Abe Hartley
Encyclopedia
Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton
as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside
rivals Liverpool
and for his local club, Dumbarton
. His career also included stints at Southampton
, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley
at the end of his career. He appeared on the losing side in the 1897 FA Cup Final
while at Everton.
. After youth football with Artizan Thistle, he joined Dumbarton
, where two of his brothers also played, in 1890. During his time with Dumbarton, he converted from a right back
to a forward. While on the books of Dumbarton, the team won the first two Scottish Football League
titles (1890–91 and 1891–92) and the 1891 Scottish Cup Final
, but Hartley was not a regular for the club at this stage.
in 1893, making his debut on 18 March when, playing at inside right, he scored in a 4–2 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers
. That was his only appearance in the 1892–93 season in which Everton finished third in the table. The following season, he made six league appearances, scoring twice, following this up with five goals from 11 appearances in the 1894–95 season when Everton finished as runners-up behind Sunderland
. During this season he remained third–choice striker behind England
internationals, Fred Geary
and Jack Southworth
.
Following Southworth's retirement through injury and Geary's move to Liverpool
, Hartley played more regularly although the arrival of Scotland
international John Cameron
prevented Hartley from claiming the centre-forward's berth as his own. In the 1895–96 season he made 15 appearances, scoring seven goals as Everton finished in third place followed by 14 appearances with six goals in the following season.
In 1897
Everton reached the FA Cup Final
with victories en-route over Burton Wanderers
(5–2), Bury
(3–0), Blackburn Rovers
(2–0) and Derby County
(3–2). Hartley played in all five matches in the cup run, scoring against Blackburn (twice) and Derby. In the final
Everton came up against Aston Villa
who were dominating the Football League season. Although Everton took the lead after 28 minutes with goals from Jack Bell
and Dickie Boyle, they were unable to prevent Villa claiming the Double
with a 3–2 victory.
In the following season, he only made three appearances (scoring a hat-trick
against Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 18 September 1897) before moving across Stanley Park
to join Liverpool
in December.
In his five years at Everton, Hartley made 61 appearances, scoring 28 goals; his appearances were restricted due to the quality of forwards on Everton's books such as Geary, Southworth and Cameron as well as other internationals Alf Milward
, Edgar Chadwick
(both England) and Jack Bell
(Scotland).
By now, Hartley was a member of the Association Footballers' Union
which was trying to improve player's wages and contract terms. In order to improve his wages, Hartley decided to move to the South coast
to join Southampton
.
, Southampton were not bound by the restrictions imposed on Football League clubs and were quite willing to pay higher salaries for talented players. Southampton had just moved into their new stadium at The Dell and had signed England
internationals Arthur Chadwick
, Jack Robinson
and Harry Wood
as well as Scotland
's Jacky Robertson.
Hartley was ever-present until injury forced him to sit out the last three matches of the 1898–99 season as Southampton claimed the Southern League title for the third consecutive year. Hartley's 14 league and two FA Cup goals made him joint top scorer for the season (with Harry Wood).
Hartley would place a hand-rolled cigarette behind his ear prior to kick-off and then smoke it in the changing room at half-time before re-taking the field.
in July 1899 where he scored once in five appearances. He made his debut away to Walsall
on 23 September 1899 and scored his only goal in a 2-1 win over Gainsborough Trinity
on 14 October. However that same month Arsenal signed Ralph Gaudie
from Sheffield United
, who forced Hartley out of the side. Hartley was sold in December, moving back to Lancashire to join Burnley
. His five goals from thirteen appearances were unable to prevent Burnley being relegated to the Second Division
at the end of that season.
. He took up employment with the London and South Western Railway
but collapsed and died outside the pay office in Southampton Docks on 9 October 1909, aged only 37.
Southampton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
rivals Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and for his local club, Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
. His career also included stints at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
at the end of his career. He appeared on the losing side in the 1897 FA Cup Final
1897 FA Cup Final
The 1897 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Everton at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 3–2, with goals by John Campbell, Fred Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree. Everton's goals came from Jack Bell and Dickie Boyle....
while at Everton.
Early days
Hartley was born in Dumbarton, Scotland and was the son of a tailorTailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
. After youth football with Artizan Thistle, he joined Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
, where two of his brothers also played, in 1890. During his time with Dumbarton, he converted from a right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
to a forward. While on the books of Dumbarton, the team won the first two Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
titles (1890–91 and 1891–92) and the 1891 Scottish Cup Final
1891 Scottish Cup Final
The 1891 Scottish Cup Final was played on the 7 February 1891 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 18th season of the Scottish Cup. Hearts and Dumbarton contested the match. Hearts won the match 1–0, thanks to a 15th minute goal from Willie Mason....
, but Hartley was not a regular for the club at this stage.
Everton
He moved south of the border to join EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1893, making his debut on 18 March when, playing at inside right, he scored in a 4–2 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. That was his only appearance in the 1892–93 season in which Everton finished third in the table. The following season, he made six league appearances, scoring twice, following this up with five goals from 11 appearances in the 1894–95 season when Everton finished as runners-up behind Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. During this season he remained third–choice striker behind England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
internationals, Fred Geary
Fred Geary
Fred Geary was an English professional footballer who played at centre forward for Everton in the 1890s, and made two appearances for England, scoring a hat-trick on his debut....
and Jack Southworth
Jack Southworth
John Southworth , was a footballer who played in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers and Everton as well as being capped three times for England...
.
Following Southworth's retirement through injury and Geary's move to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Hartley played more regularly although the arrival of Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international John Cameron
John Cameron (footballer born 1872)
John Cameron was a Scottish footballer and manager. He played as a forward for Queen's Park, Everton and Scotland and was noted as an effective goal-maker and goalscorer. In 1899 he became player-manager at Tottenham Hotspur and guided them to victory in the 1901 FA Cup...
prevented Hartley from claiming the centre-forward's berth as his own. In the 1895–96 season he made 15 appearances, scoring seven goals as Everton finished in third place followed by 14 appearances with six goals in the following season.
In 1897
FA Cup 1896–97
The 1896–1897 FA Cup was the 26th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup . The cup was won by Aston Villa, who defeated Everton 3–2 in the final of the competition, played at Crystal Palace in London...
Everton reached the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
with victories en-route over Burton Wanderers
Burton Wanderers F.C.
Burton Wanderers were a football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England that spent three seasons in The Football League. In 1901, the club merged with Burton Swifts and formed a new club, Burton United.-History:...
(5–2), Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
(3–0), Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
(2–0) and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
(3–2). Hartley played in all five matches in the cup run, scoring against Blackburn (twice) and Derby. In the final
1897 FA Cup Final
The 1897 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Everton at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 3–2, with goals by John Campbell, Fred Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree. Everton's goals came from Jack Bell and Dickie Boyle....
Everton came up against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
who were dominating the Football League season. Although Everton took the lead after 28 minutes with goals from Jack Bell
Jack Bell
John Bell was an early Scottish football player and manager. He was instrumental in organising the Association Footballers' Union in February 1898....
and Dickie Boyle, they were unable to prevent Villa claiming the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
with a 3–2 victory.
In the following season, he only made three appearances (scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 18 September 1897) before moving across Stanley Park
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor-General of Canada....
to join Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in December.
In his five years at Everton, Hartley made 61 appearances, scoring 28 goals; his appearances were restricted due to the quality of forwards on Everton's books such as Geary, Southworth and Cameron as well as other internationals Alf Milward
Alf Milward
Alfred Weatherell Milward was a professional footballer who played in the 1893 and 1897 FA Cup Finals for Everton and in the 1900 FA Cup Final for Southampton.-Playing career:...
, Edgar Chadwick
Edgar Chadwick
Edgar Wallace Chadwick was a left-sided footballer who had a long and distinguished career with Everton during the 1890s...
(both England) and Jack Bell
Jack Bell
John Bell was an early Scottish football player and manager. He was instrumental in organising the Association Footballers' Union in February 1898....
(Scotland).
Liverpool
Hartley stayed at Liverpool for the remainder of the 1897–98 season, making twelve appearances (seven league and five FA Cup) and scoring only once, the winning goal in a 2–1 away win at Sheffield United on 29 December 1897.By now, Hartley was a member of the Association Footballers' Union
Association Footballers' Union
The Association Footballers' Union , formed in England in 1898, was the first attempt by football players in the United Kingdom to organize themselves into a union....
which was trying to improve player's wages and contract terms. In order to improve his wages, Hartley decided to move to the South coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Southampton
Being members of the Southern LeagueSouthern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, Southampton were not bound by the restrictions imposed on Football League clubs and were quite willing to pay higher salaries for talented players. Southampton had just moved into their new stadium at The Dell and had signed England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
internationals Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
, Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
and Harry Wood
Harry Wood (footballer)
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:...
as well as Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
's Jacky Robertson.
Hartley was ever-present until injury forced him to sit out the last three matches of the 1898–99 season as Southampton claimed the Southern League title for the third consecutive year. Hartley's 14 league and two FA Cup goals made him joint top scorer for the season (with Harry Wood).
Hartley would place a hand-rolled cigarette behind his ear prior to kick-off and then smoke it in the changing room at half-time before re-taking the field.
Arsenal and Burnley
Hartley moved to Woolwich ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in July 1899 where he scored once in five appearances. He made his debut away to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on 23 September 1899 and scored his only goal in a 2-1 win over Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
on 14 October. However that same month Arsenal signed Ralph Gaudie
Ralph Gaudie
Ralph Gaudie was an English footballer who played as a centre forward. His playing career is often mixed up the career of his brother, Richard Gaudie, who played for Aston Villa....
from Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, who forced Hartley out of the side. Hartley was sold in December, moving back to Lancashire to join Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. His five goals from thirteen appearances were unable to prevent Burnley being relegated to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
at the end of that season.
Later career
After retiring from football in 1900, Hartley returned to live in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. He took up employment with the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
but collapsed and died outside the pay office in Southampton Docks on 9 October 1909, aged only 37.
Honours
EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
runners-up: 18971897 FA Cup FinalThe 1897 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Everton at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 3–2, with goals by John Campbell, Fred Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree. Everton's goals came from Jack Bell and Dickie Boyle.... - Football League runners-up: 1894–95
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1898–99