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Hartlepool United
Victoria Park

Capacity: 7,787 (Seats 4,180)
Address: Clarence Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8BZ
Main Telephone No: 01429 272 584
Fax No: 01429 863 007
Pitch Size: 113 x 77 yards
Team Nickname: The Pool
Year Ground Opened: 1908
Home Shirt Sponsors: Dove Energy
Away Shirt Sponsors: LOG Larsen Oil & Gas
Home Kit Colours: Blue & White Stripes
Away Kit Colours: All Burgundy
Kit Manufacturers: Nike
Official Web Site:
www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
Vital Hartlepool (Vital Football Network)
Eight Minutes



Map
Contents

What's Victoria Park Like?
Cyril Knowles Stand (photo)
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Millhouse Stand (photo)
Where To Drink?
Looking Towards The Town End (photo)
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
By Train
Rink End (photo)
Admission Prices
Progamme & Fanzine

Ground Layout

Local Rivals
Disabled Facilities
Fixtures 2011-2012
Record & Average Attendance
Fans Ground Reviews
Hotel Accommodation
Victoria Park Location Map

 


What's Victoria Park Like?
The ground was greatly improved in the mid 1990's, with the construction of two new stands at one end and one side of the ground. The Cyril Knowles Stand is the newer of the two side stands. It is a small single tier covered all seated stand, raised above the ground level. The other side, the Niramax Stand, has covered seating to the rear and open terrace to the front. This stand does not run the full length of the pitch and has an odd mix of orange and green seating, that clashes with the club colours. Both ends are small covered affairs. The newer end is the small Hartlepool College Town End, a covered terrace, for home fans. The other end, the Rink End stand, is a small covered all seated stand which houses away supporters.

Derek Hall adds; 'All real Hartlepool fans nickname the club Pools (not The Pool). This goes back to the pre-1967 days when the boroughs of (old) Hartlepool and West Hartlepool became amalgamated as just Hartlepool. It was because of  the existence of the two very separate towns that the club was actually called Hartlepools United in the first place. That said though, I'd prefer to see us called The Monkey Hangers!'

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Cyril Knowles Stand


Cyril Knowles Stand

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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Ben Fuggles advised me to 'bring a jumper even in August!'. He was right. The wind whipping the North Sea goes right through you, so wrap up well unless there is a heat wave. Away fans are in the Rink End Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 967 can be seated. Unfortunately there are a few supporting pillars in this stand, which may hinder your view, especially if there is a large away following. However acoustics are good even for small numbers. Look out for the biggest meat & potato pies you have ever seen being served within the ground, they are huge! Generally I found the Hartlepool supporters okay, but unfortunately my day was spoiled by some crowd trouble at the game. I prefer thinking about the opposition's culpability rather than the Pools fans, but as the saying goes 'It takes two to tango'.

If you wonder why Hartlepool are referred to as the 'Monkey Hangers' then it is because the residents of Hartlepool are famously
said to have hanged a monkey that was washed up from a ship that had sunk during the Napoleonic wars, because they thought the monkey was a French spy. The Club take this to good heart and of course who else would they have as their club mascot? H'Angus the monkey of course!

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Millhouse Stand


Millhouse Stand photo

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Where To Drink?
The Victoria Suite near the entrance to the away end is for members only. At the same end but at the opposite corner, is the 'Corner Flag Supporters Bar' that welcomes away fans. The entrance fee is 50p, but this basic bar has a good friendly pre match atmosphere and SKY TV, however it does not serve any food. Popular with away fans is the Jackson's Wharf Pub near the ground. It has good food and real ale on tap. This pub is over the road from the ASDA store, to the left of the old sailing ship. Otherwise the ground is not far from the town centre where there are plenty of pubs to be found.

Ronnie Chambers adds; 'The Engineers Social Club five minutes from the ground opposite the police station, just off the town centre is okay, as is the Raglan Club just behind the visitors end. Usual club rules apply regarding entry for these'.


Richard Wakelin informs me; 'There is a micro pub on the railway station platform called the Rat Race Ale House. It only serves real ale (no lager or keg) and only holds about 12 people. There is no bar as such (the patron disappears into a room and re-emerges with your pint), nor music or television. There are also no toilets inside (you are given a key to the station toilets). It's rapidly gaining cult status on Teeside'.

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Looking Towards The Town End


Looking Towards The Town End Photo

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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park

From the A19 take the A689 signposted Hartlepool. Follow the A689 towards the Town Centre. Follow Town Centre signs for 2.8 miles, over two roundabouts. Go straight over the next two sets of lights, passing Hartlepool College on your right. The next left takes you to the stadium. If you miss the turning (as I did), go past ASDA on your left, left at the next roundabout and then left at the next traffic lights for the ground. There is a fair sized car park at the ground. Otherwise there is some street parking albeit a bit of a distance away, as a residents only parking scheme is in operation on matchdays around the ground.

Map showing the location of Victoria Park (at the bottom of this page).

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By Train
Hartlepool railway station is a ten minute walk from the ground. Leave the station and go straight up a short approach road. At the end of the approach, turn right and head up Church Street towards the large church. At the end of this road is a bridge and junction with the A689. Go straight across the junction and the ground is in front of you on the left hand side of the road. 

Thanks to Richard Brackstone for providing the directions.

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Rink End


Photo Of The Rink End

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Admission Prices
Home Fans:
Cyril Knowles Stand (Seats) Adults £25, Over 60's/Under 16's £13
Niramax Stand (Seats) Adults £25, Over 60's/Under 16's £13
Niramax Stand (Terrace) Adults £20, Over 60's/Under 16's £10
Hartlepool College (Town End Terrace) Adults £20, Over 60's/Under 16's £10

Away Fans:
Rink End (Seats) Adults £25, Over 60's/Under 16's £13

Students and Under 19's can also qualify for a concessionary price in the home areas, providing that the ticket is purchased from the ticket office and a valid student identity card/proof of age  is produced on purchase.

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Programme & Fanzine
Official Programme £2.50.
Monkey Business Fanzine £1.

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Ground Layout


Layout

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Local Rivals
Darlington.

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Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.

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Fixtures 2011-2012
Hartlepool United FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

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Record & Average Attendance
17,426 v Manchester United,
FA Cup 3rd Round, January 5th, 1957.

Average Attendance:
2009-2010: 3,444 (League One)
2008-2009: 3,835 (League One)
2007-2008: 4,507 (League One)

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Fans Reviews Of Victoria Park
Paul Willott (Preston North End) 29/11/11
Teresa Jewell (Sheffield Wednesday) 1/10/11
Andy 'Addick' (Charlton Athletic) 15/2/11
Stephen Wooldridge (Neutral) 19/12/09
Nathan Heywood (Norwich City) 29/08/09
Daniel Sharpe (Leicester City) 17/02/09

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Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. The Hotels listing also includes details of how far away the accommodation is located from the football ground. Access their Hartlepool Hotels and Guest Houses page.

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Map showing the location of Victoria Park, railway station and listed pubs

Instructions for using the map:
Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in / out using the + / - keys.
Click and drag an area of the map to move around or use the up/down, left/right arrows on the map.
Click the Satellite button to see aerial view photograph.



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Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.



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Copyright Duncan Adams 2012
All rights reserved                                                                  
Last Updated: 14 January 2012