On Boxing Day along with 5,000 or more Hartlepool United fans I will be at the Vic for the visit of Leeds United.
These days I am not a great lover of Leeds although when I was at University in the City I often used to go to Elland Road.
However as its Christmas I wonder if I could make this plea to Hartlepool fans in respect of an ex Hartlepool hero who will be sat in the Leeds dugout on 26th December.
I am of course referring to one of "our legends" Joe Allon.
Whilst I appreciate that Joe now works Leeds, I would like genuine Hartlepool United fans to remember the contribution Joe made at our club, not only in his time on the pitch but in promoting Pools on the radio.
Joe Allon played for Pools in the 1990/1 promotion season, was in the PFA team of the Season that year and was named Player of the season by the North East Football Writers Association. He received many accolades from Hartlepool supporters too.Joe finished top scorer in four different seasons at Pools and when we sold him to Chelsea it netted the club £300,000 -which greatly helped the club financially at the time.
Supporters of Hartlepool United have a lot to thank Joe Allon for during his time at The Vic..
His loyalty, this goals, his beaming smile and his sense of humour.
Joe Allon, like Pools, has moved on. He has new employers.
We all have to work - thats a fact of life and Joe has to go where the work is. That happened to be with Leeds.
When he comes out onto the field I know the genuine supporters will give him a few cheers and a generous round of applause in acknowledgement of the years he played for Pools.

I just hope the "boo boys" don't spoil what should be a great day by abusing one of Hartlepool United's heroes.
Would it will be too much to expect a few rousing choruses of "There's only one Joe Allon"?? Maybe.
Its the season of goodwill and I for one will be extending the hand of friendship to Joe Allon - and saying "Joe thanks for the memories".

John Riddle
Hartlepool
Freelance journalist
Sports editor http://www.thepaper.net
A Very Merry Christmas

And what about the 'genuine' fans he really fookin pissed off at E.R Mr John???

Should they join in with the 'one Joe Allon' song?

Twat.

To be fair, he also has a lot to thank Hartlepool United for, doesnt he?

John, a few months ago you would have got 100% support for your post but then came Leeds at Elland Road. He was percieved to be taking the piss somewhat with his over the top celebrations and gesticulations towards the Pools end. I never seen it myself but people whos views I trust were furious at his antics.

It was quite the opposite of the likes of Chris Westwood who on scoring against Pools,simply put his head down and trotted back to his own half without any celebrations.

That said, I'm sure he'll get a decent reception because not everyone will have seen or heard about it.

sorry lads - no offence meant. I was at Eland Road and to be honest I did not see the over the top celebrations to which you refer.
But I thought in retrospect if it did happen - well I wouldn't want to offend anyone.
You will all have to do what you think is best.
You all have a very Merry Christmas, a brilliant Boxing Day, and a Happy, healthy and extremly prosperous New Year.
All the best
John

I think at best Joe can expect a mixed response,it is a two way street this thing with ex players.We had a lot to thank Joe for but vice versa as he's been kept in employment off the back of pools the last few years.
If you want respect you have to give respect.
westwood's lack of celebration when he scored against us earned him a lot of respect but what we want from Allon's leeds team on boxing day is what adam boyd gave us at orient,play shite and lose.

i was at ER and witnessed Joe's over the top behavior and was very dissappointed by him also remember being at Port Vale when Joe scored and put us out of the F.A. cup his celebration was over the top that day also but i would never boo Joe nor will i cheer him.

To be honest I met the bloke once and thought he was an arrogant so and so. He had one good season at Pools and in my opinion was overated.Not a nice person at all, a jack the lad who expects to be liked by everyone. Used Pools to make some cash whilst working for radio cleveland but clearly would of preferred doing same thing with his real love Newcastle.

I don't think he made any gestures towards Pools fans at Elland Road. What he did do is fail to show the same level of class that Chris Westwood and Effion Williams did in reaction to goals against a former club and those two actually scored them. His celebrations where OTT especially at full time. Obviously knocking about with Wise is infectious.

I won't boo him but I won't be singing 'Joe Joe Joe Allon' either I will concentrate my energies in to getting behind those in a blue and white shirt.

the key word here i think is .................free lance journalist !! oh yes boys and girls they can be trusted..................

To be fair, Mr Riddle has been around for some considerable time including contributing to MB for years.

Joe Allon was my boyhood hero, he played for Pools when I wasn't even in double figures and I was looking for someone to idolise. Now I just see him as a arrogant cock who has put on a shed load of weight, I'd love to meet him and for me to be proved otherwise but I just don't hold him in the same esteem I do others.

I certainly couldn't find it in me to sing 'Joe, Joe, Joe Allon' but I did sing it at Rushden on the final day a few years back. I wish him all the best but I put him in the same category as Dennis Wise these days and thats far from a good thing.

Joe Allon is an ex Pools player employed by a team we are playing against...... I am only interested in how we do, if he feels uncomfortable for the 90 minutes of the match, all well and good.

I met joe allon at cardiff (playoffs) and have nothing but admiration for the bloke Chatted with him and had photo took he seemed a very nice guy. Didnt see what supposed to have happened at leeds but i for one wont be booing him. always looked at joe as one of pools legends

Well said.

I have no intention of singing nice songs for the fella but have no intention of any abuse going his way unless he does something silly to wind us up...

But I do hate patronising posts on message boards when lah di dah folk spout on trying to tell others how they should behave at the match.

It's usually something to do with them having a small penis and their wife needing to get it elsewhere.

Well there you go. Argue but don't abuse.
As one member said I have been going to Pools now for more than 50 years. I do write the occasional article for Monkey Business and I did send a strongly worded letter to the Yorkshire Post about Master Bates. which they printed!
The size of my penis has little to do with my writing ability or the lack of it as one member suggests and as I am no longer married - well the second string of his attack - does not apply.
I sincerely hope that all members have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy and extremly prosperous New Year.