Asa Hartford
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Hartford | ||
| Date of birth | 24 October 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Clydebank, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
Norwich City (Scout) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1974 | West Bromwich Albion | 214 | (18) |
| 1974–1979 | Manchester City | 185 | (22) |
| 1979 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | (0) |
| 1979–1981 | Everton | 81 | (6) |
| 1981–1984 | Manchester City | 75 | (7) |
| 1984 | Fort Lauderdale Sun | ? | (?) |
| 1984–1985 | Norwich City | 28 | (2) |
| 1985–1987 | Bolton Wanderers | 81 | (8) |
| 1987–1989 | 45 | (0) | |
| 1989 | Oldham Athletic | 7 | (0) |
| 1989–1991 | Shrewsbury Town | 25 | (0) |
| Total | 744 | (63) | |
| National team | |||
| 1972–1982 | Scotland | 50 | (5) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1985–1987 | Bolton Wanderers (player-coach) | ||
| 1987–1989 | (player-coach) | ||
| 1989–1991 | Shrewsbury Town | ||
| 1991 | Boston United | ||
| 1993 | Stoke City (caretaker manager) | ||
| 1996–2005 | Manchester City (assistant/caretaker manager) | ||
| 2007–2008 | Macclesfield Town (assistant manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
Richard "Asa" Hartford (born 24 October 1950) is a retired Scottish international midfielder and footballer who became famous for failing a medical examination due to the discovery of a heart condition which put paid to a high-profile transfer to Leeds United in November 1971.
He first played for Drumchapel Amateurs in Glasgow, but began his professional career at West Bromwich Albion in 1967. During his time with West Brom, the team won the FA Cup Final in 1968 (although he did not play in the final), were beaten semi-finalists in 1969 and reached the League Cup final in 1970.
Given his role in the team it was no surprise that he would attract interest from the top clubs but in November 1971 a high-profile transfer to Don Revie's Leeds United was cancelled when a suspected hole in-the-heart condition was found during a pre-transfer medical examination. He was eventually transfer listed by then West Brom coach Don Howe alongside favourites Len Cantello and Jeff Astle in April 1974 and his subsequent career made nonsense of the fears occasioned by Leeds' doubting staff. Hartford moved on to Manchester City for £210,000 making his debut in a 4–0 victory over West Ham United, coming to prominence as a strong, talented midfielder helping City win the 1976 League Cup Final, as well as a regular Scottish international.
At the beginning of the 1979–80 season he was transferred to Brian Clough's European Champions at Nottingham Forest (to replace Archie Gemmill) for £500,000 only to be smartly packed off to Everton for £400,000 after 3 games. In October 1981 John Bond brought him back to Maine Road for £375,000. What followed were stints in the United States (Fort Lauderdale Sun), Norwich City (for whom he scored the winning goal in the 1985 League Cup Final), Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic, before he took up coaching/managerial roles with , Shrewsbury Town and Boston United where he made 15 appearances as a player at the age of 40.
...
Wikipedia