ALEC HARDIE

Full Name: Alexander Shaw Hardie

Born: 15 April 1900

Came from: Charlton Athletic   Went to: Exeter City

First game: 20 March 1926   Last game: 06 May 1933

Appearances: 241 (241/0)   Goals: 4

Born in Kilsyth, and a left-half, Hardie began his career at Kilsyth Rangers, who at the time had a burgeoning reputation for producing quality young players.

A move to then Scottish Division One side Third Lanark followed and in a three-year spell between 1922-1925, he made 56 appearances for the club, scoring 15 times. His time at Cathkin Park also included two loan spells to Annan-based Solway Star who were briefly members of Scottish Division Three for three seasons from 1923-24 before then been cast-out during a further restructure. In his spells at Kimmeter Park Green he made 18 appearances and scored 15 times.

He then moved to England and made the switch to Charlton Athletic in 1925, where he played a total of 28 games, scoring three goals. It was perhaps something of a surprise when he moved to Home Park in March 1926 for a 'substantial fee'. Hardie also demonstrated versatility and in April 1926 found himself given the opportunity to play a more attacking role during Patsy Corcoran's benefit game against Everton, a position that he revelled in, as his early statistics from Scotland showed.

During the following campaign, he established himself as a consistent performer with a reputation as a crisp tackler and a smooth passer of the ball. In January 1927 he missed a penalty during an FA Cup loss at South Shields, but his first goal arrived the following month in a 7-1 win over Crystal Palace. Argyle finished the season in the runners-up spot for the sixth successive time. 1927-28 saw him complete the season as one of only two ever-present members of the squad. He would again feature prominently in the 1928-29 campaign until an injury ruled him out of the last 10 games, with Argyle finishing fourth in his absence. He played a vital role in Argyle's title-winning side of 1929-30, none more so than during the 1-1 draw at Southend United when he produced a superb goal-line clearance to secure a valuable point. He suffered torn ligaments at Bournemouth & Boscombe that left him unable to kick the ball and his bravery in staying on the pitch led to a short period out of the side until he returned to fitness.

Argyle's first season following their promotion was something of a mixed bag, but ultimately survival was ensured. They suffered a 9-1 thumping at Everton, but also scored five on four occasions, Hardie netted a rare goal on the final day of the season in a 5-3 win at home to Bristol City. He was awarded a Benefit Match during the 1931-32 season when Argyle played host to Partick Thistle in front of a crowd of 10,000 in a game that the visitors won 3-1. In July 1932, Hardie married, but shortly after their wedding his wife became seriously ill, which, along with injury would hamper his involvement during the early stages of the following season. He made 17 appearances in his final full season at Home Park but was offered a contract heading into the 1933-34 season. Although Hardie didn't make a first team appearance after his final game against West Ham United in May 1933, he was involved in an extraordinary match for the reserves, a 5-1 win at Bath City where the home goalkeeper, Prout, saved three penalties, including one from Hardie. In total he had spent eight seasons at the club and played 241 times, scoring four goals.

He left Argyle for Exeter City in October 1933, where he finished his Football League career after 18 games and a single goal, and later played for Truro City.

Later returning to Scotland he took on the role as a Scottish scout for Argyle and is credited for being pivotal in the discovery of Alex Govan, for Jack Tresadern, a decade later in the mid-1940s.

Alec passed away back in Glasgow, in 1975, aged 75 years old.