Full name Kenneth Hardwick Name Ken Hardwick Role Footballer | Playing position Died June 4, 1977 Years Team Position Goalkeeper | |
Date of birth (1924-01-06)January 6, 1924 Date of death 4 June 1977(1977-06-04) (aged 53) | ||
Place of birth West Auckland, England | ||
Kenneth "Ken" Hardwick (6 January 1931 – 4 June 1977) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Barrow.
Playing career
Hardwick first played for Rovers during the war, 26 games in total. From his league debut against Nottingham Forest on 26 December 1947, Hardwick became Rovers first choice keeper. That season Rovers were relegated from The Second Division but in the 1949−50 season they stormed the Third Division North and gained promotion back to League Division 2 where he spent the rest of his time with them.
With the legendary Harry Gregg as his understudy for four seasons, this was a golden period for Doncasters keepers.
In 1955, at the age of 30, Hardwick was invited to an England Under-23 trial. The FA withdrew the invite once the error was realised.
After Harry Gregg took over his position at Doncaster, he moved first to Scunthorpe, then ended his playing days at Barrow.