County Durham-born goalkeeper Adam McHugh joined Pools on trial in the summer of 2012, after spending his early career north of the border. He signed a permanent deal in late-August when injury to regular reserve goalkeeper Andy Rafferty left Neale Cooper without any cover for Scott Flinders. McHugh spent the rest of his first-team career sat on the bench as Flinders produced a series of displays that would earn him a string of Player of the Year awards. In the summer of 2013, and with Rafferty returned to fitness, McHugh was released.