The 2026–27 season is the 109th season of competitive association football and eighth season in the National League played by Hartlepool United Football Club, a professional football club based in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. Their ninth-place finish in 2025–26 meant it will be their fourth successive season in the National League. In addition to participating in the National League, they will also compete in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and National League Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Background and pre-season
They had been relegated from the Football League for the first time in 2016–17 since joining in 1921. After four seasons in the National League, Hartlepool won the 2021 National League play-off final on penalties but were relegated back to the National League after two seasons at the end of the 2022–23 season. Hartlepool finished the 2025–26 season in 9th position, 13 points below the play-off positions. The 2026–27 season is Hartlepool's fourth successive season in the National League.
The 2025–26 season saw a change in ownership with American real estate developer Landon Smith purchasing the club on 31 December. This ended the near-eight year tenure of Raj Singh who had placed the club up for sale in April 2023. With three games of the season remaining, it was announced on 17 April 2026 that manager Nicky Featherstone would leave his role at the end of the season. Featherstone had been appointed in December 2025. On 14 May 2026, Lee Clark was appointed as the new head coach ahead of the 2026–27 campaign. On 14 June, he was joined by Adam Clayton as his assistant head coach who had previously played under Clark at Huddersfield Town. On 5 August, Jack Hunter was announced as the new club captain.
On 6 May, Hartlepool announced their retained list with the club releasing 13 players at the end of their contracts leaving four senior players under contract for the following season. Joe Aungiers, Adam Campbell, Matty Daly, Nathan Ferguson, Sam Folarin, Nick Hayes, Gavan Holohan, Danny Johnson, Vadaine Oliver, Louis Stephenson and Brad Walker were all released. The club also released top scorer Alex Reid and club captain Tom Parkes. Writing in the Hartlepool Mail, Richard Mennear described Hartlepool's retained list as "ruthless", adding "this season will be the biggest rebuild job yet. It has to be. And it should therefore, be a really exciting time for supporters."
Luke Charman, Jack Hunter, Adam Smith and Campbell Darcy signed new contracts to remain with the club. On 5 June, Jordan Hugill, who had previously had a successful loan spell with Hartlepool in 2015 became the club's first signing of the transfer window. Hugill had scored the winner against Exeter City in the penultimate match of the 2014–15 season which had kept Hartlepool in the Football League. The 34-year-old forward signed on a one-year deal from Rotherham United having had spells at several Championship clubs including Preston North End and Middlesbrough. Hartlepool would then sign three players in three days. On 9 June, Hartlepool signed Jack Nolan from recently relegated National League club Morecambe. The forward had scored 19 goals in the previous season. Then Hartlepool signed winger Brooklyn Ilunga from League Two winners Bromley. Next, Hartlepool signed winger Corey McKeown from Spennymoor Town.
On 25 June, Hartlepool signed midfielder Owen Hampson following his release from Sheffield United. They signed forward Chris Popov following his release from Leicester City on 27 June. Popov had played on loan at Morecambe during the second half of the previous season and had formed a partnership with fellow new signing Jack Nolan, scoring 26 goals combined.
On 27 June, Hartlepool announced the signing of forward Will Harris from FC Halifax Town. Harris had scored 22 goals in the previous National League campaign for FC Halifax. He had previously spent time on trial with Hartlepool in 2022. Writing in the Hartlepool Mail, Mark Carruthers reported that Hartlepool had fought off major competition from EFL and National League clubs for Harris' signature and described the move as "arguably their biggest signing of the summer". However, a dispute arose between FC Halifax and Hartlepool regarding the status of the player, with FC Halifax maintaining that they had triggered the option on Harris' contract before its expiration whereas Hartlepool believed this not to be the case and that he was a free agent. FC Halifax released a statement: "A one year option was exercised for an additional contract year, for which the player has been informed within the normal administrative process of the FA and importantly within the FA timescale for 2026."
On 28 June, they signed defender Charlie Penman from Brighton & Hove Albion. On 30 June, they signed 19-year-old forward Terry Bondo from Blackpool. On 2 July, they signed full-back Neo Eccleston from Huddersfield Town. On 14 July, full-back Liam Gibson was signed from Harrogate Town.
On 24 July, left back Cameron John, who had had a successful loan spell with the club in the following season signed following his release from York City. Over the next two days, Hartlepool signed two goalkeepers. Firstly, Max Merrick on loan from Chelsea and then Nathan Fisher on a free transfer from Middlesbrough.
The club announced it would participate in the National League Cup for the first time having decided not to in the previous season. Speaking to BBC Tees, Lee Clark said: "Obviously, the Club weren't in it last season and they had their reasons, but with the change around in the academy structure this year, with an Under-21 team coming into the Club and a full-time Loans Manager, we felt this was necessary."
Previewing the 2026–27 National League season in the Racing Post, Andrew Wilsher said: "Hartlepool are generally second-favourites for the title after a number of big signings, including ex-Halifax striker Will Harris, who had 22 goals last season, and winger Jack Nolan, who netted 19 times for Morecambe. However, there is a big question mark over new manager Lee Clark, who won just one of his nine games in charge of Rotherham this year, which was also his first stint in the dugout since 2022. Pools seem too big a risk at 11-2".
Pre-season friendlies On 1 June, Hartlepool announced pre-season fixtures against: Seaton Carew, Redcar Athletic, Spennymoor Town, Hebburn Town, Grimsby Town and Fleetwood Town.
Review August Hartlepool began their 2026–27 campaign with a 2–0 home win against recently relegated Barrow. Six players made their debut in the starting lineup. Two of these debutants scored the goals – Will Harris and Jack Nolan. They played their first National League Cup match the following Tuesday, and suffered a 10–0 defeat to Middlesbrough U21s, the worst defeat in the club's history. In order to comply with the cup's regulations, Hartlepool started four first-team players before substituting them in the first minute of the match. The Hartlepool team that played the remainder of the match consisted of a mixture of Academy and U21 players. The first away match of the season ended with a 1–0 victory at Aldershot Town. Debutant Corey McKeown scored the winning goal in the 69th minute, 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute, before Aldershot missed an 88th minute penalty. Hartlepool then suffered their first league defeat of the season, losing 2–1 away at Sutton United. They went 2–0 down after 27 minutes before pulling one goal back thanks to Corey McKeown's second goal in two games, but were unable to find an equaliser in the second half. They lost 1–0 at home to Eastleigh in the following match. Neo Eccleston was sent off for Hartlepool in the 46th minute after receiving two yellow cards. Hartlepool pushed for a winner but conceded in the 97th minute.
September On 1 September, they suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing 1–0 at FC Halifax Town. They ended their losing run thanks to a 1–0 home win against Woking with Chris Popov scoring his first Hartlepool goal. Returning to National League Cup action, Hartlepool lost 1–0 to Everton U21s.
Three further league defeats to Kidderminster Harriers, Altrincham, and Worthing followed. In the post-match press conference immediately after the 3–1 home defeat against Worthing, Lee Clark announced his resignation as head coach stating: "All I want to say is I resign from my position with immediate effect. I wanted to give this club and the fans something to be proud of, what they deserve. I haven't been able to do that unfortunately. I know what this club means, I said it at the start when I got the job. I was excited to take it and I wanted to be the man that got them back where they need to be and deserve to be. It hasn't worked out. You've heard the reaction of the supporters. I took a long time out of the game and I wasn’t going to be coming back and getting an atmosphere like that. It's not going to change and it's not nice for the family and friends to listen to that."
Coaches Adam Clayton and Gary Liddle took interim charge and oversaw a 4–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United in their first match which saw Hartlepool drop into the relegation zone. In the mid-week match, they lost 1–0 at home to Harrogate Town.
October On 1 October, former Tranmere Rovers manager Pete Wild was announced as the new manager. He took charge of his first game two days later but suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Tamworth with Jack Nolan missing a first half penalty, their ninth defeat in ten.
Players
First-team squad
Transfers
Transfers in Date Position Name From Fee 5 June 2026 FW Jordan Hugill Rotherham United Free 9 June 2026 MF Jack Nolan Morecambe Free 10 June 2026 DF Brooklyn Ilunga Bromley Free 11 June 2026 MF Corey McKeown Spennymoor Town Free 25 June 2026 MF Owen Hampson Sheffield United Free 27 June 2026 FW Chris Popov Leicester City Free 27 June 2026 FW Will Harris FC Halifax Town Free 28 June 2026 DF Charlie Penman Brighton & Hove Albion Free 30 June 2026 FW Terry Bondo Blackpool Free 2 July 2026 DF Neo Eccleston Huddersfield Town Free 14 July 2026 DF Liam Gibson Harrogate Town Free 24 July 2026 DF Cameron John York City Free 26 July 2026 GK Nathan Fisher Middlesbrough Free 29 September 2026 GK Max Thompson Newcastle United Free
Loans in Date Position Player From End date Ref 25 July 2026 GK Max Merrick Chelsea 30 June 2027 4 September 2026 MF Cole Deeming West Bromwich Albion 2 January 2027
Loans out Date Position Player To End date Ref 14 July 2026 FW Kian Foreman Hebburn Town 4 January 2027 18 July 2026 FW Josh Donaldson Hebburn Town 4 January 2027 30 July 2026 DF Campbell Darcy Spennymoor Town 4 September 2026 16 September 2026 DF Noah Gilbraith Guisborough Town 16 October 2026
Transfers out Date Position Name To Fee Ref 12 May 2026 MF Gavan Holohan Boston United Free 20 May 2026 DF Louis Stephenson Spennymoor Town Free 1 June 2026 FW Alex Reid Barrow Free 9 June 2026 GK Nick Hayes Aldershot Town Free 13 June 2026 MF Matty Daly Morecambe Free 16 June 2026 FW Sam Folarin Sutton United Free 23 June 2026 MF Nathan Ferguson Hornchurch Free 26 June 2026 DF Tom Parkes Tamworth Free 30 June 2026 FW Joe Aungiers Billingham Town Free 30 June 2026 FW Vadaine Oliver Free 9 July 2026 FW Adam Campbell South Shields Free 10 July 2026 FW Danny Johnson Spennymoor Town Free 15 August 2026 MF Brad Walker Darlington Free
Competitions
National League
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches On 10 July, Hartlepool's National League fixtures were released for the following season.
National League Cup
On 5 August, Hartlepool were drawn into Group C of the National League Cup.
Appearances and goals
Appearances and goals
Goalscorers RankNameNational LeagueFA CupOtherTotal1Will Harris30032Corey McKeown20023Jamie Miley1001Jack Nolan1001Chris Popov1001
Clean sheets RankNameNational LeagueFA CupOtherTotal1 Max Merrick 3 0 0 32 Nathan Fisher 1 0 0 1