Hartlepool United have played in the lower leagues of England throughout their history and have had some very good players in that time.
But occasionally players with Premier League and even International caps have chosen to play for Hartlepool in their twilight years.
Here are five stars who have played for Hartlepool United in their later careers:
Marlon Harewood
A West Ham United and Nottingham Forest legend, Harewood has over 300 appearances int he top flight and may more in the Championship and even abroad in China and Finland.
At age 35, Harewood signed for Hartlepool in January 2014 after a sub par season with Bristol City and played regularly upfront across one and a half seasons.
He scored 6 goals in 58 appearances being an effective hold up forward and was released at the end of the 2014/15 season which Hartlepool avoided relegation.
Peter Beardsley
With 59 caps for England and many top flight appearances mainly with Newcastle and Liverpool but also for many more.
Beardsley returned to the North East from Fulham in 1998 at 37 and played 24 times scoring twice to help keep Pools in the Third Division in his one season at the club.
He played two games with Melbourne Knights in Australia before calling it a day at age 38.
Gordon Watson
'Flash' as he was affectionately known as played in the top flight with Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.
His later career was plagued with injuries playing just 27 league games across four seasons between 1997 and 2001.
Flash joined Pools in 2001 and scored 23 goals in 49 games across two seasons, earning promotion to the the Second Division in his final season before he retired at just 32.
Marco Gabiadinni
Known for his spells with Sunderland and Derby County in the Premier League, Gabbiadini was an effective striker for many years.
Scoring 226 goals in 670 games throughout his career, he joined Hartlepool in 2003 for his last season at 35.
He scored five goals in 15 games and helped Pools to the Second Division playoffs that year, which sadly they lost.
Nobby Solano
With 20 goals in 95 caps for Peru, Solano is one of the countries biggest footballers and he was a very popular figure during his time with Newcastle - where he played most of his football.
At 37, Solano joined League One Hartlepool in 2011, he played 14 times, scored two goals and helped Hartlepool to a respectable 13th place in the league.
Like the three players before him, Pools was his final club before his retirement at the end of the 2011/12 season.
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