Hartlepool

United

Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. The club was formed in 1881 and competes in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Hartlepool United play their home games at Victoria Park. The club’s colours are black and white.

Hartlepool United were formed in 1881 and played their first competitive match in May 1882. They joined the Northern League in 1889 and were founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920. Hartlepool finished in bottom place in their first season in the Football League, but improved over the following years, reaching the Second Division in 1937. The club were relegated to the Third Division at the end of the 1946–47 season, but won the division the following season. The club played in the Second Division until 1958, when they were relegated to the Fourth Division. After two seasons in the Fourth Division, Hartlepool were promoted back to the Second Division in 1961.

In 1975, Hartlepool United won the Football League Second Division championship, earning promotion to the First Division. The club finished in the bottom half of the First Division in their first season in the top flight, but improved over the following years. In 1984, Hartlepool United reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, their first major cup competition. The club were eliminated in the semi-finals by Manchester United. The club finished in the top half of the First Division for five consecutive seasons from 1987 to 1992, but were relegated to the Second Division in 1993. Hartlepool finished the 1993–94 season in the bottom half of the Second Division, but were promoted back to the First Division as champions. The club reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997 and 2000, but were defeated by Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively. In 2001, Hartlepool United were relegated to the Championship after finishing in the bottom three of the First Division. The club were relegated again after the 2002–03 season, but returned to the Premier League after finishing in the bottom two of the Championship in the 2004–05 season. Hartlepool United finished the 2005–06 season in the bottom three of the Premier League, but were relegated to the Championship.

Hartlepool United finished the 2006–07 season in the bottom half of the Championship, but were promoted to the Premier League as champions. The club reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2007 and 2012, but were eliminated each time. Hartlepool United finished the 2013–14 season in the bottom half of the Premier League, but were relegated to the Championship. The club were relegated again after the 2016–17 season, but returned to the Premier League after finishing in the second qualifying spot in the 2017–18 season. Hartlepool United finished the 2018–19 season in the bottom three of the Premier League, but were relegated to League One.