Michael Maidens

A product of Hartlepool`s youth team, Michael Maidens was given a surprise debut as a late substitute in the Carling Cup tie at Premiership Crystal Palace in 2004. Apart from a fleeting substitute appearance, Maidens spent the remainder of the 2004/05 season with the youth team, but was given more involvement with the first team squad the following season, making his first league start in the victory at Blackpool and playing 22 times under the management of Martin Scott and Paul Stephenson. Capable of playing on either flank, but more comfortable on the right, his finest moment was a stunning goal in a home game against Huddersfield Town in March 2006, a strike that was voted Goal of the Season by the supporters.

In 2006/07 Maidens found his first team chances limited under Danny Wilson. The emergence of James Brown and the arrival of Andy Monkhouse gave Pools a settled look on the wings, and Maidens was restricted to a handful of substitute appearances in addition to a brief loan spell at York City.

In October 2007, Michael Maidens` promising career was tragically cut short when he was killed in a road accident. He was just 20 years old.