Full-back Rob McKinnon arrived at Pools from Newcastle in the summer of 1986. For the next five seasons he was a virtual ever-present and was a key player in the club's promotion season in 1990/91. McKinnon's rampaging displays from left back won him many admirers and, after starting the season well in 1991/92, he was transferred to Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League. He returned for a brief loan spell six years later, having been capped three times by Scotland.