{{Short description|English footballer (1924–1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ken Hardwick | image = | caption = | full_name = Kenneth Hardwick | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1924|01|06|}} | birth_place = West Auckland, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1977|06|04|1924|01|06|df=y}} | death_place = | position = Goalkeeper | height = | years1 = –1945 | clubs1 = Rossington Colliery | years2 = 1945–1957 | clubs2 = Doncaster Rovers | caps2 = 308 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1957–1960 | clubs3 = Scunthorpe United | caps3 = 96 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1960 | clubs4 = Barrow | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 0 }}
'''Kenneth Hardwick''' (6 January 1924 – 4 June 1977) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Barrow.
==Career== Hardwick first played for Rovers during the war, 26 games in total.<ref name=drfc/> From his league debut against Nottingham Forest on 26 December 1947,<ref name=drfc/> 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.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
With Harry Gregg as his understudy for four seasons,<ref name=drfc/> this was a golden period for Doncasters keepers.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
In 1955, at the age of 30, Hardwick was invited to an England Under-23 trial. The FA withdrew the invitation once the error was realised.<ref name=bts/>
After Harry Gregg took over his position at Doncaster, he moved first to Scunthorpe, then ended his playing days at Barrow.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
==References== {{Reflist|list <ref name=drfc>{{cite web|title=Ken Hardwick profile|url=http://www.doncasterrovers.co.uk/players/GtoJ/Hardwick,Ken.htm|publisher=doncasterrovers.co.uk|accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> <ref name=bts>{{cite web|title=Quirky Facts|url=http://goalkeepersaredifferent.com/keeper/factframe.htm|publisher=Between the Sticks|accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> }}
==External links== *[http://www.doncasterrovers.co.uk/players/GtoJ/Hardwick,Ken.htm Profile on doncasterrovers.co.uk] *[http://www.britishpathe.com/video/3rd-round-f-a-cup-arsenal-v-doncaster Pathe News video of Hardwick in goal for Doncaster against Arsenal, 1953 − 3rd Round F.A. Cup]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardwick, Ken}} Category:1924 births Category:1977 deaths Category:People from West Auckland Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:English men's footballers Category:Footballers from County Durham Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:English Football League players Category:Rossington Main F.C. players Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players Category:Barrow A.F.C. players Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. wartime guest players