Born: 8 February 1872

Born in: Dumbarton

Died: 9 October 1909

Other clubs: Artizan Thistle, Dumbarton (1892), Everton (1892-97), Southampton (1898-99), Woolwich Arsenal (1899), Burnley (1899-1900)

Signed from: Everton

Joined Liverpool: £175, 17.12.1897

Debut: 25 Dec 1897

Final appearance: 02 Mar 1898

Debut goal: 29 Dec 1897

Last goal: 29 Dec 1897

Contract until: 16.07.1899

League: Apps / Goals: 7 / 1

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 12 / 1

Player Profile

Dumbarton won the first two seasons of the Scottish Football League from 1890-1892, but only finished fifth, ten points behind Celtic, in Hartley's only season at the club in which he played eight games and scored five goals. He moved south of the border to Everton where he never played more than 15 games a season but almost scored in every other game in his 61 appearances. Hartley joined neighbours Liverpool in December 1897 after he had scored three goals in as many games for Everton that season. He was picked for seven first division matches for Liverpool during the 1897/98 season. He scored just once, the winning goal in a 2-1 away win at Sheffield United on 29 December 1897. Hartley also figured in five FA Cup ties that year, including the day when Liverpool were thrashed 5-1 by Derby County at Anfield in a third round replay, after they had seemingly done the hard part by earning a 1-1 draw in Derby a week before.

Interestingly Hartley had the habit of placing a rolled-up cigarette behind one ear prior to kick-off, somehow keeping it tucked up there for 45 minutes and then smoking it at half-time! In the summer of 1898 Hartley joined Southern League's Southampton who won the League title for the third consecutive season to which he contributed 14 league goals. Hartley was still on Liverpool's books as Southampton was outside the Football League. He was sold permanently from Liverpool to Woolwich Arsenal in the Second Division on 16 July 1899. He scored once in five appearances for the Gunners and was sold in December the same year to Burnley. His five goals from thirteen appearances were unable to prevent Burnley being relegated to the Second Division at the end of that season.Hartley died only 37 years of age on 9 October 1909 after collapsing due to heart failure outside the pay office of London and South Western Railway at the Southampton docks.