Pools face a trip in to the unknown this weekend when they travel to Blue Square North outfit Fleetwood Town in FA Cup Round Two.

And we've been doing our homework on 'The Cod Army' to find out what Danny Wilson's men are up against on Saturday.

The Manager

Town parted company with previous boss Tony Greenwood at the end of September following a poor start to the new season. Greenwood had led the Club to three promotions in four years but paid the price for a sluggish start and elimination from the Setanta Shield.

Former Blackpool midfielder Mickey Mellon was appointed as his successor, with Steve Macauley named First Team Coach. Mellon has also recently added former Tranmere keeper Eric Nixon to his staff as Goalkeeping Coach.

Macauley in particular has links with Fleetwood having started his playing career with the Club. He was quickly picked up by Crewe who paid around £35,000 for his services - money well spent, as he went on to spend ten years with them and enjoyed a testimonial in 2003. He returned to Fleetwood at the end of his career and as a qualified physio did work on that side as well as with coaching. He's also employed at Fleetwood Hospital as an NHS Physio.

The post is Mellon's first foray in to management, though he has been involved with the Youth set-up at Burnley and is UEFA 'B' qualified.

The Ground

Fleetwood attracted a crowd of around 2,000 to Highbury Stadium for their cup replay against Leiston on Tuesday evening, though their league average is nearer the 1,000 mark with a capacity of around 4,500.

There has been plenty of development to the ground in recent times. The Percy Ronson Stand (named after Town's 60s legend) was built two years ago and usually houses away fans. At the final whistle of last season work began on the Highbury Stand (holds 550) and the Memorial Stand which is situated behind the goal and holds up to 2,000.

There is new perimeter fencing around the ground as well as Football League standard floodlights. They have also built a new bar, named Jim's Bar in tribute to the work done by Club President Jim Betmead during some more turbulent times.

The League

Town won away at Stafford Rangers on Saturday, a team who have just come down from the Blue Square Premier. Steve Bull is their boss, but the 2-1 win there was an indication of how well Mickey Mellon has turned things around.

At the time of writing, sitting 15^th in the Blue Square North is the highest position that Fleetwood have ever found themselves in.

The FA Cup

This is the first time ever that Fleetwood Town have played in Round Two of the FA Cup. They have been through to the First Round on several occasions though, most recently in 2006 when they were beaten 3-0 at Salisbury.

Mellon's first game in charge was the Third Qualifying round at Wakefield which Town won 3-0, before then beating Nantwich Town at home 4-3 in a mudbath at Highbury Stadium during which Andy Bell scored a hat-trick. Bell was also on target at they came through their First Round tie with Leiston on Tuesday to set up their clash with Pools.

Star Players

Town have a strong squad and there are a few players that Pools will have to look out for. Andy Bell is obviously in among the goals and has ten so far this season. Fleetwood pipped Witton Albion to the automatic promotion slot in the Unibond Premier last season - and then rubbed salt in the wounds by taking their 30-goal striker Adam Warlow. Skipper Jamie Milligan, formerly of Everton and Blackpool, has also been in good form while John Hills also made the short move from Bloomfield Road at the end of last season.

Fleetwood In The Community

Town now have an active junior set-up with around 150 youngsters playing in their Under 9s to Under 16s teams. They are also hoping to enter their Youth Team in to the Football Conference League next season. It's also planned to link up with the local College to allow their young players to be educated alongside their training regime. A family club, Fleetwood are an active part of the local community.

It's A Fact

Fleetwood play at Highbury Stadium on Highbury Avenue and wear red shirts with white sleeves and white socks - but there is no link to Arsenal at all. Back in the 1920s a local trawler company became one of the first sponsors of the club and they agreed to change from amber and black to the red and white colours of the trawler company. It wasn't until the 1930s when they moved to Highbury Stadium.