FC Hartlepool 9-0 Washington, Tuesday 13th February 2024

FC Hartlepool 9-0 Washington, Northern League Division 2, Grays Enclosure, att. 131

It’s another sojourn to the north-east; this time it’s to have the staples removed from my neck after an operation last week. After two were painfully removed, I asked how many more? ‘One, two, three...oh, you’ve more than usual.’ Brilliant. Still, had to be done. Luckily, one of the two Northern League grounds I’ve never been to is hosting a game. FC Hartlepool, recently promoted to the Northern League, are at home to Washington, a side so bad that any other year they’d be bottom. Instead, crisis-club Brandon keep them away from the one relegation place to oblivion (the Wearside League).

I arrive 10 minutes late, in time to hear the cheer for FC’s (never refer to them as ‘Hartlepool’) 2nd goal. My dinner, a Toby carvery, was much more important after the day I’ve had. Within another 10 minutes, Washington are reduced to 10 men after a wild hack and half an hour into the game it’s 4-0. 4-0 up, against a side at the bottom down to 10 men, I had vague hopes of seeing double figures. In the end, Washington put up a semblance of a fight. FC only add one more before half-time and with various subs coming on second half, the flow of goals slows. They finish at 9, the last one in injury time, so very little time to get that 10 I craved.

The ground is a neat and tidy affair and it looked like I’d arrived in time to see 2 new stands having been delivered. As you enter one corner, two gleaming efforts stood either side of the corner flag, one for sitting, one for standing. As ever, the new (seated) stand, along the touchline, was placed somewhat away from the pitch and thus no-one actually chose to sit there. Still, both stands looked very smart bedecked in the blue and red of FC.

The majority of the fans stood on the dugout touchline, all the better for easy access to the clubhouse (it was very cold). Or you could stand outside and have your ears blasted by their beatbox, rigged up by the pavilion door. Opposite the dugouts is another stand, almost identical to the new seated one, save for the metal posts being painted white instead of blue. Otherwise, the ground is neatly enclosed. All in all, a welcome addition to the Northern League.

The Damage:
£5 ent
£1.50 tea
= £6.50