The 2017-18 campaign delivered a turbulent year of transition for Hartlepool United as The Monkey Hangers fought to stabilize themselves following their painful relegation from the Football League, ultimately finishing 15th in the National League. Leading the charge for a side struggling to find consistency was the central midfielder Michael Woods, whose crucial haul of 11 goals and four assists was decisive in a season defined by a high turnover in managers. Woods' goals cemented him as the team's top scorer and a rare shining light in a difficult year, marking a chapter of stabilization as the club found its footing in the non-league structure.