You may or may not know that there is a kilkenny/Carlow Supporters branch being established over in the emerald Isle. This came about because of a blokes love for pools even tho he had never set foot here! As a kid his uncle and father were talking about pools and another re election and this caught his imagination and not only would he follow in the tradion of supporting a 'big' english club, he was going to support Hartlepool many years later he was able to live the dream and brought his family over for a game, and he hade his son mascot for the day. Needles to say the found the people of Hartlepool very welcoming and had a fantastic stay. They came back a year or so later for another game and then again for the West ham cup match were the idea of affilliation was mooted. Any way they have been back since as the Kilkenny and Carlow branch of the official Hartlepool united supporters club in Eire.

Now One of them has just rang me
He is is the Chair of a group of companies who traditionally takes his customers out on a jolly to man Utd, or Chelsea etc but has decided that his customers should get to grips with real football and has decided to bring a group of his customer/clients to Pools for the leeds game as he enjoyed it so much. ( a sound bloke)

Where the feck can they stay? 40 blokes out on a jolly coming to watch pools which might just swell the ranks of the irish supporters as well bringing in some extra dosh for pools. But the Grand only has a few rooms and some will be able to get in the Travel Lodge but what about the Hillcarter? anyone know what its like?

The last thing we need is for any of them to get the wrong greeting of some hyped up rarf down Church street which could scupper the feckin whole thing in the future

What do you reckon?
The Supporters club are coming back over again for the Exeter game, so it would be good to get it right!

What about the Holiday Inn place at Wolviston?

Or spread them out around the Travel Lodge, Grand, Staincliffe (just been refurbed) and The Marine?

i've got a spare room and a loft conversion...

Did you read this Mr PoK?

Let's hope there all on the club database

I normally have about 1 good point a year john, so thats my lot.

Probaby not, but I believe that the Leeds game might be.

The bloke has been in touch with pools who have sorted out the issue of ticketing & organised taxis to and from aiports etc

Get one of them to post ion here Paddy!

Those hundreds will have F*** all to complain about, they know well in advance it all ticket, so they should get off their A**** and down to club shop to buy a ticket.

But then again they probably have some excuse that means they can't get down within the next 22 days (when ticket office will be open). Or make a telephone call to buy on a credit card.

Working every day, mobile phone had no reception, land line was broke( or don,t have one) Partner was never down town and close to popping in, car was off the road, had no shoes to walk down,the latest terror alert meant they didn't want to leave house in case they were close to a bomb going off. It was wife's birthday only day they could go and had spend it with her. The list goes on.

The club charge extra to pay by credit card, so they can go fk if they think I'll be buying one over the phone cos they're expensive enough already!

Fair point, but still gives people 22 days to go to the club to but one

whens the L**ds game again??


nice one on the Oirish lads by the way!!
they should feel at home, tricolours all over the shop!

you should invite them all to the millhouse and stick some pogues on

And a few dwarfs dressed up as leprechaun's like they do in the Irish bar down the marina

They charge a quid whether you pay by debit card or credit card, which is a bit daft.

Strangely enough I will be with 5 blokes from Dublin in the Centenary Suite for the Leeds game. They are mates of a friend of mine who lived over there a few years ago.
They are staying at the Marina Travelodge thingy.
We'll all be out on the lash afterwards. Sounds like the place will be teeming with Irish for the game.

paddys = gyppos = crimdon caravan park

Back in 2005 I was in Kilkenny for my cousins wedding (he met an Irish girl while working in London for Guinness), anyway prior to that I'd read somewhere about a pub in Kilkenny in which some of the regulars followed Pools. As luck would have it we were staying in a hotel my sister had booked in Comerford Road, about 200 yards from the said pub Brannigans.
As the wedding was on a Saturday we were not able to visit the pub till the Sunday night, although the Brother-in-law and I arrived clad in blue and white, the pub unfortunately was devoid of people all night. The only clue being a Hartlepool Utd pendant behind the bar.The barman was not a football fan, but acknowledged the existence of said comrades.
The Guinness was like nectar, and I asked the barman "what time do you shut", he retorted "what time would you like us to shut sir?". As we got up to leave(11:30ish) an old farmer pulled up in a tatty landrover, came into the bar in mudridden wellies and ordered a whiskey/guinness chaser, by the time I'd put my coat on he'd ordered a second.

I like a pint of Guinness, especially in Ireland, I'm not sure I would work in London and only get paid with the black stuff.

Isn't the usual answer to when do you close, 'Some time in September'.

Interestingly enough, the address of the fan club base is a pub in Kilkenny, I think