Focus On…..Gary Hardwick

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

Gary joined Coventry City as the first YTS on their books but wasn't retained at the end of his contract.
He then joined AP Leamington, initially to play for their youth team but was quickly promoted to the first team who were playing in the Southern League Premier Division at the time.

Even though Leamington were relegated, Gary impressed and was invited for a trial at Bolton Wanderers and ended up staying there for three months and played for both the youth and reserve teams.

Sadly, his Dad passed away before Christmas and Gary returned home and didn`t play football for a couple of months.

Later that season he scored a hat-trick for Birmingham County and was spotted and invited for a trial at Shrewsbury Town. He played and scored for the reserves and was asked to sign professional forms by Chic Bates, who was caretaker manager at the time. But, unfortunately for Gary, when the new manager was appointed the deal was retracted.

He returned to live and work in Coventry and the following season signed for Stratford Town in the Midland Combination and was top scorer for three seasons in succession, scoring 72 goals in 110 games, winning the league, League Cup and Charity Shield (cup winners v league runners-up).

He then signed for Atherstone United in the Southern Premier Division and he formed a potent partnership with Andy Rammell, who two months later signed for Manchester United for £60,000.

Bedworth signed Gary for £500 and enjoyed a successful few seasons in the Southern Midland Division, scoring 55 goals in 115 games.

He then signed for VS Rugby in the Southern Premier Division and finished top scorer for them with 17 goals as VS reached the FA Cup Second Round before heartbreakingly losing to Marlow in a replay with a trip to Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane awaiting the winners.

He then re-signed for Bedworth and partnered Richard Landon up front again and League scouts were again circling, which resulted in a £30,000 move to Plymouth Argyle for Landon.

Gary then signed for Hinckley Town and scored 20 goals in 53 games before, in January 1996, joining his last semi-pro club in Nuneaton Borough where he won a Southern Midland Division league and cup double under Brendan Phillips.

Gary made a conscious decision to retire from semi-pro football when his first son was born in 1997 and finished with a very creditable 192 goals from 376 games.

Clubs Played For:

Coventry City, AP Leamington, Bolton Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town, Stratford Town, Atherstone United, Bedworth United, VS Rugby, Hinckley Town, Nuneaton Borough

Best Game Played In?

Early 1990's, Bedworth versus Hinckley and I scored the first hat-trick for Bedworth in the Southern League for over 10 years.

Best 11 Played With?

Mick Martin (VS Rugby)

John McGinty (Bedworth United, VS Rugby & Hinckley Town)

Martin Smith (Bedworth United)

Barry Williams (Nuneaton Boro)

Gary Redgate (Atherstone United & VS Rugby)

Dave Crowley (Bedworth United & Nuneaton Boro)

Nicky Anderson (Bedworth United & Nuneaton Boro)

Lee Sullivan (Stratford Town & Bedworth United)

Peter McBean (Bedworth United)

Andy Rammell (Atherstone United)

Richard Landon (Bedworth United) pictured

Subs:

GK - Paul (Dougie) Greenway (Bedworth United)

Steve Jackson (Atherstone United)

Ian Drewitt (Nuneaton Boro)

Rob Straw (Nuneaton Boro)

Mick Shearer (VS Rugby)

Best Captain?

Dave Crowley - Bedworth United and Nuneaton Boro. Led by example in everything he did on the pitch.

Best Manager?

Brendan Phillips - (Bedworth United and Nuneaton Boro) and Martin Sockett (Bedworth and VS Rugby – pictured). Both encouraged me enormously and allowed me the freedom to go on the pitch and express myself.

I must also mention Dave (Spike) Harvey, who was a brilliant coach whose philosophy was pass and move and was a major influence on my early non-League career at Stratford and Atherstone.

Funniest Team-Mate?

Peter McBean (RIP) (Bedworth United)

I never ever left his company without a sore jaw and sides splitting from laughing. Brilliant bloke on and off the pitch. At Bedworth United the team spirit was the best I ever experienced in non-League football on and off the pitch.

Best Mate in Football?

I like to think I have made hundreds of friends through football.

Are You Still Involved in The Game?

I have run two grassroots junior teams in Coventry (Athletic United) for my youngest and eldest sons for the last twelve seasons and am extremely proud to say eight players from those teams have signed for professional academies in my time as their coach/manager. Other than that, I just watch football as often as possible and enjoy family time.

Words of Advice?

Always chase your dream - remember each time you play there are hundreds of fans wishing it could be them playing for the team they support. Play where you are appreciated and at the highest level you can.