Harry Hadley Explained

Harry Hadley
Birth Date:26 October 1877
Birth Place:Barrow-in-Furness, England
Death Place:Kingston-upon-Thames, England
Height:[1]
Position:Wing half
Youthclubs1:Colley Gate United
Years1:1895–1896
Clubs1:Halesowen
Years2:1897–1905
Clubs2:West Bromwich Albion
Caps2:167
Goals2:2
Years3:1905–1906
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:11
Goals3:0
Years4:1906–1907
Clubs4:Nottingham Forest
Caps4:12
Goals4:1
Years5:1907–1908
Clubs5:Southampton
Caps5:29
Goals5:0
Years6:1908–1910
Clubs6:Croydon Common
Caps6:21
Goals6:1
Years7:1910–19??
Clubs7:Halesowen
Years8:1919
Clubs8:Merthyr Town
Nationalyears1:1903
Nationalteam1:England
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:1919–1922
Managerclubs1:Merthyr Town
Manageryears2:1922
Managerclubs2:Chesterfield
Manageryears3:1927–1928
Managerclubs3:Aberdare Athletic
Manageryears4:1928
Managerclubs4:Merthyr Town
Manageryears5:1930–1931
Managerclubs5:Merthyr Town
Manageryears6:1935–1936
Managerclubs6:Bangor City

Harry Hadley (26 October 1877 – 22 October 1947) was an English professional football player and manager.[2] He played once for the England national team.

Playing career

Hadley was born in Barrow-in-Furness. Having had little junior football experience, he joined Halesowen[3] in 1895 from Colley Gate United. In February 1897 he joined West Bromwich Albion where he established himself at wing-half. He won a Second Division title medal with the Baggies in 1902 and in February 1903 won his only England cap in the 4–0 win against Ireland at Molineux.[4]

During a match against Aston Villa in September 1904, Hadley sustained a severe injury which put "grave doubt" on his ability to play again, following comments by a club director.[5]

Having been retained at West Brom by club directors at great sacrifice,[6] in February 1905, after 167 league games, he left the club to join Aston Villa[7] for a fee of £250, but played just 11 times before joining Nottingham Forest in April 1906. A year later he moved again, this time to Southern League club Southampton. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints" he was "a methodical yet energetic half-back, dedicated to looking after the forwards by supporting, feeding and directing them into advantageous positions".[8]

At the end of the 1907–08 season he moved to Croydon Common, rejoining Halesowen in February 1910. He finished his playing career with Merthyr Town.

Managerial career

Hadley's first managerial job was with Merthyr Town where he was appointed in May 1919.[9] [10] He oversaw their promotion to the Football League in 1920 and guided them to 8th place in Division Three (South) in their first season. He left Merthyr in April 1922 to manage Chesterfield, but left in August the same year.

In 1924, he was named the secretary of Accrington Stanley.[11]

In November 1927 he took over at Aberdare Athletic, who had failed to gain re-election to the Football League the previous season. He left in April 1928, returning to Merthyr Town as manager, but left again in November the same year. He began a third spell as Merthyr manager in 1930,[12] leaving in September 1931.

His final managerial job was with Bangor City who he joined in July 1935[13] and left in April 1936 when he retired.

Hadley's brother Ben also played professionally for West Bromwich Albion, but had left before Harry's arrival at the Hawthorns.

Honours

As a player

West Bromwich Albion

1901–02

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chalk . Gary . Holley . Duncan . Bull . David . All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. 2013. Southampton . Hagiology Publishing. 978-0-9926-8640-6. 82.
  2. News: Merthyr A.F.C. - The new manager . 28 April 2022 . The Express . 30 August 1919 . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Harry Hadley, West Bromwich . The Sports Argus . 3 . 3 September 1904 . Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: England players: Harry Hadley . englandfootballonline . 25 September 2018.
  5. News: 'Grave doubts' over Hadley return . The Nottingham Evening Post . 6 . 22 September 1904 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Albion half-back may join the Villa . Birmingham Gazette and Express . 8 . 17 January 1905 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Hadley's transfer: Teams to play tomorrow . 28 April 2022 . . 20 January 1905 . 8 . Newspapers.com.
  8. Book: Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk . The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing . 1992. 0-9514862-3-3. 152.
  9. News: Hadley appointed Merthyr Town manager . The Staffordshire Sentinel Daily and Weekly . 3 . 24 May 1919 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: New manager for Merthyr Town A.F.C. . 28 April 2022 . . 21 May 2019 . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Accrington's new secretary . 28 April 2022 . . 5 November 1924 . 3 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: New Merthyr Manager . Daily Herald . 15 . 13 September 1930.
  13. News: Bangor City engage new manager Harry Hadley . The Sports Argus . 6 . 31 August 1935 . Newspapers.com.