Wikipedia

Hartlepool United F.C. Women

Hartlepool United Women Football Club are an English women's football club affiliated with Hartlepool United F.C. and based in Wolviston, County Durham. They are currently members of the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern Division, the sixth tier of the English women's football league system.

Hartlepool United Women F.C.
Full nameHartlepool United Women Football Club
NicknamePools
Founded2015
GroundMetcalfe Park, Wolviston
ManagerBen Garrity
LeagueNorth East Regional Women's Football League Northern Division
2025–2610th in NERWFL Northern Division
Websitehttps://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/teams/women/

The club were formed in September 2015 and won the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern division in their first year. They achieved back-to-back promotions, defeating Sheffield Wednesday in a play-off final. For the following seasons, Pools would fare well at the top of the fifth tier but were relegated in 2022. Hartlepool would bounce back immediately to the fifth tier after a successful promotion application, before being relegated the following season.

History

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In 2015, a Hartlepool United Ladies team was launched.[1] In their first season, they were crowned Durham FA Women's League 1 Champions and won promotion to the North East Regional Women's Football League Northern division, the sixth tier of women's football in England.[2] They also won the Durham FA League Cup, defeating Bishop Auckland 3–1 in the final.[3]

Hartlepool enjoyed an equally successful second season as the side reached the first round proper of the Women's FA Cup for the first time, narrowly losing to local rivals Middlesbrough 1–0.[4] They also made it back-to-back promotions, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 in the league's play-off promotion final.[5] Pools adapted to life in the fifth tier well and finished third in the 2017–18 season[6] and runners-up in the 2018–19 season.[7]

The team was twice denied the opportunity to gain promotion to the FA Women's National League in the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. In the 2019–20 season, Hartlepool were in third position when the season was cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had the highest points-per-game record, having played fewer games than the teams above them.[8] However, a decision was made by the FA to have no promotion and relegation for tiers three to seven of women's football.[9]

In the 2020–21 season, despite leading the division before the season was cancelled and having the highest points-per-game in the division,[10] Hartlepool decided not to apply for promotion and third placed team Alnwick Town made a successful application to take the promotion spot.[11]

In the following season, Hartlepool were relegated from the Premier division having finished in tenth place.[12] While the team enjoyed good form in the FA Cup, reaching the first round for a second time where they were defeated by Leeds United,[13] the side won only four of their twenty league games. After finishing third in the 2022–23 season, Pools were granted promotion following a successful application.[14] Towards the end of the 2023–24 season, Matt Gatiss was named as the club's new manager.[15] Twelve days after Gatiss' appointment, the club were relegated on the final day of the season.[16] At the end of the 2023–24 season, it was announced that Hartlepool would no longer play home games at the Grayfields and would instead move to Metcalfe Park.[17]

In June 2026, Hartlepool were initially relegated from the NERWFL Northern Division,[18] having finished tenth in the 2025–26 season.[19] This decision was later overturned with the club taking the place of Berwick Rangers.[20]

Recent seasons

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Statistics from the previous decade.[21]

Year League Level Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position FA Cup
2016–17 NERWFL Northern 6 16 12 1 3 62 16 46 37 2nd of 9 R1
2017–18 NERWFL Premier 5 16 11 1 4 73 27 46 34 3rd of 9 QR3[a]
2018–19 NERWFL Premier 5 18 14 1 3 82 34 48 43 2nd of 10 QR2
2019–20 NERWFL Premier 5 7 6 0 1 30 11 19 18 3rd of 9[b] QR3
2020–21 NERWFL Premier 5 6 4 2 0 27 14 13 14 1st of 10[c] Extra preliminary
2021–22 NERWFL Premier 5 20 4 2 14 32 63 −31 14 10th of 11 R1
2022–23 NERWFL Northern 6 22 13 3 6 73 32 41 42 3rd of 12[d] QR1
2023–24 NERWFL Premier 5 22 3 2 17 26 85 −59 11 11th of 12 QR3
2024–25 NERWFL Northern 6 22 6 5 11 37 58 −21 23 9th of 12 QR1
2025–26 NERWFL Northern 6 20 4 1 15 29 63 −34 13 10th of 11[e] QR2

Players

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As of 14 September 2025[23]

Current squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Jess Wilson
3 DF  ENG Emily Booth
4 DF  ENG Maddy Hillyer
5 DF  ENG Charlie Geary
6 MF  ENG Evie Smith
7 MF  ENG Poppy Todd
8 MF  ENG Anya Geary
9 MF  ENG Grace Raw
10 FW  WAL Linsey Mochan
11 MF  ENG Morgan Johnson
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF  ENG Chelsea Basnett
14 MF  ENG Maddy Gray
15 DF  ENG Emily Stuart
17 DF  ENG Aimee May
18 MF  ENG Olivia Bell
19 MF  ENG Abi Cope
21 MF  ENG Millie Simon
23 DF  ENG Katie Robinson
31 GK  ENG Shannon Schofield

Managers

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As of 20 April 2026.
NameNationalityFromToHonoursNotes
Andy Stuart  England 13 September 2015 20 May 2018 Durham FA Women's League One: 2015–16
Durham FA League Cup: 2015–16
NERWFL Northern League play-off winners: 2017		 [24]
Craig Devon  England 24 May 2018 15 February 2019 - [25][26]
Jonathan Gibbon-Hayes  England 15 February 2019 17 March 2021 - [26][27]
Chris Murphy  England 27 April 2021 1 July 2022 - [28][29]
Craig Bage  England 24 July 2022 10 December 2023 NERWFL Northern League Promoted: 2022–23 [30]
Andy Stuart (caretaker)  England 14 January 2024 16 May 2024 -
Matt Gatiss  England 16 May 2024 25 July 2024 - [15]
Alex Curl  England 25 July 2024 20 December 2024 - [31]
Gareth Horwood  England 15 January 2025 2 November 2025 - [32]
Ben Garrity  England 9 November 2025 Present -

Records and statistics

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Club records

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As of the end of the 2025–26 season

  • Highest league finish: 2nd in NERWFL Premier, 2018–19
  • List of seasons spent at level 5 of the women's football league system: 6
  • List of seasons spent at level 6 of the women's football league system: 4
  • List of seasons spent at level 7 of the women's football league system: 1

Most appearances

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As of the end of the 2025–26 season

Rank Player Apps Goals Career
1 Emily Stuart 187 13 2016–
2 Jade Pye 134 41 2015–24
3 Justine Robinson 118 81 2015–23
4 Sarah Bartlett 87 5 2015–21
5 Caitlin Bates 83 77 2015–20, 2020–21, 2024, 2026–

Most goals

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As of the end of the 2025–26 season

Rank Player Apps Goals Career
1 Justine Robinson 118 81 2015–23
2 Caitlin Bates 83 77 2015–20, 2020–21, 2024, 2026–
3 Robyn Foster 65 51 2019–24
4 Jess Dawson 62 42 2016–19, 2021–22
5 Jade Pye 134 41 2015–24

Honours

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League

Cup

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Hartlepool United won the game 3–1 before being disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.[22]
  2. ↑ The 2019–20 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league season had no promoted clubs.[9]
  3. ↑ The 2020–21 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hartlepool opted not to apply for promotion with the allocated promotion spot instead going to Alnwick Town.[10]
  4. ↑ Hartlepool were granted promotion following a successful application.
  5. ↑ Hartlepool were initially relegated before being granted a reprieve.

References

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  1. ↑ "Hartlepool United set up women's team". BBC Sport. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Hartlepool United Ladies are crowned Durham FA Women's League 1 Champions". Hartlepool Mail. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Hartlepool United v Bishop Auckland Girls". In The Mad Crowd. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "'Come over and support them' – the inside track on Hartlepool United Women's team ahead of FA Cup first round clash with Leeds United". Hartlepool Mail. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Hartlepool United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1: Pools Ladies win promotion play-off". Hartlepool Mail. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier". The FA. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier". The FA. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier". The FA. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  9. 1 2 "All English football below National League ended with results expunged". Express and star. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  10. 1 2 "North East Regional Womens Football League - Premier". The FA. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "We Are Going Up". Twitter. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Joe Ramage (30 May 2022). "Hartlepool United Women relegated from North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Whites Progress In The FA Cup!". Leeds United FC. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Pools Ladies Promoted!". Hartlepool United FC. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Matt Gatiss appointed Women's manager". Hartlepool United FC. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Stelling, Robbie (28 May 2024). "Hartlepool United Women relegated following heartbreaking final day defeat to Sunderland West End". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Pools Women move to Metcalfe Park". Hartlepool United FC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Women's football pyramid club allocations confirmed for 2026-27". The FA. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "North East Regional Womens Football League". The FA. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Happy Monday! Here's a look at our opponents for next season". X. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Hartlepool United Women's Football Club". InTheMadCrowd. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "West Women to play Farsley Celtic in Women's FA Cup". West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Hartlepool United Women FC First". The FA. 14 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "#Pools Ladies Team are on the look out for a new Manager after Andy Stuart decided to step down at the end of the current season". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  25. ↑ ""It's a great challenge and an exciting role so I just want to get my teeth in to it now." Craig Devon is the new Manager of Hartlepool United Ladies - and he can't wait to get started". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  26. 1 2 "#Pools Women's Team have parted company with boss Craig Devon by mutual consent and appointed a new management team for the rest of the season". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "Club statement". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "HUWFC are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Murphy as our new first-team manager". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "HUWFC are looking for a new first-team manager for the 2022-23 season. We ask that all applicants have a minimum FA Level 2 coaching qualification". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Craig Bage as our new first team manager. Craig has been with the club since July 2020, working as co-manager of our now U18 side and we look forward to working with him this season". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "Club Statement from Matt Gatiss". Facebook. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Gareth Horwood appointed Women's Head Coach". Hartlepool United FC. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  33. 1 2 3 "Hartlepool United Women's Football Club". In The Mad Crowd. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
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