Michael Hart (footballer)

Michael Hart
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-02-10) 10 February 1980
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Right back
Club information
Current team
 Huntly
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Aberdeen 16 (0)
2000 → Livingston (loan) 3 (0)
2000–2001 → Livingston (loan) 22 (0)
2001–2003 Livingston 32 (0)
2003–2008 Aberdeen 107 (0)
2008–2010 Preston North End 19 (0)
2010–2012 Hibernian 24 (0)
2012 St Johnstone 0 (0)
2012 Airdrie United 13 (0)
2013– Huntly 15 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:54, 20 February 2013 (UTC).


Michael Hart (born 10 February 1980, in Bellshill) is a Scottish footballer, who currently plays for Huntly. Hart plays as a right back, and previously played for Aberdeen, Livingston, Preston North End, Hibernian, St Johnstone and Airdrie United.

Career

Hart came through the ranks at Aberdeen and made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline Athletic in 1998. He made a total of 19 first team appearances before moving on to Livingston on loan in 2000. His move to Livingston was made permanent in July 2001[1] and he helped them to a third-place finish in their first season in the SPL, which gave them qualification for the 2002–03 UEFA Cup.

Hart returned to Aberdeen in February 2003[2] and, after a shaky start, established himself as a fleet-footed, quick tackling right back. He missed most of the 2005–06 season due to a knee injury, featuring in only four matches. He came back into the team for the 2006–07 season and featured in almost every game, helping the club to a third-place finish in the league. In July 2007, Hart was involved in a car crash whilst on tour with Aberdeen in Egypt, along with team-mate Jamie Smith. Neither player was seriously hurt.

In January 2008, Hart signed a pre-contract agreement with Preston North End and was expected to move to Deepdale at the end of the season. However, on 31 January, Preston had an offer thought to be £100,000 accepted for the right-back.[3] Hart then suffered from a succession of injuries, making only 25 appearances for Preston in over two years with the club.[4] Preston manager Darren Ferguson listed Hart for transfer in May 2010.[4]

Hart returned to Scotland in July 2010, with Hibernian, after his contract with Preston was cancelled.[5] Hart's preferred position of right back had been a significant problem for Hibs during the previous season.[4] He had been a target for Hibs manager John Hughes, who had been unable to sign him previously for "different reasons".[4] Shortly after signing, Hart scored his first goal for 12 years and his first ever in club football, in a friendly against ADO Den Haag.[6]

Hart suffered a serious groin injury in a friendly match against Sunderland in August 2011.[7][8] He made a handful of appearances for Hibs in the 2011–12 season, before he was released from his contract by mutual consent on 31 January 2012.[9]

Hart then signed for St Johnstone on a short term contract until the end of the 2011–12 season.[10] He joined Airdrie United in July 2012, but left in November the same year to pursue a full-time career outwith football.[11][12]

Huntly signed Hart on 20 February 2013.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Livingston make 17 signings". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 July 2001.
  2. ↑ "Bank books stay closed". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 February 2003.
  3. ↑ "Dons' Hart completes Preston move". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "I didn't need to be sold on move to Hibs, says new boy Michael Hart". Daily Record. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Hibernian sign Michael Hart from Preston". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Hart Targeting More Goals". Hibernian F.C. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Squad Injury Update". Hibernian F.C. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  8. ↑ Hardie, David (20 August 2011). "Injury leaves Hibs' Hart to mull quitting". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Akpo Sodje and Michael Hart leave Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "St Johnstone sign Michael Hart as Carl Finnigan joins Dundee". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "SIGNING NEWS". airdriefc.com. Airdrie United FC. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Paterson, Colin (26 July 2012). "Airdrie United plan to strengthen squad". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  13. ↑ http://www.ngrfoundation.co.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28131&Itemid=1
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