When Paul Hartley stroked away a penalty at Alloa Athletic’s Recreation Park on 24th August of last year in a Co-operative Insurance Cup Second Round tie, you would have got very long odds that when the same competition started this year as the Scottish Communities League Cup, he would be the Manager of the team he scored against.
Hartley netted his fourth goal in his third game for Aberdeen that night as the Dons defeated Allan Maitland’s Wasps 3-0 with Rory McArdle and Chris Maguire adding the others.
Shortly afterwards, Hartley was named in the Scotland squad to face Lithuania in a Euro 2012 Group I Qualifying Game however, move forward 11 months and not one Alloa player remains at the club and Hartley is one of five players in the Dons starting line-up to no longer be at Pittodrie.
Hartley is now more concerned about the Wasps than the Dons as a knee injury sustained against St. Mirren in March ended his playing days at the top level. However, he remembers his solo League Cup campaign in red well.
Hartley said: “That penalty was in my first cup game for Aberdeen and came just after a hat-trick of penalties against Hamilton. The game really changed then as only quarter of an hour had been played and the Alloa goalkeeper, Stephen Robertson, was sent off in the incident leading up to the penalty.
“Aberdeen went on to reach the Semi-Finals of The Co-operative Insurance Cup last season and I scored against Raith Rovers in a 3-2 win in the next round and a double to win the Quarter Final against Falkirk.”
As well as enjoying a fine run with the Dons last season, Hartley has a winners' medal from this competition from his days as a Celtic player when he was part of a Gordon Strachan squad that defeated Rangers 2-0 at Hampden in the Cup Final in March 2009.
That win gave him a clean sweep of domestic medals, something not achieved by Strachan as a player, with Hartley saying: “I feel very fortunate to have a winners' medal in the League Cup.”
Hartley had, of course, won a Scottish Cup winners' medal with Heart of Midlothian in 2006 and two League Championship successes with Celtic in seasons 2006/07 and 2007/08 however, he has now begun a new career in football management.
The move into management was not triggered by the knee knock with 34-year-old Hartley saying: “Becoming a Manager is something I have had in my head since I turned 30. I started taking things seriously then about furthering my football career in such a role. I was really fortunate that this opportunity came up when it did.
“People have said the next best thing to playing is managing and I am now going to find out if that is the case.”
Hartley returned to the north east to make his managerial debut last Saturday in The Ramsdens Cup at Peterhead’s Balmoor Stadium and after a closely fought 2-2 draw, the Blue Toon edged out Alloa 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.
Despite the scoreline, Hartley was upbeat saying: “It was certainly an experience being at the side of the park and whilst it was a disappointing result, it was an enjoyable day. I was delighted with the effort put in by the players especially as it was blowing a gale and not a day for playing a great deal of passing football.
"There were certain aspects of our game that were very encouraging and other aspects that need a bit of work on.”
Only full back Ross Philp remains at the Clackmannanshire club from the squad that were relegated last season after losing and end of season Play-Off against Annan and Hartley who was appointed within days of that disappointment has had a busy summer.
Hartley explained, “We have brought in 19 players over a 5 week period from various levels of football. We are still gelling and the more games we play the better we will become. We are working hard on creating a team spirit as that will be essential as the season goes on.”
“I am delighted with the players that have been brought in but there are is still some players to come in as I have not finished re-building yet.”
The signings Hartley has made are
Goalkeepers – Scott Bain, Craig McDowall
Defenders – Michael Doyle, Ben Gordon, Ryan Harding, Mark McCullagh, Mark Docherty, Fraser Forrest, Stirling Smith
Midfielders – Darren Young, Ryan McCord, Ross McCord, Graeme Holmes, Peter Innes
Forwards – Kevin Cawley, Armand One, Ryan Caddis, Craig Campbell, Max Wright
Hartley is in no rush to get his boots back on amongst his squad despite registering himself as a player and facing one of his former clubs, Morton tomorrow, as he explained, “We have built a squad here quickly, and are still looking to add to it, but we are strong in midfield so I will take a back seat for just now. I am delighted with the players we have so there is no rush for me to be involved and I am certainly not 100% fit as yet.”
“I had terrific treatment when I was at Aberdeen but I still have a bit of pain in my knee.”
The 25 times capped midfielder 
would have enjoyed facing the Greenock side as he always gets a good reception from their fans for his efforts as the New Millennium began as he explained, “I spent a month there on loan from Hibs at the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000 and played in three First Division games. I scored once with a free kick against St Mirren and their fans seemed to enjoy me doing that.”
“I watched them play a few games last season and I have always viewed Morton as a terrific club and they will be hard opponents for Alloa.”
Hartley added, “Any team that scores 8 times like they did against Stranraer last weekend demands respect. I had Morton watched in that game and the report that came back has told me how strong they were going forward particularly in the second half.”
“All the pressure is on them for this game as they are a First Division side but it a Cup tie and we will give it our best shot.”
Other former Morton players at Recreation Park this season are Ryan Harding, Graeme Holmes and Derek Young and the latter plays a Captain’s role in the Wasps sterling work in their local community.
Hartley said, “Alloa are big players in the local area and Darren has combined his playing role with us with a coaching role in the local community. I knew beforehand that the club were heavily involved in attracting youngsters to play football and Darren will be doing his best to get even more people involved.”
“First and foremost my role is to look after the first team and I am really enjoying that role.”
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