The club began life in 1887 and played on a patch of ground on the top of Alma Street. The use of the ground cost them one shilling (5 new pence) per year thanks to the generosity of Alderman Suggitt, their first President Mr T. Leak was the secretary throughout the existence of the club and Mr W Wright, its first Treasurer.

The players were working men from the West End of town under the Captaincy of W. Armstrong. The Club next settled at Foggy Furze and they had a very successful 1889/90 season under skipper T. McDougall but this was marred when they were penalised for playing an ineligible player in the Final Tie of the Junior Cup. They lost the Final by a try to nil, (to South Shields YMCA on Hollow Drift, Durham)but much worse was the penalty of the club being suspended until the end of season (February to April).

The club bounced back and 1890-1 season was a record one. Against quality opposition they won 18 out of 20 matches with 2 drawn, points for 103 and only 11 against. Their ground was now at Rose Bank, land now occupied by Newlands and Queensberrry Avenues, courtesy of their new President Mr. George Pyman.

The undoubted highpoint of this season was the Junior Cup Final when they played South Shields Trinity at to win by a converted try to a try on Ashbrooke, Sunderland.

The Club Chairman organised a subscription for medals, which were presented to the team at a fund raising concert at the Athenaeum. The Mayor presented the medals and the skipper Tommy McDougall receiving a silver watch on a gold chain.

This success was their undoing for by the Rules of the Union they had to move to Senior Club Status and many of the better players moved to Rovers and West including the skipper. Before the club disbanded in 1892, the Secretary Tom Leak was presented with a walnut writing desk bound in brass which is still in the possession of the Leak family.

During the winter of 1890/91, which proved so outstanding for West Hartlepool West End, the Mail sports columns gave details of the Competition as it progressed. It gives a glimpse into the many Minor Clubs scene in Durham County and just where Football under the Rugby code was played.

Round 1 played 

1. Brandon Mechanics v Sherburn House

2. Hamsteels v Hetton Lyons

3. Jarrow  v Greatham 

4. Blaydon v Christ Church Institute,

5. Ryton v Seaham Harbour - Seaham scratched

6. Hartlepool Crusaders 2t 2m v Henderson’s Creelers, Durham 4t 2m

Round 2  

Belmont Church Institute  v Sunderland Rovers 

Durham YMCEA 0 v West Hartlepool West End 5g 2t 6m

Langley Moor Colts v Sunderland Crusaders

Darlington lost to Mount Pleasant, Gateshead

Blaydon v Henderson’s Creelers Durham

South Shields Holy Trinity  v Tyne Dock South Shields

Round 3  

Sherburn House  v Langley Moor Colts 

Hamsteels v Belmont Church Inst 0

            Belmont Church Inst  v Henderson’s Creelers 

             West Hartlepool West End 2g 5m v Mount Pleasant 1dg 1m

 Semi Finals

              Sherburn House lost to West Hartlepool West End

              Belmont Church Institute lost to v South Shields Holy Trinity Inst 1g 2t 6m

Final tie played at Ashbrooke 21 February 1891 Attendance 1000 Gates £11-Os-3d.

            West Hartlepool West End 1 goal 4 Minors Holy Trinity 1 try 1 minor.

Date (of image) : 1891

Donor : Leak Family

Creator : Braybrook West Hartlepool

Part of the "Hartlepool & District RFU" collection