Sunderland-born goalkeeper Gareth Downey made the bench a few times as a youth team player during Chris Turner`s first full season in charge. But he never managed to get a game ahead of established keepers Martin Hollund and Andy Dibble. After leaving Pools shortly before the start of the 2000/01 season he tried his luck in Ireland before returning to the North-East and playing for a number of local non-league clubs. His brother Glen, a defender, was also on Hartlepool`s books for a while.