When Hartlepool United got Promoted.....

By Albatross
February 12 2003

Do you remember the last time Hartlepool United won promotion? If you do, then this will stir a few memories; if you don't, prepare to learn about the origin of a phrase that has become Poolie Legend.....

It had been a tremendous season for Hartlepool United, and now it was time to celebrate. We'd had the tragedy of losing Cyril Knowles to illness, Alan Murray had come in and with the addition of Kevin Poole our late surge up the table had seen us as one of five sides that could win the championship on the last day; and although we had to see Darlington take the title, our 3-1 win over Northampton at a packed Vic was enough to take us up for only the second time in our history.

The celebrations on the pitch, with thousands of Poolies all over it, Joe Allon making it back to the dressing room in just his underpants, the feeling of exultation, the tannoy playing "Nice one Cyril"..... all this was still fresh in the memory, and now it was another memorable day: the team were to tour the town in an open-topped bus before a reception at the Civic Centre.

Many of us gathered at the ground, some of us with autograph books in hand, cameras galore - there is still somewhere a photo of my (at the time) little brother with Joe Allon, taken just outside the ground as the players waited for the off. Away it went, though how many people lined the route I never found out; it seemed that most of us were close to the ground, and then legged it to Middleton Grange Shopping Centre after the bus vanished to welcome them there and listen to the inevitable speeches before the reception itself.

There we were greeted by a presenter from TFM, who was acting at compere for the event. As TFM had paid us about the same amount of attention that season as they do now, his blatant plugs for the station were treated with some contempt, and also a chant of "We hate Boro!"

This being Pools of course, not everything went according to plan. The players were presented one by one, but a couple of the youth team lads weren't there. But of all the things that went on, it was a verbal slip by the Club's President that was to pass into Poolie Folklore and provide a whole new expression for a generation of Hartlepool fans.

Ted Leadbitter was the town's MP, and a long time follower of HUFC. He was coming to the end of his time in Parliament, and a year later would be succeeded by Peter Mandelson. For all that he was used to getting up and speaking in the House of Commons, he was obviously overcome to see Pools at long last going in the right direction, and maybe that's why he got his words a little mixed up. Too late, he realised what he'd said as the gathered Poolies dissolved in laughter. We'd had a wonderful season, he told us, and "Promotion is the Ice on the Caking!" At that moment, a legend was born....