1965–66 Hartlepools United F.C. season

The club was a perennial struggler and had repeatedly had to apply for re-election to the Football League, having finished in the bottom two of the Fourth Division five times in the past six seasons. After sacking Geoff Twentyman, the Board appointed the 30-year-old Brian Clough[1] in October 1965 to his first managerial role.[2] He accepted the job and immediately asked former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Peter Taylor (then managing non-League Burton Albion) to join him as his assistant.[3] Teenage midfielder John McGovern joined the club after Taylor scouted him at Central Park.[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  WAL Kenny Simpkins — GK  ENG Les Green — GK  ENG John Small — DF  ENG Brian Drysdale — DF  ENG Eric Harrison — DF  ENG Stan Storton — DF  SCO Brian Grant — DF  ENG Johnny Gill — DF  NIR Billy Marshall — DF  WAL Alan Fox — DF  ENG Tony Parry — DF  SCO Bobby McLeod — MF  ENG Barry Ashworth

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Cliff Wright — MF  IRL Amby Fogarty — MF  SCO Jimmy Cooper — MF  SCO Willie Bradley — MF  ENG John Bates — MF  ENG Bobby Brass — MF  SCO Hughie Hamilton — MF  SCO John McGovern — FW  ENG Jimmy Mulvaney — FW  ENG Ernie Phythian — FW  ENG Peter Thompson — FW  SCO Willie McPheat — FW  ENG Ally Murray — FW  ENG Joe Livingstone