What I would give to have another Mick Tait type player here a man who could play the game a mans man and a total dedicated winner. He commanded respect from his team mates and scared the hell out of the opposition. He was a player you would never fooook with on the pitch. He had a Charles Bronson type gangster face but what a quite unassuming person in real life. We got him from Darlo when he was about finished after being thier best player for years but he still managed to be a super star for us. He loved his football and loved his battles loved his drink ( had a night in Chester le street with him and he could drink ) just wish we had signed him 10 years earlier.

not micky tait but my old man who was a pro in the late 20,s and 30,s thought the players from the 60,s to 80,s when he stopped going were actually soft up to his day. apart from todays game of non tackling that can be ignored i wonder if its an age thing or rose tinted specs for the past. really though could you imagine micky tait playing with one of those bra things on and having his fitness monitored or following some diatery advice foistered upon him and his own training regime. all that has caused is shit games we see week in week out even the odd times pools win.

Bra things ..love it Accy

We had a midfielder back in the late 70s called Kevin Johnson who I really liked. He had any amount of skill and really was above our level but he toured the lower leagues and played for quite a few teams in his time.

Kev Johnston was class and played alongside Kev Keegan at one time. Porn style moustache, tricky and looked the part. Partnered Micky Spelman in midfield and the pair got injured before our 3rd FA cup game at Man City in 1976. Apparently Micky slipped on a patch of oil in a garage. All our yesterdays.

I had no idea he played with Keegan but what club was that at

1974 Pools 1 Aston Villa 1 Mally Moore scored in the rinkend in the second half to secure a remarkable result. If memory serves we had around 13500 at that game. I remember being lifted off the floor by the sheer number of supporters leaving the ground and was carried from the millhouse stand to well beyond the ground. What I also remember in this unreal situation was are the walls going to fall from the sheer pressure of fans pushing and shoving to get out.

In reference to Mick Tait, he was Pool’s manager when IOR took over, but as I recall Hodcroft wanted him to go to Norway to study the training methods at a club over there.
I understand he wouldn’t because he had nothing to learn from them.
My philosophy is you never stop learning.
He left not long after.

I was told that by Mick he simply laughed it off and said Hodcroft is clueless

But just to be safe I’d nod and go..and when I got there I’d enjoy myself, nod and smile, thank them and come back and then thank Hodcroft for all I picked up and learnt.
Even though I wasn’t taking a blind bit of notice

[quote="Snowy"]But just to be safe I’d nod and go..and when I got there I’d enjoy myself, nod and smile, thank them and come back and then thank Hodcroft for all I picked up and learnt.
Even though I wasn’t taking a blind bit of notice

He also did not play Pederson immediately and that probably pissed of Hodcroft as well considering his pedigree. Maybe both these things forced Hodcrofts arm in getting rid.

It certainly did….let’s be honest, name three midfielders in the club better than Peterson to be able to keep him out

We have never had a better midfielder in my 50 odd years following them.

I forgot about Michael Brown who was superb for us. But have to go for Pederson still the very best who played in midfield. The best game Browny played in was Darlo away. The best game Pederson played in was away to top of the league Notts County he totally controlled all the midfield and bamboozled a very good County midfield. I spoke to Gary Jones about that game and he said he had never seen a better player in the division. The County team could not believe they got the points and Gary said we had two chances ( he scored both ) hartlepool had a boat load provided by Pederson by luckily missed them.

It was at Scunthorpe a mate of mine told me last night over a few bevvies

Just been watching Viv Anderson talking about his career. He mentioned his debut for Manchester United at Pools in a pre season friendly. Pools leading 5-0 at half time ( a game I had totally forgotten about ) he said it was Fergusons first ever roasting of players during a half time. The Man Utd team was Turner Anderson Mcgrath Moran Alberston Strachan Whiteside Robson Alson McClair & Hughes. What a team of super stars we slaughtered that day. He never mentioned the final score but pretty sure it ended 6-0 When I look back at that game and the players who played for Man Utd it's got to be the most amazing result ever achieved by Pools even if it was a friendly Within 3 weeks of that game Fergy got rid of his best defender Mcgrath. Can anyone remember the date

Not 100% sure but I think it was late August 1988 I was there

I was also there and if memory is correct the first 5 goals scored in the Townend.

I was there age 13 and I do not remember it raining. I was stood level with the edge of the town end penalty area with my back to Clarence road.
It will always be the most memorable game that I ever attended as Pools put up a great fight against a full strength Busby Babes.

A great memory but I think you’re a bit off with the team. Mike Duxbury and Lee Sharpe were playing and I think I’m correct in saying that a guy called Paul Dalton also played!!

That's very interesting because I was surprised at the team given out by Viv Anderson. 100% he give the team I quoted so he obviously cannot remember the team himself. The podcast I watched is called " Fore Four Two " with the wording Brian Clough was USELESS. I am really pleased you found Vivs mistake because looking back I cannot remember Brian Robson playing but thought Viv was correct and my memory had failed me.

I'm loving these memories! I'm writing a book, to be published in 2025 ('Poolies at Heart - Celebrating Hartlepool United's Finest') and I'd love to include some of these stories, but only with your permission and the permission of the Admins. Would that be okay? Please feel free to email me on sjp65@outlook.com - Many thanks. UTP.

Well I started this post and have no issue with you using my stuff. I am sure everyone who put messages on this post will be totally fine about you using it. contact Derwent by either a posting or by a PM he will sort things for you.