The Poolie Bunker

Pools have already set a record for minutes without conceding a goal. If we manage to keep the Posh out for eight minutes tomorrow, it will be TEN hours since we last conceded and I think we should all raise a cheer and clap the lads for a wonderful achievement

So what happened to Barry Watling's eight consecutive clean sheets in early 1972? Have they been expelled from the records or am I missing a detail?

Were they all league games Mr Head, I think that this is a new league record, I could be wrong like.

Wrong I'm afraid Mr Head. Checked seasons from 1971 to 1973 and this was our best run of clean sheets:


English Division 4 Hartlepool 0-0 Cambridge 27-01-1973
English Division 4 Hartlepool 0-0 Chester 03-02-1973
English Division 4 Workington 0-0 Hartlepool 10-02-1973
English Division 4 Hartlepool 1-0 Lincoln 17-02-1973
English Division 4 Stockport 0-1 Hartlepool 23-02-1973
English Division 4 Hartlepool 0-1 Hereford 03-03-1973
English Division 4 Hartlepool 2-0 Northampton 05-03-1973

We managed six clean sheets out of seven or five in a row. We have never managed six in a row.

I can't find eight consecutive clean sheets either! I was only going by this on the official site's Hall of Fame:

"Perhaps the main highlight of his spell with the Club was his eight consecutive clean sheets in early 1972. That impressive run of shutouts remains a Club record and was only brought to a halt when he was distracted by fans fighting behind the goal and conceded in a 1-0 home defeat against Hereford United."

Strange because I've often heard people going on about Watling's amazing spell of clean sheets. It must be an urban legend :shrug:

If you check the games I have listed, the run was brought to an end by Hereford, but only after five clean sheets.

i remember a fat ageing striker but not his name that beat Watling
don't know what the ruckus was but remember the incident

... a bloke with a beard from Workington, who claimed he'd been stabbed last time he'd visited Pools, he was well pissed and insisted on showing his 'scar' which as someone pointed out, looked suspiciously like an appendix scar, but not worded quite so eloquently, then it kicked off. Happy days

but who was the big fat striker for erefud

Am I alone in hoping this run of shutouts comes to an end soon? In the best possible circumstances of course, e.g., Posh could sneak in with a last minute consolation to make it 3-1, meaning we'd still have gone a remarkable 11 hours 21 minutes without conceding.

I'm a bit worried that defending this nice but rather pointless record will become more important than actually winning and that if we concede first it could have a very negative effect.

Having said that I have no qualms at all about continuing the other record - the winning sequence - for as long as the team is so inclined!

cant forget it i was there blackpool i believe i went for a slash and we scored bastads

There's a beauty photo on the wall in the Corner Flag of the supporters going mental after that goal went in....or there was in the past!!!! :sweet:

Mr.Timmy....you aren't on it!!!!

i know i was taking a slash, felt like slashing up when i heard the cheers and the piss taking going back into the crowd was awful

Loved the countdown in the Town End

mutley I've been looking for that photo for donkeys as me and ourkid are on it,climbing on the gate!! any one any ideas where I can get a copy

I'm sure someone in the Corner Flag can sort you out or whoever took it!!!!

Am I alone in hoping this run of shutouts comes to an end soon?

i think you are
talk to the players and they are loving it
a very happy dressing room indeed
no pressure on those boys LOVING IT
SUCESS BREEDS SUCESS