Billy Hardy (footballer)
William Hardy (18 April 1891 – March 1981) was an English footballer probably most famous for playing in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Hardy | ||
| Date of birth | 18 April 1891 | ||
| Place of birth | Bedlington, England | ||
| Date of death | March 1981 (age 89) | ||
| Place of death | Iver, England | ||
| Playing position(s) | Half back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Bedlington United | |||
| 1910 | Heart of Midlothian | 5 | (0) |
| 1910–1911 | Stockport County | 1 | (0) |
| 1911–1932 | Cardiff City | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1934–1936 | Bradford Park Avenue | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Career
Hardy began his career at his hometown club Bedlington United before moving to Scotland with Hearts quickly followed by a one-year spell at Stockport County. In 1911 he signed for Cardiff City for a fee of £25 which, due to the financial position of the club at the time, was paid by manager Fred Stewart,[1] and it was there his career flourished. Having joined the club when they were playing in the Southern League he was an ever-present for the next decade before Cardiff joined the Football League in 1920. His first ever match in the Football league was against his former side Stockport County and he was the club's only ever-present player in the 1920–21 season.[2]
Incredibly Hardy continued to be ever-present in the following decade for the Bluebirds, including both of their FA Cup Final appearances in 1925 and 1927. Instantly recognisable - he was stocky and practically bald from an early age – he played his last ever game for Cardiff in March 1932 in a 1–0 win over Gillingham at the age of 41 and when he left the club he had played in a total of 590 first team games. After leaving Cardiff he joined Bradford Park Avenue as a coach, later managing the Yorkshire club between March 1934 to April 1936.
Despite his unquestionable ability Hardy was never selected for the England national football team. It was often thought he was denied an international cap because he played for a Welsh team.
Hardy's long career with Cardiff established him as a hero in the town. Described by a local newspaper as "the idol of all South Wales," it was said that when he appeared on a newsreel shown in Cardiff cinemas, the audience cheered for 10 minutes.[3] Hardy still remains as Cardiff City's record appearance holder with 590 appearances over all competitions.
Personal life
Alongside his playing career, Hardy started his own business as a coal merchant in 1913, operating in Cathays, Cardiff. As a player for Cardiff City, his business was often promoted in the club's programmes.[4]
Following his retirement he ran the Dolphin Hotel in Somerset until 1949 when he emigrated with his wife Olive to Tasmania where he ran a grocery store. They returned to Cardiff in February 1963 eventually moving to Teignmouth in Devon. Hardy died in March 1981 in Iver, Buckinghamshire at the age of 89.
References
- Shepherd, Richard (2007). The Cardiff City Miscellany. Pitch books. ISBN 1-905411-04-9.
- "Cup friends reunited". BBC Sport. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
- Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 82. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
- South Wales Echo, 20 February 1922.
- Lloyd 1999, p. 49
Bibliography
- Lloyd, Grahame (1999), C'mon City! A Hundred Years of the Bluebirds, Seren, ISBN 1854112716CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)