians were bottom Town went to St. James Park and thumped them 4-0 thanks to Lee and a Rhodes hat-trick. At that time Town was playing good stuff with three away wins in 4 games for an overall score of 12-1. Of late Town has been anything but good but City are still struggling sitting 19th and still in a relegation fight only 2 points above the drop and having played more games than all but Wycombe below them. Away from home they have struggled recently with a 1-1-5 4-13 record. On paper it is a home banker, but this is HTAFC. I have been woeful with my recent forecasts constantly disappointed by below standard efforts by the team. We all hope that Grayson will bring about a change in both playing style and effectiveness. I will remain optimistic and feel that Town can win 3-0.

The Cumbrians were formed in 1903, five years before Town. Games played in either the North Eastern League or Midland League are not included in this report. Our paths did not cross, however, until the League Cup Round 1 in 1961/62. 7,360 saw Massie score for Town at Brunton Park in a 1-1 draw. Eleven days later McCann and Holt(2), watched by 8,880, saw Town through to Round 2 with a 3-0 win. Carlisle gained revenge in 1969/70, ironically when Town earned its first league double, by a score of 2-0 in Round 2 and watched by a good gate of 11,198. The third meeting came in Round 1 in 1977/78. This was a marathon affair. The first game away ended 1-1 (Eccles) in front of 5,447. Town earned another draw at Leeds Road 2-2 (Butler(2)) watched by only 3,774. The third game, also at Leeds Road ended up 2-1 to Town (Eccles, Gray) this time in front of 4,542. Read the rest of this entry »

Town first met AFC Bournemouth, which in an earlier life was known as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, in the middle of The Great Slide in 1973/74.

The first series of meetings in Divisions 3 and 4, as they accompanied Town down into the basement, were not auspicious for the Terriers. In the first 4 seasons not one win was earned, there were 4 home draws 3 0-1 away defeats with a 1-1 draw in the second meeting. Read the rest of this entry »

Hostilities began in 1936/37 in the League when the Addicks were promoted to Division 1. From then until 1969/70, apart from the War Years the only blank seasons were 1952/53 when the Terriers were in Division 2 and1956/57 when Town had been relegated the previous season.. Charlton fell the following season and the sides met every year until Town was promoted in 1969/70. We met again during the Great Slide when Town stayed in Division 3 for 2 years. The teams met again in Division 3 in 1980/81 and yet again for 3 years beginning in 1983/84 in Division 2. We have met in only 4 seasons since in Division 1 (old Div 2) in 1995/96-1997/98 and finally in 1999/2000. Read the rest of this entry »

Notts County is the oldest League Club.

There have not been many games between Town and the Magpies, but they span almost 90 years and they have met in all Divisions except the Fourth. There have been 3 FA Cup meetings, 1921/22 Semi Final at Turf Moor, won 3-1; 1937/38 Round 4 at Leeds Road, won 1-0; and 1983/84 Round 4 also at Leeds Road, lost 1-2. The only League Cup match up was in Round 2 in 1999/2000 when Town scraped through 2-1 and 2-2. Read the rest of this entry »