Sam Hardy
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hardy was a former England-international (football) goalkeeper.
In 1902, Chesterfield
manager Jack Hoskin beat Derby County
to sign Hardy, doing so under a lamp post in Newbold
. Hardy, something of a shrewd character, wouldn't sign the forms until Hoskin promised to pay him 18 shillings (90p) when the original offer was a mere 5 shillings (25p). Hardy soon gained himself a reputation for being unfazeable and it wasn't long before he started attracting the attention of the top clubs in the country.
Liverpool
manager Tom Watson
had witnessed him play against his side in a 2nd Division fixture at Anfield
and although Liverpool won the match 6-1 Watson remembered that if it hadn't been for the performance of Hardy that day, Liverpool could well have gone on to record their biggest ever win. After just 77 appearances, in which he kept 30 clean-sheets, Watson approached both Chesterfield and Hardy and signed him for £500 in the May of 1905. After Ned Doig
had begun the season as number 1 Sam came in to make his debut for the 9th game of the campaign on the 21 October 1912 at Anfield in a league match against Nottingham Forest
, Liverpool won the game 4-1 and Hardy established himself as the Reds number 1.
By the end of his first season he had bagged a Football League First Division
championship medal as Liverpool won their second title in 5 years. Hardy made 30 league (and 5 cup) appearances during the 1905-06
season as the Reds beat Preston North End
by 4 points in the 2 points for a win system.
In 1907 Sam caught the eye of the Football Association
committee who gave him his debut on the 14 October at Goodison Park
, Ireland
were the opponents and Hardy gained his first clean-sheet as England
won 1-0.
Sam became one of the best goalkeepers of his generation over the next few seasons and by the time he was allowed to leave Anfield in 1912 he had earned himself the nickname 'Safe and Steady Sam.' He had made 239 appearances between the sticks for the Reds when he left for Villa for £1500 where he won 2 FA Cup
s in 1913 and 1920.
Like so many other professionals his career was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War, Sam kept his eye in during the conflict playing for his own club, Villa, 4 times, Plymouth Argyle
, Nottingham Forest and the Royal Naval
barracks Plymouth
.
Hardy became a member of the P.F.A in 1921 and also left Villa after making 183 appearances. He joined Nottingham Forest for £1000 and helped them to the 2nd Division
title by the end of his first season at the club in 1922
, he played 102 times for Forest before injury ended his distinguished career when just shy of his 40th birthday.
By the end of his international days Sam had played for an incredible 14 years as England's premier goalkeeper earning himself a more than respectable 21 caps, if he were to be playing in today's modern game, which includes World Cup
's, European Championship's and a whole host of friendlies, Sam would have gone on to earn well over 100 caps.
Upon retirement Sam became a publican, keeping pubs and billiard halls in the Chesterfield area, and remained so right up until his death aged 83 on the 24 October 1966. Sam's nephew Jack Hardy played for Chesterfield and Lincoln.
Many goalkeeping experts regard Sam Hardy as the greatest keeper of all, a statement that goes along way to be backed up by Hardy appearing on the BBC's Football Legends List, he also got voted in at No.94 in the official Liverpool Football Club web site poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.
In 1902, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
manager Jack Hoskin beat Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
to sign Hardy, doing so under a lamp post in Newbold
Newbold, Derbyshire
Newbold is a village north of Chesterfield, a market town in the English county of Derbyshire. In 2001 in had a population of just under 8,000....
. Hardy, something of a shrewd character, wouldn't sign the forms until Hoskin promised to pay him 18 shillings (90p) when the original offer was a mere 5 shillings (25p). Hardy soon gained himself a reputation for being unfazeable and it wasn't long before he started attracting the attention of the top clubs in the country.
Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
manager Tom Watson
Tom Watson (football)
Tom Watson was an English football manager who managed Sunderland A.F.C. and Liverpool F.C. around the turn of the 20th century....
had witnessed him play against his side in a 2nd Division fixture at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
and although Liverpool won the match 6-1 Watson remembered that if it hadn't been for the performance of Hardy that day, Liverpool could well have gone on to record their biggest ever win. After just 77 appearances, in which he kept 30 clean-sheets, Watson approached both Chesterfield and Hardy and signed him for £500 in the May of 1905. After Ned Doig
Ned Doig
John Edward 'Ned' Doig was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played the peak of his career for Sunderland, in a famous period of time in the club's history where they were dubbed the 'team of all talents'. Noted for his exceptional performances in goal, he was also famously shy...
had begun the season as number 1 Sam came in to make his debut for the 9th game of the campaign on the 21 October 1912 at Anfield in a league match against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, Liverpool won the game 4-1 and Hardy established himself as the Reds number 1.
By the end of his first season he had bagged a Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship medal as Liverpool won their second title in 5 years. Hardy made 30 league (and 5 cup) appearances during the 1905-06
1905-06 in English football
The 1905–06 season was the 35th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Following the increase in size of the Football League from 36 clubs to 40, and with Doncaster Rovers having been relegated from the Second Division, four new clubs were elected into the league, along with Stockport...
season as the Reds beat Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
by 4 points in the 2 points for a win system.
In 1907 Sam caught the eye of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
committee who gave him his debut on the 14 October at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
were the opponents and Hardy gained his first clean-sheet as England
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...
won 1-0.
Sam became one of the best goalkeepers of his generation over the next few seasons and by the time he was allowed to leave Anfield in 1912 he had earned himself the nickname 'Safe and Steady Sam.' He had made 239 appearances between the sticks for the Reds when he left for Villa for £1500 where he won 2 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...
s in 1913 and 1920.
Like so many other professionals his career was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War, Sam kept his eye in during the conflict playing for his own club, Villa, 4 times, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, Nottingham Forest and the Royal Naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
barracks Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
.
Hardy became a member of the P.F.A in 1921 and also left Villa after making 183 appearances. He joined Nottingham Forest for £1000 and helped them to the 2nd Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title by the end of his first season at the club in 1922
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
, he played 102 times for Forest before injury ended his distinguished career when just shy of his 40th birthday.
By the end of his international days Sam had played for an incredible 14 years as England's premier goalkeeper earning himself a more than respectable 21 caps, if he were to be playing in today's modern game, which includes World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
's, European Championship's and a whole host of friendlies, Sam would have gone on to earn well over 100 caps.
Upon retirement Sam became a publican, keeping pubs and billiard halls in the Chesterfield area, and remained so right up until his death aged 83 on the 24 October 1966. Sam's nephew Jack Hardy played for Chesterfield and Lincoln.
Many goalkeeping experts regard Sam Hardy as the greatest keeper of all, a statement that goes along way to be backed up by Hardy appearing on the BBC's Football Legends List, he also got voted in at No.94 in the official Liverpool Football Club web site poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.
Career details
- Chesterfield Town F.C (1902–1905) - 77 appearances
- Liverpool F.C (1905–1912) - 219 appearances First Division (level 1) championship winners medal (1906)
- Aston Villa F.C (1912–1921) 183 appearances - 2 FA Cup winners medals (1913 and 1920)
- Nottingham Forest (1921–1925) 102 appearances - Second Division (level 2) championship winners medal (1922)