Harry Hardy

Football player infobox
playername = Harry Hardy"


fullname = Henry Hardy
height = -
dateofbirth = 14 January 1895
dateofdeath = 17 February 1969
cityofbirth = Stockport
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Goalkeeper
years = 1918-1925
1925-1929
1929-????
clubs = Stockport County
Everton F.C.
Bury F.C.
caps(goals) = 207 (0)
40 (0)
27 (0)
nationalyears = 1924
nationalteam = flagicon|EnglandEngland
nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (0)
pcupdate = 25 February 2007
ntupdate = 25 February 2007

Harry Hardy (14 January 1895 – 17 February 1969) was a football player from Stockport, England, regarded as one of the best players that Stockport County have ever had. He was the first, and to date the only, player for Stockport County to win an England cap. Hardy made 207 appearances for Stockport. He made his unremarkable debut against Cardiff on September 4 1920, conceding three goals. He then went on the make 170 consecutive appearances for the club before he missed his first County game, a 1-1 draw with Southampton on October 11 1924, due to his involvement with the Football League representative side. He also played for Everton F.C. and Bury F.C..

He is thought of as County's best ever goalkeeper. His statistics, though, in the Hatters' Division Three (North) championship season in 1922, are remarkable.

Hardy was an ever-present conceding just 21 goals, a club record that stands to this day. He kept 23 clean sheets in his 38 games, which included a quite incredible 20 from his side's opening 27 games of the campaign

Hardy held the club's individual goalkeeping record for not conceding a goal for an amazing 85 years til it was beaten by current Welsh International goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. When Blackpool's Barrass scored a 77 minute goal at Edgeley Park on April 30 1921 Hardy was not beaten again until Tommy Robson scored an own goal at Southport on October 8 1921 - 755 minutes later.

References

* [http://www.stockportcounty.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10419~412741,00.html Biography About Harry Harding"]
* [http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=439 England profile]