Paul Hardyman

Paul Hardyman

Personal information
Full name	Paul George Hardyman
Date of birth	(1964-05-11) 11 May 1964
Place of birth	Portsmouth, England
Position(s)	Left Back
Team information
Current team	Portsmouth (first team coach)
Youth career
	Waterlooville
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1989	Portsmouth	117	(3)
1989–1992	Sunderland	101	(5)
1992–1995	Bristol Rovers	67	(5)
1995–1996	Wycombe Wanderers	15	(0)
1996–1997	Barnet	16	(2)
International career
1985–1986	England U21	2	(0)
Managerial career
	New Milton Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul George Hardyman (born 11 May 1964 in Portsmouth, England) was a left back for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Wycombe and Slough Town.

He is now first-team coach for his former club Portsmouth. Signed by Portsmouth manager Bobby Campbell when playing for Waterlooville, Hardyman made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Crystal Palace wearing the number three shirt.

Playing career

Paul began his playing career at Southern League Waterlooville, immediately becoming a first-team regular for the whole of the 1982-83 season, playing as a winger. During that season Paul also appeared a few times for Portsmouth Reserves in the Midweek League, before joining Portsmouth permanently in the summer of 1983, where he was converted to left-back. During the 1985–86 season also saw Paul represent his country for the second and final time at U21 level in the European Championship quarter-final against Denmark in Copenhagen. Although England returned victorious, Hardyman lost his place for the semi-final as Mitchell Thomas of Spurs (whom he had replaced) had recovered from injury. After this foray into International football, Hardyman was transferred to Sunderland for a fee of £130,000. Whilst at Sunderland, he played in the 1992 FA Cup Final as a substitute where they lost to Liverpool.

Later career

With his playing career over, Paul returned to his hometown and began work, alongside Guy Whittingham as a match day summariser on BBC Radio Solent. Until being made redundant by Portsmouth in October 2009 Hardyman, again together with Whittingham, Rod Ruddick and former Nottingham Forest winger Ian Woan, coached Pompey youngsters between the ages of 8 & 18.

For a time, Hardyman was manager at Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) club New Milton Town, before returning to Pompey to assist Academy manager Andy Awford. With Awford's promotion to the first team, he was also appointed as coach in the main squad.

External links

• Paul Hardyman Basingstoke Town Profile