Former Lincoln City forward Vadaine Oliver has signed for Hartlepool United, linking up with Simon Grayson in the National League.
The 33-year-old ends the summer as a free agent following his Bradford City release, having most recently spent time on loan at Shrewsbury Town last season.
Oliver’s story with the Imps began in August 2012 when he arrived from Sheffield Wednesday’s academy, a tall, athletic striker with pace to threaten in behind and the frame to occupy centre-halves. Opportunities were initially limited as he competed with Colin Larkin, Jamie Taylor and summer maruqee signing Rob Duffy, yet his cameos hinted at a forward capable of changing games late on.
His first start delivered an immediate return, a composed finish away at AFC Telford that earned City a 1-1 draw. A week later came an 88th-minute winner against Hyde at Sincil Bank, the sort of late intervention that quickly made him a popular figure. The FA Cup underscored that impact. Away at Walsall, Oliver came off the bench to score twice in the closing stages, sealing a memorable upset and putting his name on the wider radar.
By season’s end he had 13 goals in all competitions, 11 of them in the league, including a final-day hat-trick at Hyde that showcased his speed across the front line and appetite to attack crosses. It was clear Lincoln had helped shape a raw centre-forward into a credible Football League prospect, and interest inevitably followed.
In June 2013 he moved to Crewe Alexandra, stepping up to League One and beginning a decade spent almost entirely in the EFL.
Oliver’s post-Lincoln career has taken in Crewe Alexandra and a productive loan at Mansfield Town, before two seasons with York City, in which he won the FA Trophy at Wembley (after helping them beat us in the semi-final). He then featured regularly for Morecambe and Northampton Town, the latter culminating in a promotion via the League Two play-offs in 2020. His most prolific spell came at Gillingham, where he was top scorer in back-to-back seasons (scoring against us in both visits to the Bank) and won the League One Player of the Month award in March 2021.
A move to Bradford City followed in 2022. Across two seasons at Valley Parade, he made 40-plus appearances in all competitions, as well as loan spells with Stevenage and then Shrewsbury Town in early 2025. Following Bradford’s retained list in the summer, he became a free agent, staying sharp through the PFA’s pre-season programme while weighing up his options.
Hartlepool have now secured his signature, adding height, experience and a different profile at the top end of the pitch. Grayson has spoken about the need for variety in attack, pointing to Oliver’s aerial presence, his ability to play with his back to goal and to attack crosses as qualities that complement the forwards already at the club.
The striker himself has originally described the switch as a “no-brainer,” as well as being “buzzing” to get going. I suppose after 13 moves, new vocabulary isn’t really worth learning.
Hartlepool’s early form has been positive, with the side positioned in the play-off places after the opening month, and Oliver’s arrival is intended to sustain that start across a demanding National League schedule. For a division where pragmatism often wins the day, as we know, a centre-forward who can relieve pressure, link play and offer a threat from set pieces tends to hold significant value across the winter months.