Hartlepool United supporters, perhaps more than almost any fanbase in the country, will be all too familiar with the feeling of frustration and disappointment when the footballing reality doesn't quite match up with the hopes, dreams and expectations that greet the dawn of a new campaign. Indeed, long-suffering Pools fans have watched their team finish in the top half of the table just three times in the last 17 campaigns - 12th in 2020, 4th in 2021 and 12th in 2024. Supporters have seen their side overcome by injuries, off-field issues or questionable managerial appointments, while a lack of resources, willpower and, some of the time, talent within the squad has meant the Prestige Group Stadium has been the home of far more mid-table mediocrity or relegation battles than it has promotion pushes in the last couple of decades. Can the current squad defy the odds and help bring the good times back to the North East?