Airdrieonians' experienced midfielder Martin Hardie has enjoyed a 17 year career at 9 different clubs and whilst his spell at Dunfermline Athletic only lasted a little more than 15 months his impact there was huge.
The Diamonds travel to East End Park this weekend and Hardie is looking to appear in front of the Pars fans one more after injury as he explained: “I am hoping that my ankle injury will have cleared up. I went back to training on Monday night and was involved with most of the guys that played on Saturday whereas everyone else was away to a reserve game.”
“The rest of the week was a case of so far and so good. It would be great to be ready and give the manager a decision to make. I will be looking to show that I am fully fit and an option for this game.”
Hardie added: “I had 3 or 4 weeks of suffering from a calf injury when I first came here but got myself back into things. I made the bench for the Rangers game that was played on a Friday night, however when I went on I hurt my ankle. It has been really frustrating for me and for the club as I came here to play and hopefully I will at East End Park.”
Returning to Fife will invoke memories of 9 goals in 30 starts in the First Division and SPL for Dunfermline and Hardie said: “That is not a bad return but at one stage in the First Division it was 8 goals in 12 games. That was a big bonus for me and for Dunfermline as I had been brought in to get goals from midfield after leaving St Johnstone.”
“There were a few experienced players chipping in at that time including Andy Kirk and David Graham and I did my bit as well. There were also a few important ones in my spell there including a last minute winner up at Ross County and of course the two goals against Raith Rovers.”
The two goals against the Rovers came in April 2011 in a crucial battle for the First Division as the two Fife clubs jostled for a place in the SPL.
Hardie said: “The two goals against Raith Rovers set Dunfermline up for winning the League. That was a really big game as by that stage it was only just the two of us that were going for promotion. There was a bit of hype from Raith and the quotes we saw were pinned up to the Dressing Room wall and that helped gee us up.”
“The weather was a real mixture that day as well and everything added up to a real blood and thunder occasion. It was not a great game but we came out on top after going a goal behind when John Baird scored. It was great to score the two goals as well especially the free kick that won the game.”
Hardie netted with a header before sending home a free kick that curled around the Rovers’ defensive wall and nestling past David McGurn. It was then and remains now a firm favourite of Hardie and Dunfermline fans with the goalscorer saying: “I have watched the free kick a few times on YouTube where there is a clip of a fan voicing over commentary and that is great fun to listen to. The fans loved the goal and it is great to remember the reaction that it got.”
Winning promotion was nothing new to Hardie who said; “I have won the First Division at Partick, St Johnstone and then Dunfermline. That time at Dunfermline was very successful as I also picked up the Irn-Bru Player of the Month for April as well.”
“To be honest I was actually disappointed that I did not win it in the March.”
Promotion to the top flight was only just over 2 years ago for Dunfermline, however they now sit in League 2 with Hardie saying: “We went up but had a difficult season in the SPL despite starting well. We had a few injury problems and when you only have a squad of 17/ 18 players it can be difficult going. We lost some soft goals and that hurt.”
“We would be holding our own in games and creating chances, however you have to be clinical in the top flight. We would create and miss and then make a mistake. Bang we were one down as better teams punish you relentlessly.”
“That all led to Jim McIntyre being sacked and that was disappointing. Jim Jefferies came in and we were a bit more resolute, however we still went down and I left. However overall it was a fantastic time to be at Dunfermline as we had won a League and I enjoyed my spell there.”
Hardie moved west as he explained: “Last season I went to Morton and for the first half of the season Dunfermline, Thistle and ourselves were all going for promotion. We had played each other home and away and there was nothing between us at Christmas time.”
Things changed due to well-documented financial issues at Dunfermline with Hardie saying: “Here we are 9 months later and because of issues away from the football field Dunfermline went down and not up. They are a young team now and the boys in their first team are getting their chance to make their way in the game.”
“If that can keep hold of these players they can rise again and how knows within a couple of years be back in the Premiership. It would be a strange way to do the journey but it can happen.”
Hardie is hoping that he can get on the park and remind Dunfermline of happier times and he said: “I got a more than decent reaction when I went back with Morton although it was a painful experience as after about 25 minutes I got a broken rib. I have never felt pain like it in my life and the Morton manager Allan Moore was asking me if I was alright and I couldn’t get my breath to make a shout to him.”
“I must have been held in high regard by the fans there as they gave me a good reaction when I came on. Fans are good that way in that if you do well for their club and help them win something they remember.”
Craig Stewart
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