Phil Dunn catches up with one of the Club's Cult Heroes in the shape of solid defender Paul Haigh.

For the start of the 1987-88 season, Pools Rookie Manager John Bird decided that the best way to success was to bolster the previous campaign's shaky defence and work very firmly on the policy that if we didn't concede goals, then we wouldn't lose matches.

With that in mind, Bird's first signing of the summer was the experienced ex Hull City and Carlisle United defender Paul Haigh.

"I was released by Carlisle and it was a bit of a shock to be honest," says Haigh from his Tyneside base.

"I think at the time Carlisle were in some sort of financial trouble - probably nothing like the amounts that would float around nowadays, but back then it was decided that the club's so-called high-earners like myself, Jackie Ashurst and Wes Saunders would be released. I could have gone to York City or back home to Scarborough but John Bird did a real selling job on Hartlepool so I thought why not?"

Despite a slightly shaky start to the season, once Pools had their first victory under their belts (a 3-1 away win at Haigh's old club, Carlisle), things took a turn for the better.

"We were certainly doing quite well. I remember us winning 5 or 6 in a row. We had some good players like Brian Honour, Alan Shoulder and Paul Baker so there were plenty of goals in the side. I think we were probably doing better than any Pools side had done for a few years."

Indeed in that season Pools made a rare foray into the Third Round of the FA Cup, with Haigh starring in a very close match against First Division Luton at The Vic.

"I remember the Luton game well. It was a typical Hartlepool winter's day; bright and breezy! We played our hearts out against a good side who had the likes of Steve Foster and Mark Stein out there. I remember Carrsy (Pools 'keeper Kevin Carr) let a soft one in and somehow we were out."

Just a few weeks later though, and Pools were winning one of the most famous games in the Club's recent history.

"That famous night at Sunderland eh? It was a good one, John Smart used to come into the dressing room before every game and it was no different at Roker Park. He reckoned he knew we would beat them, and offered a lump of cash to the Players Pool if we did. If you talk to Brian Honour now he'd still tell you he meant to score direct from that corner! We were really chuffed afterwards 'cos Smarty's money basically paid for our end-of-season holiday to Spain!"

Haigh's presence in that Pools defence alongside Keith Nobbs and Rob McKinnon as a no-nonsense hard-man rapidly began to make an impact with the Victoria Ground faithful, and the sight of the shaven-headed toothless hero charging towards you would have been enough to put many a Fourth Division striker on his heels.

A mid-table finish for Pools was certainly something to build on, and at the start of the 1988-89 season following the cracking 6-0 victory over Manchester United in a pre-season friendly, Bird's Pools set off like a train with five wins from the first six matches and second place in the table going into October.

Then John Bird left for York, taking Alan Little with him.

"It was a real blow. Bob Moncur came in and brought Pop Robson along. I'd played with Pop at Carlisle. The pair called me in and said they wanted to build the new team around the likes of me, and the more experienced pros. Moncur reckoned that just finishing mid-table as Birdy's side had shouldn't be labelled a success. I thought that was a bit wrong seeing as they'd finished in the bottom four quite a few times in the early eighties!"

Sadly Moncur's start as Pools Manager was not a good one, and it took some time before the new boss got his first point, but there was always the FA Cup...

"I recall we played Wigan at home. I jumped for the ball and landed heavily. When I got up I could barely walk and I knew pretty much straight away what had happened.

"Anyway, after the X-rays it was discovered that I'd broken two bones in my back. I had to retire there and then, and it was pretty daunting looking back. I had four kids to look after and a mortgage like everyone else."

So at the age of 30, Paul switched careers overnight to become the Independent Financial Advisor he is today.

"I'm 50 now so it's been two decades and although I really enjoy the job it's no substitute for football. We had some great times at Pools and I really enjoyed my time there. Obviously I've kept tabs on the club with my son Tom being on the books until last season. It's nice to see them having good times and I made some great friends there."

This feature first appeared in the Club's Matchday Programme 'A Century United'.