Hartlepool Petrochemical are another of the new season's new entities, formed from the merger of Hartlepool United and Red Star Sunderland, both of last season's Championship, and sponsored by local industry from which they take their name.
Both clubs were founder members of the Football Alliance, Hartlepool in the First Division (second tier) and Sunderland in the Second. Hartlepool United achieved promotion to the Championship in 1984, quickly establishing themselves to become champions four times in eight seasons, '86, '87, '90 and '93, after which they have been less successful but are still one the Alliance's great historical clubs.
Sunderland had spent seventeen consecutive seasons in the Championship prior to the merger, last term as 'Red Star' (which features on the kit, of course), achieving three second-place finishes during that time.
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