Hartlepool’s tweet comes back to haunt them as they delete their post after a suffering an FA Cup upset to Gainsborough.
The National League side uploaded a post following the First Round Proper draw on Monday, with the caption: “We will face Accrington Stanley in the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup, subject to tomorrow’s replay against Gainsborough Trinity.”
The picture that went with it failed to include Gainsborough’s name, with it simply reading “HARTLEPOOL UNITED V ACCRINGTON STANLEY – FIRST ROUND WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 1ST”
But Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough had the last laugh, as they went on to beat Hartlepool 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Hartlepool’s post caught the attention of Gainsborough, who replied: “We can confirm that this fixture is actually Gainsborough Trinity vs Accrington Stanley in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper 🏆”
That got over 4,400 likes, and because they had shared Hartlepool’s post, it subsequently went on to get over 350,000 views and a huge amount of backlash and mockery, the Hartlepool admin took their post down.
Huge thank you to whoever it was in Hartlepool United’s media department for this tweet, and the part they subsequently played in @GainsTrinityFC’s team talk tonight. 👍
Motivated the lads and made it harder for your own players. pic.twitter.com/Y7jLxjfCIr
— Andrew (@andrew_jw89) October 14, 2025
Cringe making stuff. The Chairman says I have no connection with the club or I would apologise on its behalf !!
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) October 14, 2025
Easy to criticise absolutely everything at the moment and I maintain that there are lots of good people at Pools doing their best in difficult circumstances. But this was tone deaf, no surprise to see Gainsborough, outstanding tonight, having the last laugh. https://t.co/raMqYTmNkz
— Robbie Stelling (@StellingRobbie) October 14, 2025
As @CllrMattBoles said on BBC Sounds this morning- the motivation was provided to the team.
Credit to Russ Wilcox and his staff. To come from tier 3 of non league and reach at least round 1 2 years running is a brilliant achievement. https://t.co/5TZU03rU7W
— Rob Makepeace (@rob_makepeace) October 14, 2025
😂
— Matt Uggla (@matt_uggla) October 14, 2025
Hartlepool’s humiliating 3-1 defeat marked a third consecutive year failing to reach the first round proper. A brace from Fraser Preston, and Sisa Tuntulwana also adding his name to the scoresheet, made it a comfortable performance for Gainsborough.
Luke Charman netted a late consolation for Pools, and it comes off the back of the recent sacking of manager Simon Grayson.
There was a lack of fight and quality under interim boss Nicky Featherstone, only further frustrating fans with the the team lacking confidence, facing a chaotic season unless they can appoint a new manager who can seriously revitalise the squad.
Fraser Preston bagged a brace for @GainsTrinityFC tonight – including this stunning free-kick – to send the club through to the #EmiratesFACup First Round Proper 🎯pic.twitter.com/lP29VOVrje
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 14, 2025
“I’m disappointed, massively disappointed,” interim boss Featherstone said to The Red Radio.
“I’m disappointed in terms of the performance, and obviously going out of the FA Cup. I’m absolutely gutted with how that’s gone, I thought we were in a really good place before the game. The lads seemed up for it and they responded really well to me yesterday (Monday). I’m really disappointed, but all we can do is go again on Thursday, work hard and try and get a result on Saturday (against Sutton).
“It wasn’t ideal preparation. There’s a reason why we’ve had a change of manager, we’ve not won in a long time now. It’s not going to change overnight, but all you can do in these situations is get back on the training ground and work hard to try and turn it around.
“I’m here to help the football club in whatever role they ask me to be in. I’ve been here for a long time, I love the club so, for me, it’s just about helping the club.
“They’re a fragile group at the minute, results show that. We’re not dealing with setbacks very well. I thought we started the game really positively, the one positive tonight was Kian Foreman, I thought for 55, 60 minutes he was excellent; I’m really pleased for him, to make his first start. I don’t think we were good enough in both boxes, I don’t think we worked their keeper enough. I think we got in a load of decent areas but we didn’t really get into that position where we get a shot or a cross off. Fair play to Gainsborough, I thought defensively they put their bodies on the line and made it really difficult for us.”
Hartlepool’s tweet comes back to haunt them as they delete their post after upset to Gainsborough, this is how Twitter users responded…
@JWheelhouse_01: Credit to you guys. Came and showed us up big time and wishing you all the best for the next round! Some cracking finishes and having listened to the interview with your CEO the other day, seems like you have good people at your club. Many Pools fans will feel v envious 😢
@nonleaguenext: They did the team talk for you 😂😂😂
@HUST_1908: Fair play – embarrassing that our club ever tweeted that. Best of luck in the next round, you earned it. 👏
@TimWorth14: Congratulations, best of luck in the next round, and for the rest of the season ahead. A very good side who absolutely battered us tonight, and it looked like you were in 3rd gear too. We might play you in the league next season at this rate 🤦🏻♂️👏🏻👏🏻
@michaelweirhufc: Well played. I think the polls tweet was more naivity than arrogance, but no doubt that it played into your hands regardless
@jordrich97: Saw this coming a mile off 😂 a sad indictment as to how our Club operates these days – congratulations to you lot.. 👏
@MbwLdurham: What a utter disgrace and embarrassment that was tonight absolute joke, I keep thinking w can’t sink lower, my god you lot always find a way, by way Dickman get rid absolute fraud took no responsibility tonight never showed his face and he is number 2
@rythered1988: Listen here Raj, this town has fuck all. It’s run down, a lot of people are financially struggling and the town is in disrepair. 1000’s of people fork out what they have to attend the games and you repay the loyalist fans out there with this shit? Get out!
@rythered1988: We deserved this humiliating tweet. Appalling from the club to publish the fixture ahead of time/embarrassing defeat. Raj out!!!
@MbwLdurham: @Official_HUFC I feel in a way for Fev, thrown in at the deep end one days training and told to sort out a team for a replay, which fucking idiot at this club thought it was a good idea to sack Grayson when we had a replay coming up with in a couple of days, absolutely clueless.
@mjrobson75: Our club is an absolute joke and disgrace at the moment. Gainsborough are obviously a far better team and club and I wish you all the best for the rest of the season.
@durhamchris1983: over 30 years watching pools, that is about as bad as it gets tonight. Worse than when they lost at home to Blyth Spartans @Official_HUFC
@paulnorton33: No more than we deserve, we are an embarrassment of a football club. Congratulations on a well deserved win, no excuses you were superb
@PBut03: As a Middlesbrough born Boro fan, living in Hartlepool for the last 10 years & always will remember what Pools did for Boro back in the 80s, it is absolutely shocking the state Pools are in atm. I can’t get my head around the Grayson sacking, played some good football under him
@will_stanser: Shit housing at its best 😂 love it lads!!
The Hartlepool admin pic.twitter.com/0OiZaDpXII
— Gavin Caney (@GavinCaney) October 14, 2025
