Football Ground Guide: Victoria Park, Hartlepool United FC

Contents
What's The Ground 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 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return to the Main Menu
What's The Ground 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 Millhouse 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 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!' Top Of Page
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! Top Of Page
Millhouse Stand
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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 the bar has a good pre match atmosphere and SKY TV. 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 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'. Top Of Page
Looking Towards The Town End
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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 plenty of street parking to be found behind the away end. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Train
Hartlepool train 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. Top Of Page
Rink End
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Admission Prices
Home Fans: Cyril Knowles Stand (Seats) Adults �20, Over 60's/Under 16's �10 Millhouse Stand (Seats) Adults �20, Over 60's/Under 16's �10 Millhouse Stand (Terrace) Adults �18, Over 60's/Under 16's �9 Town End (Terrace) Adults �18, Over 60's/Under 16's �9 Away Fans: Rink End (Seats) Adults �20, Over 60's/Under 16's �10 Students 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 is produced on purchase. Top Of Page
Programme & Fanzine
Official Programme �2.50. Monkey Business Fanzine �1. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Local Rivals
Darlington. Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the Hartlepool fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
17,426 v Manchester United, FA Cup 3rd Round, January 5th, 1957. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 3,835 (League One) 2007-2008: 4,507 (League One) 2006-2007: 4,755 (League Two) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Victoria Park
Nathan Heywood (Norwich City) 29/08/09 Daniel Sharpe (Leicester City) 17/02/09 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. 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. To access their Hartlepool page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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