Dale & Pools connections

Out of all the sides in the Football League, Dale have played Hartlepool more than any other. It had been Darlington up until their relegation from the Football League last season. The two sides have played each other 140 times. The first season in which the two sides were in different divisions saw the sides play each other twice in the FA Cup.

Both Dale and Pools were founder members of Division Three North back in 1921-22. It would appear that both sides were loathe to leave the division. We had a one season escape when they rejigged the divisions to become Division Three and Four, and Hartlepool had a one season escape when they were promoted back in 1967-68.

Dale Head of Youth Chris Beech had a very good spell as a footballer whilst with Hartlepool. He spent a couple of years with the Monkey Hangers, with a very good goalscoring ratio from midfield before departing to Huddersfield in a move which didn't please Pools supporters at the time. He later had an injury hit spell with Dale as a player before returning to take control of all youth development at the club after doing a similar job with League Two neighbours Bury.

Our very first game of this Millennium saw Dale travel to Victoria Park, and we were served up a classic in which we came out as the losing side in a five goal thriller. Hartlepool defender Chris Westwood made history as he went down as Dale's first goalscorer in the 21st century.

The last game between the two sides was another classic and one which will live long in the memory banks. With Pools chasing the League Two title, they brought an army of supporters with them to a sun drenched Spotland. Keith Hill's men proved to be too strong for Hartlepool but it was a challenge by Pool's Andrew Monkhouse on Glenn Murray which rightly earned him a red card, but not before Dale's John Doolan exacted a bit of revenge with a challenge bordering on GBH and just in case he felt he hadn't quite made his point, he chased Westwood down the tunnel for more fun and games.

This will be the first league game between the two sides outside of the basement division.

Played for both

Given the number of players that have featured for both clubs over the years, it's possible to put a joint Dale / Hartlepool XI together. Whether that side is any good or not, is down to your judgement. If you could suggest a better candidate, add your player as a reply to this story:

	1) Martin Hodge
2) Darrell Clarke	5) Andy Higgins	6) Martin Pemberton	3) Lee Todd
4) Chris Shuker	7) Chris Beech	8) Stephen Turnbull	11) Brian Barry-Murphy
	9) Kevin Kyle	10) Paul Connor
subs: Lance Key, Jason Peake, Sean Macauley, Gavin Strachan, Marcus Richardson

Last ten years

Head to head

Head to head at Spotland

2006-07

2002-03

2001-02

2000-01

1999-00

1998-99

1997-98

1996-97

1995-96

1994-95

1990-91

1989-90

1988-89

1987-88

1986-87

1985-86

1984-85

198384

1982-83

1981-82

1980-81

1979-80

1978-79

1977-78

1976-77

1975-76

1974-75

1973-74

1967-68

1966-67

1965-66

1964-65

1963-64

1962-63

1961-62

1960-61

1959-60

1958-59

1957-58

1956-57

1955-56

1954-55

1953-54

1952-53

1951-52

1960-51

1949-50

1947-48

1946-47

1938-39

1937-38

1936-37

1935-36

1934-35

1933-34

1932-33

1931-32

1930-31

1929-30

1928-29

1927-28

1926-27

1925-26

1924-25

1923-24

1922-23

1921-22