Season 1981/82 saw West mark the Centenary of the start of the Club, like all Victorian Clubs they can trace their history further back than their foundation date as a West Hartlepool side was playing in the 1870s playing at Belle Vue and Foggy Furze and around Lucan Street/York Road.
On 1st October 1881 West Hartlepool played Stockton to start matters which were formalized with a meeting in Steins Hotel at 3 Mainsforth Terrace in 1884, this Hotel stood next to the Gaiety Theatre and just along from the Station Hotel.