HE is the face who sold almost 6,000 season tickets.

And today, when Peter Hartley runs out at Victoria Park with his Hartlepool United teammates, the defender is looking forward to a sight - and atmosphere - to behold.

Pools meet Walsall at Victoria Park, their first League One game of the season in front of their new army of season ticket holders.

After crowds dropped as low as 2,300 last season, the club instigated an offer where if 4,000 season tickets were sold, they would cost £100.

In the end, they passed it with ease.

Hartlepool-born Hartley was used as on the club's promotional literature - posters, leaflets and flyers.

He made a big impact on the pitch last season, off it an equally grand one off it this summer.

"I've only been here two years and I think the last time there was a buzz around the club like there is now is from when we made the play-offs in 2005 and were promoted before that,'' admitted Hartley, one of many to sign a new deal in the summer to remain at the club.

"Playing in front of 6,000 at the Vic is a dream for me, I've not experienced it before as a player.

"To sell so many tickets is fantastic and maybe I need to sit down with Russ (Green, chief executive) and talk image rights - it was my picture on the poster and leaflets the club had printed up!

"I'm delighted with the response for the fans. They have taken it up and we know what the club means to them.''

The players did their bit for the cause, buying over 30 between them and the tickets could come in handy for Hartley: "Last season it was me and Evan (Horwood) who were always after more tickets than the allocation, being Hartlepool lads.

"Now we should be OK as a lot of my mates have season tickets so I will only need ten or 20 now!''

After a draw at MK Dons on the opening day of the season last Saturday and a penalty shoot-out loss to Sheffield United in the Carling Cup in midweek he added: "We want to push on and we do play good football. We can beat them, and beat anyone in the league.

"Everyone in that dressing room wants to make the play-offs. We have that desire to do it and that's the aim. We want another season like when I was a fan at Cardiff for the play-off final and we nearly made the Championship. That's the aim.

"The fans are behind the club, they appreciate us, we want to do it for them.''

His sentiments were echoed by goalkeeper Scott Flinders, who joined Hartley and others in committing himself to the club in the summer.

Flinders saved one spot kick in midweek against Danny Wilson's Blades, but it wasn't enough as Pools missed two of their six.

Hartley and Flinders form part of Pools' regular back five and having a settled unit is a big factor in making further progress this season.

"We have a settled defensive unit,'' said Flinders. "We had a full season last time as a unit and we saw last Saturday and on Tuesday when we defended brilliantly. It's a good start for us and hopefully everyone can stay injury free and carry on the good form.

"As a unit we have done well and enjoyed a good start with that settled back five. I signed a new contract in the summer and as soon as it was offered I had no hesitation in signing it.

"Hopefully there are some good times to come for us, especially with the big fan base we have now.

"We keep our targets in house, but the gaffer said we have a better squad this year and are looking further up the table.

"A lot of the lads have played together for a couple of years now and we know each other's game inside out so hopefully we can build on it.''

He added: "There's a lot of positives around the place after a good summer for the club. You could see on Tuesday the crowd got behind us and we feel that behind us as well.

"Stepping out on Saturday there should be 6,000 there and that will be good for the players.

"The players really got behind the season ticket sales this summer, we could see the positive side of it. It's good to know that we had nights like Tuesday when the crowd was around half of what we should get on Saturday that they will back us and get behind us.

"If we get some good result they will get behind us - they have been good since I've been here so, so I can't grumble.''

Teenage striker Callum Hassan has moved to Harrogate Town on loan.