The USA branch of Hartlepool United supporters just keeps on growing!

Town businessman Paul Gough last year launched his unofficial group of adopted Poolies last year.

And now he’s added to the numbers at his latest business event in Florida.

Mr Gough, the owner of Paul Gough Physio Rooms, in Raby Road, Hartlepool, and who lives in Orlando, Florida also has a growing international media business which specialises in coaching physios and personal trainers.

His latest event saw almost 300 PTs and business owners descend on Orlando for the three-day spectacular, with Marcus Lemonis, the US businessman, entrepreneur and TV personality with a personal fortune of over $500m being the headline speaker.

Around 20 blue and white Pools shirts were handed out at a coaching event in Las Vegas in March, with the same number distributed further to those attending over the weekend.

“We had people attending from the UK, Australia and right across America – and around 50 of them were wearing Pools tops,’’ laughed Mr Gough, whose presence on stage was with the backdrop of a blue and white striped shirt.

“People who got their shirts last year came back with them and this is getting bigger and bigger. It’s a shame Pools lost while the event was on, but it didn’t put that much of a damper on things.

“I know of the USA Pools group who used to regularly meet up in New York to watch and listen to games, but this is on a different level and it grows with each event.

“There’s been a lot of talk of late about the possibility of an American takeover at Pools – who knows, at a time when the club is actively up for sale, these might just be the American business owners to step up and get involved...”