Billy Hardy (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Hardy was a former English
footballer probably most famous for playing in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City
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 was paid by manager Fred Stewart
, 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 clubs only ever-present player in the 1920-21 season.
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 585 first team games. After leaving Cardiff he joinedBradford 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.
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.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer probably most famous for playing in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
Career
Hardy began his career at his hometown club Bedlington before moving to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
quickly followed by a one-year spell at Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. In 1911 he signed for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for a fee of £25, which was paid by manager Fred Stewart
Fred Stewart (football manager)
Frederick Stewart was an English football manager. Despite managing for 39 years he only ever took charge of two clubs, Stockport County and Cardiff City, and he holds the record for longest serving manager in the history of both clubs....
, 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
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and he was the clubs only ever-present player in the 1920-21 season.
Incredibly Hardy continued to be ever-present in the following decade for the Bluebirds, including both of their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final appearances in 1925
1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
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
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
at the age of 41 and when he left the club he had played in a total of 585 first team games. After leaving Cardiff he joinedBradford Park Avenue as a coach, later managing the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club between March 1934 to April 1936.
Despite his unquestionable ability Hardy was never selected for the England national football team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. It was often thought he was denied an international cap because he played for a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
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.
Following his retirement he ran the Dolphin Hotel in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
until 1949 when he emigrated with his wife Olive to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
where he ran a grocery store. They returned to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in February 1963 eventually moving to Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Hardy died in March 1981 in Iver
Iver
Iver is in the south-east corner of the English county of Buckinghamshire and it forms one of the largest civil parishes in the South Bucks district.Iver railway station is in Richings Park.-Etymology:...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
at the age of 89.