Ahead of the clash between FC Halifax Town and Hartlepool United on Saturday afternoon (22nd September), here’s a look at some of the players to have played a part for both The Shaymen and The Monkey Hangers…
Michael Duckworth – The current FC Halifax Town No.2 signed for The Shaymen just before the beginning of the 2017-18 season from Fleetwood Town. During last season, Duckworth made 18 appearances for the side as Halifax finished in 16th place in the National League.
However before his venture to West Yorkshire, Duckworth also had a spell with Saturday’s opponents. He initially joined Hartlepool on trial prior to the start of the 2013-14 season and impressed the managing staff so much, he earned a contract at the club. Duckworth spent three seasons at Victoria Park making 80 appearances for them, scoring three goals. He then went on to Fleetwood in 2016 as aforementioned and also had a loan spell at Morecambe during the 2016-17 season before turning out for The Shaymen still to this very day.
Phil Brown – The current Swindon Town boss enjoyed lengthy spells at both Halifax and Hartlepool during his playing days. Brown was a right back as a player and began his career with The Monkey Hangers in 1978. He spent seven years at Victoria Park where he made 217 appearances for the club, scoring eight times.
Then in 1985, Brown went directly from Hartlepool to Halifax. He played 135 games for The Shaymen in three years at The Shay, scoring a not too shabby 19 goals for the club from a full back position.
Albert Pape – Pape played as a centre forward during his career, a career that began in 1919 and continued throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. He played for fourteen clubs including Notts County, Manchester United, Fulham and of course Hartlepool and Halifax!
He first joined Hartlepool (then known as ‘Hartlepools United’) in 1929 spending one season there, scoring 21 goals for The Monkey Hangers in 35 games. The forward then went straight on to Halifax Town the following season. Coincidentally, Pape made his Shaymen debut against his former team Hartlepool, a game which Halifax won 3-1. Just like his spell in County Durham, Pape only spent one year at The Shay yet still managed 15 goals in 25 games.
Craig Midgley – Midgley spent his career as a striker, starting his career at nearby Bradford City in 1995. He struggled to make a real impression at his boyhood club during his three years there, making only 11 appearances for them (all substitute appearances), scoring one goal. He was shipped out on loan to Scarborough and Darlington while at The Bantams.
His first real opportunity came in 1998 when he joined Hartlepool. He played 86 times for them, scoring 18 goals in a three year spell. Following his spell at The Pools, Midgley returned to West Yorkshire to join Halifax. The striker spent five seasons at The Shay, where he made 161 appearances for The Shaymen, scoring 32 times.
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