Hartlepool United and Worthing will meet for the first time in their history when they face each other at Victoria Park in the Enterprise National League on Saturday. (12:30pm KO)
The opposition:
Worthing are enjoying their first-ever National League campaign in their 140-year history after topping the National League South last season – a third promotion in 10 years.
The Rebels are on a three-game unbeaten streak in the league after beating Hornchurch 1-0 last time out, following on from back-to-back 2-2 draws against Barrow and AFC Fylde.
The West Sussex side currently sit in 13th position on 11 points after eight league matches (three wins, two draws, three losses). In that time, Worthing have scored and conceded the same number of goals – 14 – with right winger Razzaq Coleman De-Graft their top scorer on four goals.
Manager Adam Hinshelwood returned to the club in 2025 after a spell at York City, where he led the Minstermen to a second-place finish in the National League, having steered the side away from relegation the season before.
Club Information:
Nickname: The Rebels
Founded: 1886 (140 years ago)
Ground: Sussex Transport Community Stadium
Owner: George Dowell MBE
Last season: National League South (1st of 24)
Pools:
Lee Clark’s side, sitting in 16th on nine points, suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Altrincham on Wednesday night.
Tom Crawford’s late winner secured three points for the hosts after Jamie Miley had equalised with a header just before the break. Pools finished the game with 10 men when captain Jack Hunter received a second yellow card midway into the second period.
Clark’s team will hope to make it consecutive victories at home after beating Woking 1-0 last time out at Victoria Park.
Worthing will be the fourth side to make the trip to the Vic this season, with Pools winning two of their three home matches so far this term.
Team news:
Neo Eccleston remains out as he serves the final match of his two-game suspension. Fellow defender Jack Hunter will also miss the fixture after picking up a red card against Altrincham.
Max Merrick, Max Kouogun and Corey McKeown remain out, while Owen Hampson and Luke Charman continue to recover from their long-term injuries.
