Pools offer to play derby fundraiser at Darlington Arena

The clubs have been regular and fierce rivals over the years, although two divisions now separate the sides and they have not met since 2007.

But Pools have made an approach to the Quakers to set up a friendly between the sides early next month, with all monies going towards the Quakers' survival fund.

"We'd be delighted to send a team over there and play a friendly to hopefully help them raise some funds," said Pools' chief executive Russ Green.

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"Clearly we have a great rivalry on the pitch with Darlington but I think that rivalry is healthy in sport so there is no way we want to see them struggling or going out of business.

"We just thought it would be a nice gesture to offer to send a squad over there and hopefully the game will attract a good crowd.

"We're just hoping it's possible that we can organise something if they think it will help so we're waiting to hear back from them."

The 170th - and last - meeting ended in a 3-0 win for Pools in March 2007 in front of a crowd of 9,987 , including 3,750 travelling fans.

It is the only derby game to have taken place at The Northern Echo Arena.

Whether County Durham police would give the friendly game approval remains to be seen, but supporters of both clubs welcomed the plan.

Pauline McSweeney, secretary of the Hartlepool United supporters' association said: "It's a great idea. We've not played each other for a few years now and the rivalry has always been there.

"They are still our local rivals and no-one wants to see them go out of business. We love to hate them, but would hate to see them go.

"They are still the first score we look for, and if we have lost 2-0 then it's always easier if they have lost 3-0.

"We play Carlisle at the weekend and some think that is a derby game - it's not, there's no history between the teams compared to us and Darlington.

"I went to Darlington to see the fund-raising game in 2003 when Neale Cooper played in it, and, of course, there's happy memories of winning there last time.''

Darlington supporters' club secretary Karen Glencross hopes that the camaraderie between the various sets of supporters from around the country who converged on the Arena for Saturday's game with Fleetwood Town would be repeated if the friendly was given the go-ahead.

"It's a nice gesture from Hartlepool,'' she said.

"I'm not sure about the policing costs and the potential trouble so we have to keep that in the back of our minds, but what is nice about it is that we haven't had the opportunity to play Hartlepool for a few years because we haven't been in the same division.

"I saw a few Hartlepool shirts in the Corner Bar at the game on Saturday and everybody was fine. It was a really nice atmosphere in there.

"There were loads of different shirts there, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland, and it was nice to see. I think if we could keep that kind atmosphere if we play Hartlepool it would great.

"If the game is played you want it to be a positive experience for everybody so that everyone gets the most out of it.

"I also saw loads of Darlington supporters that I hadn't seen for donkeys' years. People had come back which was nice, the crisis has brought people back to the club."

Pools, whose chairman Ken Hodcroft was on BBC Late Kick-off last night discussing football finances, last week offered to allow some fringe players to join Quakers on loan to bolster their squad before the Conference ruled the club could not sign anyone.

Pools were also willing to send groundstaff and equipment to the Arena on Friday when it emerged that the Quakers had trouble with their mower ahead of the game with Fleetwood.

"Football is a big family and we have to stick together, especially when it's a local club so we will do anything we can to help," added Green.