Getting To Know You - Hartlepool United

Paul Arnison
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 10st 12lbs
Born: Hartlepool
Career (54 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Newcastle United (0/0), Hartlepool United (54/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 6[4]/0
Details: Arnison, who has predominantly filled a right-back role during his career, joined his home-town club from Newcastle three years ago having spent four seasons in the Reserves at St. James's Park, captaining the side during the latter years of that spell. Is a versatile player, also giving the centre of midfield and centre-back his best shot during his time at Victoria Park.

Mark Robinson
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st
Born: Guisborough
Career (43 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Hartlepool United (43/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 13/0
Details: Robinson finally made the left-back position his own during last season, appearing 37 times in the Third Division side's push for a spot in Division Two. Made the transition from trainee to full-time professional successfully, and possesses a dangerous left-footed shot if allowed time to shoot. Yet to open his account in League football though.

Michael Barron
Squad Number: 4
Position: Defender
Age: 27 Height: 5t 11ins Weight: 11st 10lbs
Born: Lumley
Career (197 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Middlesbrough (3/0), Hartlepool United [loan] (16/0), Hartlepool United (178/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: Made a move to Victoria Park permanent in the summer of 1997 after a loan spell from first club Middlesbrough at the tail end of the 96/97 campaign. Now the Monkey-hangers club captain, he is most at home in the centre of defence, but last season saw him slot in just as happily at right-back when he was called upon. A very intelligent player, capable of leading his team, Barron was Player of the Year for two successive seasons from 1998-2000.

Graeme Lee
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 24 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 8lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (174 League Appearances/ 17 Goals): Hartlepool United (174/17)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: The 24-year-old has been at Hartlepool from the beginning of his career, starting off as a trainee until he made his League debut in the 1995/6 season. Lee has only played at one club, and is fast approaching 200 League appearances for the team. During the 1999/2000 season he even played as an emergency striker, a far distance from his regular position of centre-back. His performances have attracted attention from a number of Premiership clubs.

Michael Barron

Chris Westwood
Squad Number: 6
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 10lbs
Born: Dudley
Career (126 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Wolverhampton Wanderers (4/1), Hartlepool United (122/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: Westwood began his career much closer to his birthplace of Dudley at Wolves, where he was under the tutelage of Chris Turner at Molineux. When Turner got the manager's position at Victoria Park he quickly realised Westwood's potential and snapped him up. Since then he has regularly performed at the centre of defence, and has also found Premiership clubs watching his partnership with Graeme Lee closely. Ever present two years ago.

Mark Tinkler
Squad Number: 7
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st
Born: Bishop Auckland
Career (239 League Appearances/ 21 Goals): Leeds United (25/0), York City (90/8), Southend United (56/1), Hartlepool United (68/12)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/7
Details: Tinkler joined Blues from York City at the front end of the 1999/2000 as Alan Little paid his former club £40,000 for the midfielder's services. The composed player made 41 League appearances that season, but after the appointment of David Webb in October 2000, Tinkler felt that his first-team chances were restricted, and Turner signed him that November. He settled back into his native North-East easily, and currently leads 'Pool's goalscoring charts. Hartlepool boss Turner admires his control and first-time passing. Began his career at Leeds, but in five seasons the tall midfielder played just 25 League games and he moved to York for £85,000. He linked well with Little, and that set up the move to the seaside. Celebrates his birthday tonight.

Ritchie Humphries
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Sheffield
Career (135 League Appearances/ 16 Goals): Sheffield Wednesday (67/4), Scunthorpe United [loan] (6/2), Cardiff City [loan] (9/2), Cambridge United (7/3), Hartlepool United (46/5)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/3
Details: Humphries was touted as a real star of the future in 1997 when he burst onto the scene at home-town club Sheffield Wednesday. He smashed three goals in four games, and went on to make 29 appearances in the season, and won three England Under-21 caps. However, the established David Hirst returned from his injury and Humphries took his place amongst a large and overpaid squad. He was deemed a utility player, even filling the left-back role on occasions, and farmed out on loan to Scunthorpe and Cardiff. In February 2001 he was finally sold to try and recover some money and he joined Cambridge. This was not to be, despite scoring three times in just seven games. He moved to Hartlepool in the summer, and playing mainly in midfield, Humphries was ever-present last season, contributing five goals in the process.

Eifion Williams

Eifion Williams
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 26 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: Bangor
Career (119 League Appearances/ 28 Goals): Torquay United (111/24), Hartlepool United (8/4)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/6
Details: Williams is a nippy striker who got his big break in 1999 when he joined Torquay from Barry Town for £70,000. Ironically he scored a hat-trick on his debut against Hartlepool, and went on to score five goals in seven games that year. 2001 was a poor year for the frontman, as he manages just one league goal in 25 matches, and he moved to 'Pool in March 2002. He hit form again, and so far has found the net ten times in 22 games for his new club.

Darrell Clarke
Squad Number: 11
Position: Midfielder
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 6lbs
Born: Mansfield
Career (194 League Appearances/ 31 Goals): Mansfield Town (161/24), Hartlepool United (33/7)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: Clarke is a dangerous attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. Moved from Mansfield in summer 200, where he had played 161 League games during his time with the Stags. The move breathed new life into his career, and he scored a hat-trick against struggling Swansea City in April of this year.

Paul Smith
Squad Number: 12
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 Height: 6ft Weight: 13st 3lbs
Born: Easington
Career (147 League Appearances/ 9 Goals): Burnley (112/5), Oldham Athletic [loan] (4/0), Torquay United (0/0), Hartlepool United (31/4)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 3[5]/0
Details: Signed from Burnley in November 2001, Smith is a left-sided midfield player who is an excellent crosser of a ball, and supplied a number of goals for Watson and Williams at the end of last season to propel the Monkey-hangers into the Play-Offs. Had spent seven years at Turf Moor, but Stan Ternant's arrival signalled a look for pastures new, and after short spells with Oldham and Torquay, he settled at Victoria Park.

Mark Tinkler

Kevin Henderson
Squad Number: 14
Position: Forward
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 13st 12lbs
Born: Washington
Career (112 League Appearances/ 28 Goals): Burnley (14/1), Hartlepool United (98/27)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1[9]/0
Details: Henderson is a live wire forward, who came to football late at the age of 24. Signed for Burnley from Morpeth Town, where he had impressed, and moved on to 'Pool in 1999. Hit 17 gaols in 40 League games during 2000/1, but a knee injury ruled him out for much of last season, and he has struggled to regain his place.

Tommy Widdrington
Squad Number: 15
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 12lbs
Born: Newcastle
Career (276 League Appearances/ 21 Goals): Southampton (75/3), Wigan Athletic [loan] (6/0), Grimsby Town (89/8), Port Vale [loan] (9/1), Port Vale (73/7), Hartlepool United (24/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 7[3]/0
Details: Tough-tackling Geordie, who began his career at south coast Southampton. Having made a number of appearances for the Saints between 1994 and 1996, Brian Laws signed him for Grimsby for £300,000. He settled in well on the east coast, but moved on once again to Port Vale, first on loan, then permanently. He missed the Play-Off defeats to Cheltenham Town with a back injury, but is once again fighting for a first-team place this season.

Adam Boyd
Squad Number: 16
Position: Forward
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 10st 12lbs
Born: Hartlepool
Career (38 League Appearances/ 10 Goals): Hartlepool United (38/10)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 6[4]/3
Details: Boyd is a pacy forward who has been given the chance to shine with Gordon Watson's injury. Chris Turner liked what he saw whilst Boyd was still a scholar, and backed him enough to give him 29 League appearances last season, and the youngster repaid him with nine goals. Now Boyd is looking to cement a first-team spot, and has struck home three goals already as his strike-rate comes down.

Jermaine Easter

James Sharp
Squad Number: 20
Position: Defender
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 6lbs
Born: Reading
Career (49 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Reading (0/0), Florida Tech (no figures available), Aldershot Town (no figures available), Wokingham (no figures available), Andover Town (no figures available), Hartlepool United (49/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1/0
Details: After an incredible journey which took him around the non-League circuit in England and across to Florida Tech in the Major League Soccer of America, Sharp finally signed for 'Pool in 2000. In the ensuing season he won both the Club and Supporters Player of the Year Awards, but incredibly sunk back onto the bench last season. Has had limited chances so far this time round as well.

Jim Provett
Squad Number: 21
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 19 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 12lbs
Born: Stockton
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Hartlepool United (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1/0
Details: With the departure of Martin Hollund during the summer, Provett has been given the chance to prove himself, and made his debut in the recent 5-0 LDV Vans Trophy defeat at Tranmere on Tuesday evening. Served out three years as a scholar, and was this year offered a full professional contract. Has been a regular performer in the Reserve and Youth teams, and was loaned out to Spennymoor United at the end of last season to gain some first-team experience.

Marcus Richardson
Squad Number: 26
Position: Forward
Age: 25 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st
Born: Reading
Career (46 League Appearances/ 8 Goals): Cambridge United (16/2), Torquay United (30/6)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 2[2]/2
Details: Tall centre-forward signed at the beginning of October to provide a replacement for the injured Gordon Watson. Richardson began his career at Harrow Borough, but moved to Cambridge three years ago and after spells at the Abbey Stadium and then a six-month loan deal at Torquay, he has been given until the end of the year to prove himself to Chris Turner. Already scored two goals in just two starts.

Others who could feature:

Jermaine Easter (#19): Young forward who has captained Wales Under-18's. Came from the Wolves youth set-up, and scored in the 5-1 massacre last season at Victoria Park.

Gordon Simms (#22): Another to have played at Wolves. A Northern Ireland Youth talent, he made his debut for their Under-21 side upon signing for 'Pool.

Antony Sweeney (#23): Young midfielder who made his debut last October. Has impressed for the Reserves and previously in the Youth team.

Brian Ross (#24): Another product of Hartlepool's youth system, Ross spent a large amount of last season injured, and has had a loan spell at Fana of Norway.

Matty Robson (#25): Young left-sided midfielder, playing for Bishop Auckland and Durham County as well as the Young 'Pool side.

Colin McKenzie (#27): Yet another young midfielder, signing professional terms yesterday after playing in the LDV Vans Trophy defeat on Tuesday.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com