Paul George Hardyman (born 11 May 1964) is an English former football player and coach who played as a left-back for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Wycombe Wanderers and Slough Town. He was previously the manager of Orange County SC of the USL Championship.

Paul Hardyman
Personal information
Full name Paul George Hardyman
Date of birth (1964-05-11) 11 May 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth Portsmouth, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
Waterlooville
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1983 Waterlooville 35 (15)
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)
1999–2000 Basingstoke Town
2010 New Milton Town
Total 351 (30)
International career
1985–1986 England U21 2 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2011 New Milton Town
2024 Orange County SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Hardyman was born in Portsmouth. He began his playing career at Waterlooville, immediately becoming a first-team regular for the whole of the 1982–83 season in the Southern League Premier Division, playing as a winger. During that season he also appeared several times for Portsmouth Reserves in the Midweek League. He joined Portsmouth permanently in the summer of 1983, shortly after their promotion to Division Two, and was converted to a left-back.

During the 1985–86 season Hardyman represented England 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 Tottenham, whom he had replaced for the quarter-final, had recovered from injury. In 1989 Hardyman was transferred to Sunderland for a fee of £130,000. While at Sunderland, he played in the 1992 FA Cup Final as a substitute where they lost to Liverpool.

Later career

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Following the end of his playing career, Hardyman worked alongside Guy Whittingham as a match day summariser for Portsmouth matches on BBC Radio Solent. Until being made redundant by Portsmouth in October 2009, Hardyman coached Portsmouth youngsters between the ages of 8 & 18 alongside Whittingham, Rod Ruddick and Ian Woan.

For a time, Hardyman was manager at Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) club New Milton Town, where he also played a few matches, including being sent off on his debut.[2] He left the club in 2011 to return to Portsmouth,[3] assisting academy manager Andy Awford. When Awford was appointed caretaker manager of the first team in March 2014, Hardyman became first-team coach and was appointed permanently to the role in June.[4][5]

Following Awford's departure in April 2015, Hardyman assisted caretaker manager Gary Waddock for the rest of the season.[6] He and Waddock left the club in May 2015.[7]

He subsequently joined Watford, coaching their under-12 and under-14 teams, before becoming the under-18 coach in summer 2017.[8]

In July 2018 Paul Hardyman joined Southampton after being appointed to the position of Lead Under-16s coach in the Saints Academy.[9]

Coaching

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In June 2024, Hardyman was named interim manager for Orange County SC following the departure of Morten Karlsen.[10] On July 19th, 2024, Hardyman was named the permanent manager.

References

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  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ Milton misery as Hardyman is sent off Bournemouth Echo, 14 March 2010
  3. ^ New Management Team for New Milton Non-League, 13 May 2011
  4. ^ "Anthony Williams Leaves Pompey". Portsmouth F.C. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  5. ^ "FIRST TEAM ROLE FOR HARDYMAN". Portsmouth F.C. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  6. ^ "AWFORD STEPS DOWN AS POMPEY MANAGER". Portsmouth F.C. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Hardyman and Waddock leave Pompey". Portsmouth F.C. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Hardyman on Under 18s progress". Watford F.C. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Butterfield and Fleming take on fresh responsibility". Southampton FC. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC AND LYNGBY BK AGREE TO TERMS AS HEAD COACH MORTEN KARLSEN HEADS TO DENMARK". OrangeCountySoccer.com. Orange County SC. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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