Wally Hardinge
Encyclopedia
Harold Thomas William "Wally" Hardinge, born 25 February 1886, and died at Cambridge
on 8 May 1965, was a cricketer who played for Kent
and England. He was also a football
international for England
.
career lasting more than 30 years from the age of 16, Hardinge, a right-handed opening batsman, scored 33,519 runs and 75 centuries. His run total puts him 45th on the all-time list of runmakers, and he passed 1,000 runs for a season 18 times. His one appearance in Test cricket
came against Warwick Armstrong
's 1921 Australians
in a match where Jack Hobbs
had to withdraw on the opening day because of appendicitis
. Hardinge scored 25 and 5 and was not picked again.
Hardinge continued to score heavily in county cricket, his best season being 1928 when, at 42 years of age, he scored 2,446 runs at an average just under 60 runs per innings. He scored centuries in four consecutive innings in 1913 and four times scored centuries in both innings of a match. in 1921, he became only the third cricketer, after C. B. Fry and Warwick Armstrong, to score a double-century and a century in the same match. He bowled slow left arm spinners well enough to take 371 career wickets. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1915.
. He started out at various amateur clubs in Kent before signing for Newcastle United
in May 1905. After two and a half years there, mainly as a reserve (he played only nine league matches), he moved to Sheffield United
for £350. There he flourished, becoming one of the trickiest inside forwards in the game, scoring nearly 50 goals in just under 150 league matches. While at Bramall Lane
he won one England cap, against Scotland
in 1910.
In the summer of 1913 Hardinge returned to the south, signing for Woolwich Arsenal
(who had just moved into their new Highbury
ground, and would drop the "Woolwich" from their name a year later), and played there until the outbreak of World War I
. Hardinge served as a Chief Petty Officer
in the Royal Navy
, and upon being demobbed after the end of the war, played another season at Arsenal before dropping down to the reserves. He hung up his boots in 1921, having played 55 times and scored 14 goals for the Gunners first team.
's reserve team in the 1930s and for a short period became caretaker manager of the First Team in 1935 after the rapid departure of Percy Smith
.
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
on 8 May 1965, was a cricketer who played for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and England. He was also a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
international for 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...
.
Cricket career
In a first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
career lasting more than 30 years from the age of 16, Hardinge, a right-handed opening batsman, scored 33,519 runs and 75 centuries. His run total puts him 45th on the all-time list of runmakers, and he passed 1,000 runs for a season 18 times. His one appearance in Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
came against Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Windridge Armstrong was an Australian cricketer who played 50 Test matches between 1902 and 1921. An all-rounder, he captained Australia in ten Test matches between 1920 and 1921 and was undefeated, winning eight Tests and drawing two...
's 1921 Australians
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in a match where Jack Hobbs
Jack Hobbs
Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
had to withdraw on the opening day because of appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. Hardinge scored 25 and 5 and was not picked again.
Hardinge continued to score heavily in county cricket, his best season being 1928 when, at 42 years of age, he scored 2,446 runs at an average just under 60 runs per innings. He scored centuries in four consecutive innings in 1913 and four times scored centuries in both innings of a match. in 1921, he became only the third cricketer, after C. B. Fry and Warwick Armstrong, to score a double-century and a century in the same match. He bowled slow left arm spinners well enough to take 371 career wickets. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1915.
Football career
As a footballer, Hardinge played as an inside forwardStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He started out at various amateur clubs in Kent before signing for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in May 1905. After two and a half years there, mainly as a reserve (he played only nine league matches), he moved to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for £350. There he flourished, becoming one of the trickiest inside forwards in the game, scoring nearly 50 goals in just under 150 league matches. While at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
he won one England cap, against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1910.
In the summer of 1913 Hardinge returned to the south, signing for Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
(who had just moved into their new Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
ground, and would drop the "Woolwich" from their name a year later), and played there until the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Hardinge served as a Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
in the Royal Navy
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...
, and upon being demobbed after the end of the war, played another season at Arsenal before dropping down to the reserves. He hung up his boots in 1921, having played 55 times and scored 14 goals for the Gunners first team.
After retirement
After retiring from cricket, Hardinge worked for John Wisden & Co. He also had a spell as a coach of Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
's reserve team in the 1930s and for a short period became caretaker manager of the First Team in 1935 after the rapid departure of Percy Smith
Percy Smith
Percy James Smith was an English footballer and football manager, who played for Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.-Playing career:He started his playing career with Hinckley Town before joining Preston in 1902...
.