sport news ON THE ROAD: Hartlepool dream of a Hollywood ending as Wrexham represent what ... trends now
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You probably know the good people of Hartlepool are nicknamed ‘Monkey Hangers’, but perhaps not why.
Legend has it the natives sentenced a monkey to death on the beach during the Napoleonic Wars, mistaking it for a French spy after it washed ashore following a shipwreck (in their defence, he was wearing a French Army uniform and they had never seen a Frenchman before).
Hartlepudlians embrace this eccentric story of theirs. Supporters wear tattoos of hanging monkeys and get their half-time pie and pint from The Hungry Monkey kiosk. The club’s mascot is H’Angus the Monkey and in 2002, Stuart Drummond, the call-centre worker inside that costume, ran for mayor promising free bananas for schoolchildren. He won and proved so popular, he was re-elected a further two times. Visitors to the Marina will find a statue of a monkey encouraging them to make a wish.
There are no prizes for guessing what Hartlepool fans are wishing for. Sitting in League Two’s relegation zone, the noose is tightening around their club’s neck, with Saturday’s draw at home to Leyton Orient leaving them four points from safety.
This isn’t monkey business to the supporters. This is serious. The town’s club is in danger of dropping out of the Football League at the same time that Wrexham seem set to enter it.
Hartlepool United sit 23rd in the League Two table, four points away from safety
Hartlepool manager John Askey is hoping to complete a historic run to keep his side up
Wrexham are relevant because for some at Victoria Park, they represent what
