By Albatross
June 1 2005

It's that time of year again - with the season now over, Pools Online looks back on yet another momentous year for Hartlepool United. Our Season Review kicks off with August and the start of our campaign. Pools build-up to the new season had been very much low key. Jack Ross was the main arrival - but that had been known about for some time; and although there were a few triallists coming into the club they were hardly big names. While one or two players were the subject of press speculation it wasn't really until just before the start of the season proper that we brought anyone else in; that was Kevin Betsy, who was out of favour with Barnsley and had written himself into our memories the previous season when scoring the goals that ended our unbeaten home run. He joined on loan just in time to be on the bench for our opening game.

Even before the start of the season we were facing injury worries. Mickey Barron's operation was taking longer to come back from than he'd hoped - he had to have another before the problem was resolved - and Ross missed out on the pre-season tour of Holland with a knee problem that would also require surgery. Chris Westwood had also been struggling earlier in the pre-season campaign.

Our opponents on the first day were to be Bradford City - and for a spell before the match there was talk that we might be facing a blank weekend as their financial problems threatened to get the better of them. They made it though, and although Colin Todd's team had a cobbled-together look about them they still gave Pools a scare. Windass put them ahead before a Boyd penalty and Robertson Free Kick gave us a winning start.

Reality bit the following Tuesday though with a visit to Tranmere; despite going ahead with a stunning Robertson free kick Pools lost after a Taylor penalty and goal from Dagnall turned things around. Dagnall's harsh dismissal when he received a second booking for over-celebrating allowed Pools to pile on the pressure - but the impressive home side had deserved their win.

Six days later Pools were on the road again - this time for a Sky live game with Huddersfield. Betsy started and scored the opener - but it was Boyd who caught the eye, setting up the goals for him and then two minutes later Tinkler on a rain-sodden pitch. Already it was obvious that he wanted to carry on where he'd left off the previous year. However, any hopes of competing at the very top of the table were soon to come crashing down around our ears - our next away win in Division 2 would take four months to arrive.

A home draw with Blackpool wasn't the best follow-up in any case; we did however manage our first home win over Macclesfield in the League Cup before the first of many poor away performances at Swindon that saw us lose 3-0. It would be Robertson's last game until December as a niggling foot problem defied diagnosis and treatment.

We finished off the month with a 2-1 win over Colchester that saw Adam Boyd watched by Mick McCarthy; cue much speculation that never turned into anything more. One player was on his way though; Ryan McCann had never really broken through into the first team squad and was allowed to return to Scotland and joined St. Johnstone. A mixed start to the season then; but things looked pretty bright for Pools.