“Middlesbrough and Hartlepool have met only twice competitively, yet are 15 miles apart by road. Are there any lesser-spotted derbies involving two teams who are so close geographically?” asks Adrian Burns.
Middlesbrough and Hartlepool played each other in a two-legged Littlewoods (née League) Cup tie in 1986-87. A 1-1 draw at Victoria Park was followed by a 2-0 win for Boro at Ayresome Park, a match that included a cracking goal from future England winger and qualified solicitor Stuart Ripley. (Ten days earlier, Boro had played their first league game at Hartlepool’s ground due to…
