| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Asa Hartford[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1950-10-24)24 October 1950 (age 75)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Clydebank,[1] Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Drumchapel Amateurs | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1974 | West Bromwich Albion | 214 | (18) |
| 1974–1979 | Manchester City | 185 | (22) |
| 1979 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | (0) |
| 1979–1981 | Everton | 81 | (6) |
| 1981–1984 | Manchester City | 75 | (7) |
| 1984 | Fort Lauderdale Sun[a] | 5+ | (1+) |
| 1984–1985 | Norwich City | 28 | (2) |
| 1985–1987 | Bolton Wanderers | 81 | (8) |
| 1987–1989 | Stockport County | 45 | (0) |
| 1989 | Oldham Athletic | 7 | (0) |
| 1989–1991 | Shrewsbury Town | 25 | (0) |
| Total | 749+ | (64+) | |
| International career | |||
| 1970–1973[8] | Scotland U23 | 5 | (0) |
| 1972–1982 | Scotland | 50 | (5) |
| 1977[9] | Scotland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985–1987 | Bolton Wanderers (player-coach) | ||
| 1987–1989 | Stockport County[10] | ||
| 1990–1991 | Shrewsbury Town[10] | ||
| 1991 | Boston United | ||
| 1993 | Stoke City (caretaker manager) | ||
| 1996–2005 | Manchester City (asst/caretaker manager) | ||
| 2007–2008 | Macclesfield Town (assistant manager) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Richard Asa Hartford (born 24 October 1950) is a Scottish formerfootball player and coach. He started his professional career withWest Bromwich Albion. His early progress led to a proposed transfer toLeeds United in November 1971, but this collapsed when a medical examination discovered a heart condition. Hartford instead moved toManchester City in 1974. He helped City win the1976 League Cup Final. After a brief spell withNottingham Forest, Hartford moved toEverton in 1979 and then had a second spell withManchester City. After playing forFort Lauderdale Sun, Hartford joinedNorwich City. His shot resulted in the only goal of the1985 League Cup Final.
Hartford was also a regular in theScotland national team, earning 50 caps between 1972 and 1982. He was selected for the Scotland squads in the1978 and1982 World Cups. Towards the end of his playing career, Hartford became a coach. He was theplayer/manager ofStockport County andShrewsbury Town. Since retiring as a player, Hartford has worked in a variety of coaching and scouting roles.
Hartford first played forDrumchapel Amateurs in Glasgow, but began his professional career atWest Bromwich Albion in 1967. During his time with West Brom, the team won the1968 FA Cup Final (although he did not play in the final), were beaten FA Cup semi-finalists in1969 and reached theLeague Cup final in1970.[11]
A proposed transfer toDon Revie'sLeeds United in November 1971 was cancelled, when the Leeds doctor found that Hartford had ahole-in-the-heart condition during a pre-transfer medical examination.[12][13] He was eventually transfer listed by then West Brom coachDon Howe, alongside favouritesLen Cantello andJeff Astle, in April 1974. Hartford moved on toManchester City for £210,000, making his debut for City in a 4–0 victory againstWest Ham.[14] He helped City win the1976 League Cup Final.[14][15]
At the beginning of the 1979–80 season he was transferred toBrian Clough'sNottingham Forest (to replaceArchie Gemmill) for £500,000, only to be sold on toEverton for £400,000 after just three games with Forest.[14] In October 1981John Bond took him back to Manchester City for £375,000.[14] His second stint with City was less successful, as he suffered an ankle injury and the club were relegated in 1983.[14] Hartford left City in 1984 and signed for American clubFort Lauderdale Sun.[14]
He returned to English football soon afterwards withNorwich City.[14] In the1985 League Cup Final, Hartford's shot was deflected by Sunderland'sGordon Chisholm for the only goal of the match.[16] They were relegated in the same season.[17][18]
He then had stints withBolton Wanderers andOldham Athletic, and then took up coaching/managerial roles withStockport County andShrewsbury Town.[10]
Hartford made his full international debut forScotland on 26 April 1972, in afriendly match withPeru.[19] Hartford made six appearances for Scotland during 1972, but was not selected again until October 1975.[19]
He became a regular in the international side in 1977, as Scotland defeatedCzechoslovakia andWales to qualify for the1978 World Cup in Argentina.[20]Brian Glanville, in his frequently updatedThe Story of the World Cup, wrote "The Scots had an abundance of fine midfield players at a time when most other countries looked for them desperately;Bruce Rioch,Don Masson, Asa Hartford, Archie Gemmill,Lou Macari,Graeme Souness". Hartford played in all Scotland games in Argentina. His side lost 3–1 to Peru, drew 1–1 withIran and defeated eventual runners-upNetherlands 3–2,[20][21] which meant thatAlly MacLeod's team exited the competition after the first round.
Hartford's international career came to an end after the1982 World Cup, where he recorded his 50th and final cap for Scotland in the game againstBrazil.[22] This appearance secured Hartford a place on the national team'sroll of honour, as the 8th player to make 50 appearances for Scotland.[22][23] Hartford did not appear in any other matches at the 1982 World Cup, as Scotland were again eliminated after the group stage.[22]
Hartford wasplayer/manager atStockport County (1987–89) andShrewsbury Town (1990–91) before his retirement as a player.[10] He subsequently joined ex-international teammatesKenny Dalglish (atBlackburn Rovers),Joe Jordan andLou Macari (atStoke City where he spent four matches as caretaker manager) in various coaching/managerial roles. He became assistant manager at Manchester City in 1995, working withAlan Ball.[14] He was caretaker manager in September 1996, after Ball left, but he did not express any interest in becoming manager on a permanent basis.[24] He stayed with City for several years as their reserve team coach, untilStuart Pearce brought in his own coaching staff in May 2005.[25]
Hartford became a first team coach withBlackpool in December 2005,[26] but left the club in May 2006. On 29 June 2007 it was announced that he had been appointed assistant manager atMacclesfield Town but both he andIan Brightwell were sacked in February 2008 to be replaced byKeith Alexander. In April 2008 he was given a role withAccrington Stanley coaching the junior teams and the reserves, but was made redundant from this role in October 2011.[27] He subsequently worked forBirmingham City as a scout.[28]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 1967–68 | First Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 1968–69 | First Division | 26 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 11 | |
| 1969–70 | First Division | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 1970–71 | First Division | 34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 3 | |
| 1971–72 | First Division | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| 1972–73 | First Division | 41 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 6 | |
| 1973–74 | Second Division | 33 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 3 | |
| 1974–75 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 214 | 18 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 23 | 4 | 271 | 26 | ||
| Manchester City | 1974–75 | First Division | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| 1975–76 | First Division | 39 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 12 | |
| 1976–77 | First Division | 40 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 5 | |
| 1977–78 | First Division | 37 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 4 | |
| 1978–79 | First Division | 39 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 55 | 5 | |
| Total | 185 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 233 | 27 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 1979–80 | First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Everton | 1979–80 | First Division | 35 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| 1980–81 | First Division | 39 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| 1981–82 | First Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 81 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 7 | ||
| Manchester City | 1981–82 | First Division | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 4 |
| 1982–83 | First Division | 38 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
| 1983–84 | Second Division | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 75 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 9 | ||
| Norwich City | 1984–85 | First Division | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 5 |
| Total | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 5 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 1985–86 | Third Division | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 58 | 7 |
| 1986–87 | Third Division | 35 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 3 | |
| Total | 81 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 101 | 10 | ||
| Stockport County | 1987–88 | Fourth Division | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 1988–89 | Fourth Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 | ||
| Oldham Athletic | 1988–89 | Second Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town | 1989–90 | Third Division | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 1990–91 | Third Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 744 | 63 | 62 | 5 | 66 | 9 | 51 | 7 | 923 | 84 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Stockport County | 12 June 1987 | 1 April 1989 | 93 | 24 | 34 | 35 | 025.8 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1 January 1990 | 17 January 1991 | 55 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 029.1 |
| Stoke City | 10 September 1994 | 29 September 1994 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 075.0 |
| Total[29] | 152 | 43 | 53 | 56 | 028.3 | ||
Manchester City
Norwich City
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