Hartlepool United have a real chance to get into the playoffs this season, Dave Challinor is doing a fantastic job and Pools are playing some really good football.
The National League is not where Pools would like to be and the players are doing everything right to get out of it this season.
This will be Pools' third season in the fifth tier and it is a far cry from where the team was in the 2004/2005 where Hartlepool United nearly got into the Championship.
Adam Boyd, Ritchie Humphreys, Micky Barron and co. helped Hartlepool to a sixth place finish in the regular season in League One - firing them into the play offs.
This season will hopefully follow the same path with only two teams promoted and just the one team going up into League Two automatically.
Tranmere Rovers were the side in the way of Hartlepool's playoff final path and Adam Boyd scored two in the first leg at Victoria Park.
The return leg at Prenton Park wasn't as straight forward, Ryan Taylor and David Beresford both scored to make it level.
So, the match turned to penalties but Greek shotstopper Dimitros Konstantopoulos saved two spot kicks to send Pools into the final.
Sheffield Wednesday beat Brentford in the other playoff semi-final and they would meet Hartlepool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Not long after this match Hartlepool manager, the late Neale Cooper, left the club due to personal and family reasons and Martin Scott took over as gaffer ahead of the final.
In a packed arena of 59,808, many of those Hartlepool fans travelling down for a historic day and to hopefully see their team in the Championship, the stage was set.
Against a Sheffield Wednesday side that featured the likes of Glenn Whelan, Alex Bruce and Chris Brunt all who went to have great careers in the top flight.
Jon-Paul McGovern opened the scoring just before halftime for the Owls, but lot long after that Efion Williams (who replaced Thomas Butler 31 minutes in) equalised.
There was not another goal until Hartlepool United took the lead at 71 minutes through Jon Daly and it was almost there for Pools. They were almost in the second tier of English football.
But, it wasn't to be and in the 81st minute Chris Westwood was sent off after a last man challenge and although it was outside of the box - the referee deemed it was inside and the penalty was given.
Steven MacLean converted from spot and Sheffield Wednesday were level.
The game went on to extra-time and Hartlepool were desperate to snatch a winner but with being a man down it was too hard of a task.
Whelan and Drew Talbort scored in the 94th and 120nd minutes to make it 4-2 to Wednesday after extra time.
Hartlepool United could not get over that final hurdle but it takes nothing away from the hard work that went on that season and even getting there was massive achievement.
Let's hope that Pools this season can get into the playoffs and do one better win at Wembley and get back into the Football League where they belong.
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