This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the
No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
Welsh wizard: Eifion Williams won a call-up to the Wales squad. Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger John Mason, from poolstalk.blogspot.co.uk,
selects Hartlepool's five best No9s… and one to forget!
5. Richie Barker (2007-09)
This big centre-forward was brave in the air and always a handful
for defenders. Richie was stocky in size but his eye for goal meant
he was able to hit the ground running, even though he stepped up a
level when he arrived from Mansfield in 2007. Now plying his trade
as a manager for fellow League One club Bury, it has come as no
surprise to see his passion for the game spill over into
coaching.
4. Eifion Williams (2002-07)
Once this player put on a Pools shirt, you knew he meant business.
Having scored two goals in a memorable debut, there was no stopping
him. Finishing as top goalscorer for two seasons in a row, his
achievement was even more impressive considering he spent a lot of
his time on the right wing, under manager Neale Cooper. Eventually
he earned himself a call-up to play for Wales under manager Mark
Hughes, but unfortunately was forced to withdraw from the squad
with injury. I'm sure he would have been as effective for his
country as he was for his club.
3. Joel Porter (2003-09)
The Aussie from Adelaide, Porter was not an instant success at the
club. Taking his time to settle, he only managed a handful of goals
for Pools in his first season. However, one of those goals happened
to be in the play-off semi-final against Bristol City in 2004.
Porter never looked back after this and started to notch up goals
for fun. However, a long-term knee injury caught up with him and in
the end he was released early.
2. Joe Allon (1988-91 & 1995-98)
Geordie striker Allon was joint top scorer at the club in 1989-90
with 17 goals, which he followed up with 35 the next season,
helping the club to promotion and breaking the club record for the
most goals ever scored in one season. Still holding the record
today for that terrific achievement, his immense scoring talent
caught the eye of Chelsea, who signed him in 1991. Failing to make
an impact there, he eventually returned to his beloved Pools where
he finished twice more as top scorer at the club.
1. Bob Newton (1977-82 & 1985-86)
Recognised as one of the club's most prolific strikers ever,
Newton propelled his way into the club's record books by scoring 48
goals in just 150 appearances. Voted player of the 1980s by Pools
fans, he was a gentleman on and off the field and since retirement
has been involved with a number of charitable causes, making him an
iconic figure at Victoria Park.
And the worst...
Colin Nish (2011-present)
Unfortunately for this 6ft 3in Scottish giant, he has been
unimpressive following his arrival from Hibernian last summer. With
Nish not using his special attributes of height and strength to
score goals, fans have been left feeling disgruntled and
disillusioned. Time will tell whether he can turn his time at Pools
around.
Follow John on Twitter @johnmason_29