Billy `Ginger` Richardson was signed from local football and finished as top scorer in his only season at the club. Richardson`s 19 goals were not enough to rescue Pools from a bottom two finish, but he did enough to catch the eye of West Bromwich Albion, who signed him in 1929. He went on to enjoy a long and successful career at The Hawthorns, scoring over 200 goals and winning one England cap, against Holland in 1935. His 39 goals for the Baggies in 1935/36 remains a club record. On retiring from playing, Richardson stayed at West Brom in a coaching capacity. He died, aged just 49, after collapsing during a charity match in March 1959.