Who would you nominate No1 Pools fan over the time you have been following Pools? By No1 I mean die hard / dedicated / goes to almost every game regardless of form / distance both home and away. I would like you to be honest regardless of whether you like / dislike the person. Its not easy because you can only judge on the people known to you but I would be interested to see if the same people are mentioned time and again. Anyway during my time its got to be Stevie Sharp...

Paul Mullen

(Rip)


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Parmo ( mad mick) did about 20 away games a season ova about a twenty year period..
Drove men our kid to loads of away games brilliant crack ad well funny as fuck an absolute idiot!

Agree with Mad Mick. Went all over the country with him in his Ford Sierra.

Seconded: a true Poolie and an amazing Gentleman.

Mad Mick.

Stevie Sharp and Mad Mick are good shouts, and it's difficult to single out one person. See also Fetish Bob, the Crow, and Yakker Stuart and wife Sheila.

There's also some quiet people who I don't know the names of I've seen at nearly every away I've been to over the last 20 years.

Well it's me obviously lol, I'm one of the STE and every home game is a 4 1/2 to 5hr round trip, I also do my fair share of away treks too (tonight will be the first game I've missed this season). Surely I'm in the top three?

Living where I do I don't know any other Pools fans.......but when I go away there are 3 people who seem to be there pretty much every time I am....there is a black-haired lady, a tall lad with ginger-ish hair and an older gentleman who seems to spend more time tuning his radio than watching the game lol (no offence if you're on here mate ) - anyway, I'd go for those three whoever they are

i've been to every game home and away for the the last 47 years.

subject closed,

If you dont sponsor a blade of grass than you shouldnt even be considered in my opinion.

Criteria for the no1 fan is

- Sponsored an area of the pitch
- Brick in the centenary wall
- Ticket stub from Ritchie's testimonial game
- Ticket stub from comp tickets from Russ Green
- Tickle belly marks
- Must have paid for a season ticket by method of either Wonga or credit card
- Active member of the FTE

A lot of people find 'tummy' extremely offensive and 'rub' has sexual connotations. Best to use the term 'torso tremblers.'

Midriff massage?

One of my nominations would be the very much maligned (and missed) GeoffcN. He usually goes to at least 15 away games each season with his sidekicks Stevie Sharp and Kevin Joyce. However not living in the town (for over 50 years) even home games are a 50 mile round trip. Other very good shouts would be Fetish Bob and the Woodentops (didn't know they were called that by the way) who are usually at every game home and away.

I think they are presenting the no1 fan award alongside the CEO of the year awards night.

Ken Hodcroft. He's spent more than anyone on Pools over the last 10 years...

Wonder if that tops the amount taken out?!

No1 Pools Fan.. Murton Les has to be in with a shout, No1 Pools Fan from the coalfield area for certain. I have been to plenty of games when none of those already mentioned were in attendance. Back in the day there must of been away games when we had no supporters present, remember one away game in early 80s when it is said only 1 poolie was in attendance.

Very rarely did i attend away games without seeing Les from murton there.
Sure he was one of the 13 at Swansea for a friday nite game over 20 years a go.

Early 80,s the Greenside mob were always in attendance away from home.
Frankie Stockton Spenner Kitty etc.

I went to Southend on a Friday night in 1989, was shocked to see how few poolies were there, about 30, though 25 would of been exiles. Other games Colchester on a Tuesday in 1987, 15 in away end, I was on my own in home end. Wolves last day 1987, again about 30 , 25 exiles, Spenner and friends were the 5 poolies. Port Vale on a Saturday 1984 during miners strike, only about 15 of us , 8 in a mini bus, one of them was a striking miner from Blackhall who worked at Dawdon pit, he said he would drive just for a day out as long as we payed him in and bought his drinks. A few times at Swansea only 20, for a few years we always seemed to play them on a Tuesday or a Friday, dodgy place to go anarl ,Murton Les drove down there on his own once for a game. Once on a Saturday when we were doing well , only about 30 , never recognised anyone, Gary Jones scored in 1-1 draw.

a good shout there mr horden some good names put forward there would have been 8 more at the P vale game but we pulled into a service station full of plod who refused to believe we weren't flying pickets and took exception to our NUM/HUFC branch and give us a nice escort back up the motorway

Remember going to Swansea on a Friday night (early 2000's I think) Graeme Lee headed the winner at the far end. Couldn't have been more than 50 in the away end. I also remember the nightmare journey there with bad road works around the Midlands think we set off at 10 AM and just about made kick off without a stop!

I drove on my own to an away game at Gresty Road Crewe in the early 80's and was the only one in the away end, ......I thought that strange then noticed there was nobody in the home ends either........I'd got my dates wrong and had arrived 24 hours too early.........do I win a prize?

You are right Chip, was 86, Tommy Sword was playing, we were 1 up and I had to leave to catch train back to Brighton, heard a roar when I was about half a mile from the ground, heading towards station, thought fook they have equalised. At work next morning double checked result only to find we had got beat 2-1

Dave Harmond ( think that was how you spelt his surname ) was a top supporter in the late 70s/80s, he was the one who reckoned he was the only one at Crewe one Friday night around 1983 ish. Don't think he goes now, last time I saw him was at Torquay in 2002 and that was only a one off game for him.

You did meet some strange characters at games back in the day, true story this....I was talking to a guy at Feethams in the mid 80's at an evening derby game, I used to see this guy mainly at home games as he was heavy build and about 6' 6'' tall, giant of a guy and to be fair not the sharpest.
On leaving the ground there was the usual aggro on the way back to the train station. I bumped into him again at the next home game where he proceeded to tell me that he'd been arrested by the local plod on the way back to the station for basically protecting himself.
He then told me he'd been taken to the cells at Darlo police station where they'd tried to get him into a cell, ..I said "tried?", he then told me he disliked confined spaces and refused to go in, he said he'd put his arms out to stop them pushing him in and they couldn't move him, they'd even resorted to hitting his arms with truncheons but still couldn't get him in, so they eventually gave up and allowed him to go home after a couple of hours in reception.
Haven't seen the guy since about that time (30 yrs) so hope he's still knocking around and keeping well.

Maybe the No 1 fan is an anonymous individual with a low profile who turns up but is noticed by no one.

No such thing as a number one fan. All supporters of the same club, all spent money on the club since they started going and will support the club until they die. Just because someone was in an away support of 10 or whatever at a game hundreds of miles away on a Tuesday in the 1980s makes no difference at all. Shit patter really.

I started this thread but totally missed the obvious person Its got to be none other than the late great Sir Harold Hornsey not only did he put a huge amount of his families wealth into saving our club but was also a life long supporter. Plus without this supporter " letting his heart rule his proven sound business head " .we would not even exist now. One of the nicest people I have ever met and a true Gentleman.

I was there that night PJ, as was Horden. I seem to remember Murton Les saying that he had set off at lunchtime and still got into the match late due to the traffic.

Late 80's and my first visit to Stockport when we played them on Friday nights, I drove up from Fleet where I was living at the time. Left home at 3, didn't get into the ground til half time due to traffic on the M6 and we were already 3 nil down, we lost 6 nil that night......

He was a gentleman, unassuming and modest.

Top supporter...? A funny thing to define, it's a balancing act. Merely going to every match home and away because you can doesn't tell the full story. I went to every home match I could, but work determined what those matches would be back then, but bringing up a family and actually spending time with them and the cost meant away matches were a rare luxury. I can go to my hearts content now because I work great hours, but defining a top fan is impossible, how do you class an 80 year old who never misses a home match but attending and paying to go present a challenge. Top fans are different things to different paople.
In my eyes, with all the pressure to dismiss the very excistence of lower league teams as irrelevant, anyone who turns up at Pools on a match day is a No1 fan.

Agree, someone who just quietly gets on with it and turns up ...... doesn't broadcast the fact and probably puts us all to shame.

Well, I'm enjoying everyone's stories, even if you're not.

Absolutely spot on.

I have been going since 1987 but apart from the early years I only get say 7/8 games a year and mostly away from home. I therefore don't give the club much 'gate' money but I do get stuff from the shop, have poolsworld etc.

As I don't get to many games, every one I do go to is precious no matter how they are playing leading up to the game. That said, after Daggenham last year, it was the first time I have every walked out of a match and thought 'what the fook am I doing here'.

I was already booked on the train for Morecambe a few weeks later but just wasn't thinking about the trip / was not looking forward to it and only went as it was going to be a new ground for me.

I posted on here after the game, it was probably one of my best days out in 27 years of watching pools which helped of course by the unexpected result. The bug has been back since.

I can only admire all you season ticket holders that put up with the dross served up last season week in/week out. Everyone of you are 'number one' fans or maybe just plane bonkers

Without doubt the maddest fan is decka Bilton shouting I am Spartacus at the top of his voice

I used to go to at least 10-15 away games a season, at times it was not 'are we going next week' it was 'how are we getting there' Now due to change in circumstances and attitude I probably go to a couple at most. I have a family now and spend the rest of week of at week a can't justify (or get away with) disappearing all over the country on a Saturday when I've hardly seen them, and I wouldn't want to.

I have an issue with people who say 'I make an x mile round trip every week' I'm the greatest fan aren't I? People do that because they are fortunate to have the free time and finances to be able to do so and they do it because they enjoy it. You aren't making some massive commitment, it's a hobby. Away days and going to home games are a day out I don't see the need to be handing medals out. Some people are fortunate enough to have more time than others to have more days out!

Can I nominate footballs worst fan though?

Sussex.

Never seen his team play, ever, and more interested in trying to t roll this forum.

Case closed your honour.

Don't think anyone would disagree with that PJ. What I find strange is that no one on this thread has said they are this and that and should be given a knighthood etc. Out of interest at the moment I have the time and money, but would rather do other things these days when we are away, though quite often it will involve football, going to a non league game etc. I only go to the odd away game now when it suits me, meet up with my son, town with lots of real ale pubs or new ground etc.

My point wasn't aimed at anyone or exclusive for Pools it's often something you hear trotted out in a call on Talksport or 606 from disgruntled Arsenal fan 'I travel a 200 mile round trip every week' apologies for not getting out my ! Boo fucking hoo. You are going to mix with friends and watch football it's not exactly a hardship.

It's another thing that changes as you get older as well I think, football does become more of a social thing and as much about seeing your mates for a bit of craic and few beers as the result. You work hard all week the score isn't exactly the be all and end all. When I was younger I used to be gutted about a Pools defeat for days, now I'm normally over by my second pint! Far more important things in life.

Made a lot of lifelong mates supporting POOLS.
To many to name them all but we got to have the craziest best sense of humour fans in the country.
Away days down south for the weekend were always guaranteed a great laugh win lose or draw.

I think thats why last seasons Great Escape was so important to keep together us mental Poolies and long may it continue.

As for on the pitch i think better times are on the way.

My youngest is about old enough to start coming to games now, which will mean I will be able to get to more matches. I won't have much money left for owt else, but I need to get him brainwashed like his brother is, before the Premiershit machine sucks him in.

I totally agree with PJ about it being more of a day out when you get older. Burton away last year was fantastic apart from the 2 hours in the middle. Same as several other trips over the last few years.

The massive round trip thing is utter bollocks. The person doing it is doing it because they want to, they enjoy it . Hardship would be doing it for a team you don't like.
Basically some people have the time, money and support to go to numerous away games and some don't, but it doesn't define a persons love for the club.

You do get fed up of the journeys up and down the A1 though. I'm sure that if I lived in the Town I would go to more matches than I currently do. Once you get out of the habit it is difficult to drum up the enthusiasm for the so called "round trips".
Obviously you've got to want to do it, as Snowy says, but the travel is a ready made excuse when you can't be arsed.
Having been in the "round trip of 200 miles to home games" mode for well over thirty years I consider I am well qualified to give a judgement of it.
I suppose getting to seventy doesn't help either !!!
On the other hand, when Pools have been at Donny, Scunny, Rovrum or Sheffield I have only missed one, at Donny, in thirty seven years of living down here in SY and that was because I was on holiday, proving the fact that it is a lot easier for me to attend opposition grounds in those four places than it is to "round trip" home games.
I am sure there are many more "exiles" who would agree that they find it easier to amass more away games than home games.
There is no such thing as a number one fan, every Pools fan supports his or her team with equal enthusiasm and attends where and when they can.
I never have, don't, and never will support any other team as I do Pools. There just isn't the same buzz.

That York away game.. the mooning episode in the centre circle and then subsequent random "I'm Spartacus" shouts from the poolies in the away end when Bilton was hiding was probably funniest thing I've ever experienced at a pools game.

I have also witnessed him doing press ups with his top off in line for a pie. Mad as a hatter but a top bloke

I actually, in the main, enjoy the long journeys. It's all part of the day and gives me and the lad time to put the world to rights. Gets on your tits from time to time, especially when you get stuck behind a line of fucking tractors on the A1079 with few passing points and in the knowledge that you still have another hour and a half to go when you eventually join the A64 and there's a chance you won't make it in time.

For us it's only been the last 3 years we've been able to go with any regularity (financially) and I know it won't last forever so I just enjoy being able to follow Pools whilst I can.

Like others have said, whether you live next door or the other end of the country is not a guage of how 'good' a supporter you are. I really don't know how you would choose a no.1 fan to be fair. I would've thought it would be mainly down to how many games you go to....that said, someone who can't afford to go to every game (like myself) isn't any less of a fan because they don't have the resources to do so.

We used to aim to get to the Mill House by one o'clock so we had a couple of hours spare for any mishaps. Friday nights were the most awkward cos the earliest we could set off was 5-15 pm. At that time the A1 near us was and still is, a nightmare. When we played Sheff Wed, the night Boydy got three, the Wednesday fans were wingeing more about the journey than the result.
Mind you from that night up until Cardiff I had the bragging rights in our local and then came along that bloody referee !!!!!!!

I agree with most on here regarding the "no1" fan being bollocks, every poolie regardless of how many games attended or how much spent in the club shop etc, is a top fan (unless you're that old bloke who sat next to me in the mill house on Tuesday and consistently ripped into every pools player at every opportunity).

I have only missed 3 home games in well over a decade and they were all in the same season (bloody women), I get to about 2 away games a season due to work, kids and finance, i would attend every game of the season if other circumstances would allow, but it dont,however the youngest has started coming now and loves it so maybe a few more away games to come if finances permit.

At the end of the day, we're all poolies with the same passion for our club, wanting the same thing for our club and as someone else has said, I've made some cracking friends from going to pools.

Aye, we do the same Mr Derwent. Out the house at half 10 get to Morrisons for a dog roll at 1pm. Like you say, it's the night games that are a killer. Newport and Bournemouth were close run things, especially Bournemouth.

I am Spartacus!