The Poolie Bunker

l A specially-organised train has been arranged to leave Hartlepool station at 11.28am. It will travel direct to Darlington, and is expected to arrive at noon.
also the usual scheduled train leaves Hartlepool at 10.45am, switches at Thornaby and then arrives in Darlington at 11.54am.


A CONVOY of 31 coaches packed with Pools fans is to descend on Darlington this Sunday.
Almost 4,000 Hartlepool United supporters are travelling to the eagerly anticipated derby match against the Quakers.
And thousands of them will be boarding coaches that will be given a police escort from the town's Victoria Park at 11am, directly to Darlington's 96.6 TFM Stadium.
There will be two traffic cars, one at the front and one at the back of the huge convoy, and several marked motorcycles in between.
Chief Inspector Martin Campbell, from Hartlepool Police, said: "We have been in touch with the supporters' association and other organisers and we are aware that 31 are going through to Darlington.
"We have been in contact with them and will be providing these coaches with a police escort straight to the ground. It's a large number and we want to keep them altogether to get them to the ground safely.
He added: "There are a lot of supporters going to encourage Hartlepool on Sunday and we want them to get there safely and in good time.
"It's a vital match for Pools and we really want people to enjoy the day."
Durham Police also have plans up their sleeve once the fans reach their end, with an increased presence of officers expected.
Although thousands will be travelling on the organised coaches and being ushered straight into the ground, hundreds of others will be making their own way there.
Those travelling by car must park in Darlington's town centre car parks due to the limited number of spaces being taken up by season ticket holders at the ground.
These people, and those who will be travelling by train, then face a walk of more than a mile to the ground.
A spokesman for the Durham force said: "We expect there will be a full house, a 10,000 crowd, and we expect 3,000 to 4,000 of those will be Hartlepool fans.
"There will be a significant policing operation both around the ground and in the town centre to minimise disruption for local residents and for those who want to enjoy the day."
He added: "Any Hartlepool fans coming by car, we are advising them to use Darlington's town centre car parks because they are free on a Sunday. Also, it is resident-only parking in the streets near to the ground."

This was emailed to me.

theres a direct train back at 3.37

It's all right for some, isn't it? You don't seem to realise that not all of us live in Hartlepool.
Me and him will have to make our own way, all alone, and will probably get picked on by some bod with a truncheon

We don't live in Hartlepool, as you can gather from my 'name', but have 5 places on Mr Mads buses, just hope the car will be safe parked on the Marina all day!!

We don't live in Hartlepool, as you can gather from my 'name', but have 5 places on Mr Mads buses, just hope the car will be safe parked on the Marina all day!!

Yup, good plan.
Did think of doing that but it seemed easier in the end just to get on the train as it's only about 15 mins from Durham.
I just thought I'd have a moan

I don't suppose you thought of moving to Hartlepool eh??

Can you hear me grumbling about transport arrangements?? 'Cos I live in the wrong place??

No, you can't can you??

There's no doing with him since he bought that rickshaw

I think he is still in Worksop, he's just using the 'I'm in China' excuse to not spend any money actually going to see Pools anymore.