Partick Thistle have enjoyed two wins in their last three outings and Jags fans have also had the bonus of being able to watch a former favourite in action as on-loan St. Johnstone midfielder Martin Hardie returned to action for Ian McCall’s men.
The move to bring Hardie back to his old stomping ground is a win-win situation for everyone concerned with the 34-year-old saying, “I needed games and Thistle needed experience so everything fell into place nicely.”
Hardie’s journey to his second spell in Maryhill began not too far away from the Glasgow ground as he explains, “I played with Yoker Under-21s, who were a Juvenile side separate to the Yoker Junior side, and I got picked up by Queen’s Park.
“I had offers to move to the Junior game however, Hugh McCann took me to Hampden and I spent a couple of years there.”
His time at Queen’s Park was not wasted as Hardie explains, “It was a big step up after playing on public parks but it was not just the facilities I benefited from as I gained a great grounding in the game. I was only 19 and there were great guys there like Ross Caven and Graeme Elder and I learnt a lot from them.
“It was also the first time I had done any real physical work in terms of training and I like to think that I learnt my trade there as a footballer.”
McCann, now the Head of Youth Development at Alloa Athletic, moved on to manage East Stirlingshire and he took Hardie to Firs Park with the midfielder saying, “He must have seen something in me that he liked.”
Partick Thistle’s John Lambie must have also seen something in Hardie that he liked during his 18 months at East Stirling as he took him to Firhill to play in the Second Division in March 2000.
Hardie said, “East Stirling had played Partick in a Scottish Cup tie early in 2000 and lost 2-1 and in the last week of March, John Lambie took me to Firhill. I played the last six games of the season and then went on to help them to the Second Division title the following season which we won up at Forfar.”
Just as important as the reward of a League Championship medal was the further experience that Hardie was picking up as he explained, “It was another learning curve for me as I was playing with really experienced players like Ray Montgomerie, Albert Craig and Derek McWilliams. They had played at a really high level and whilst I thought I was a good player in the Third Division, these guys showed me how much I needed to learn to progress.”
Thistle then went on to win the First Division title to give Hardie a second Championship medal and not only had he become a full-time player by this time, he had also given up work in the building trade to do so.
He was on a journey from the Third Division to the Second to the First and now the SPL in a short period of time and he had picked up a nickname along the way.
Hardie commented, “I spent a season with Thistle in the SPL and by that time, they had me christened as ‘Mad Mental Martin Hardie.’ I am not sure of the origins but I have a couple of theories one of which is my playing style.
“I am a player that does not just turn up for games, I put a lot into them and I was also still learning at that time so I picked up a few bookings. I also scored a few goals for Thistle and I always enjoyed celebrating my goals with Thistle fans so I reckon some of it comes from that as well.
“I really enjoyed my time there – it was three different seasons in three different divisions and I had learned a lot about the game.”
In the summer of 2003, Jim Jefferies took Hardie to Kilmarnock but after a bright start, life in Ayrshire faded as injuries ruined Hardie’s time at Rugby Park.
“I started ten games and came on as a sub in eight games,” said Hardie before adding, “However, I had a groin injury that was really restricting me. In the February of that season I had to go through an anti-inflammatory procedure and that cut short my time as a Kilmarnock player.”
Another experienced old head from Partick got in touch to help with Hardie saying, “Sandy Stewart was a former Thistle player and he was the Manager at Airdrie United and he took me there for one and a half seasons. Owen Coyle was also there as a Player/Coach before he left for St. Johnstone in April 2005.”
The following January saw Coyle and Hardie reunited at Perth with Hardie saying, “I have been coming to Perth for nearly five years now. I have picked up another Championship medal although it took a bit longer than I hoped.
“The first year I was at McDiarmid Park, I thought we were in with a shout and then St. Mirren ran away with things and the following year of course, it was Gretna. Then Owen left and up came Hamilton Accies but we finally got there at the end of season 2008/09 under Derek McInnes.”
Last season started well with Hardie saying, “It was great for me to be back in the SPL and things started off really well. I was involved in the opening dozen or so games either starting or as a substitute before I picked up two injuries at the one time.”
The injuries picked up by Hardie were not small niggles as he explained, “I was playing in a friendly against Falkirk at Stirling University about this time last year when I was injured. At first, I did not think it was as serious as it turned out to be. I had fractured my tibia bone and ruptured a cruciate ligament. Not only had I fractured my tibia, it had been crushed by 15mm.
“I had to go through two operations separately with the fracture operation happening last November and then the cruciate one in March. There was a four month gap healing process between them but for eight weeks, I could not put my foot on the floor. There was a plate inserted to fill the gap in my tibia.”
It was to be a frustrating period for Hardie who said, “Between my first operation and the bad weather last year, I was confined to my house for a long time and it was a really long winter for me.
“I was told that the recovery period from the cruciate operation was 24 weeks but at 22 weeks, I was ahead of schedule and ready to get going again.”
Hardie paid credit to Kilmarnock physio Alex McQueen, who helped him through his period out of the game saying, “I could not go up to Perth every day so Alex helped me out at the Science Park in Glasgow. He has great experience in dealing with injuries of this type and the help from him has been great.
“I started heading back to Perth at the beginning of this season, first of all doing light work and then becoming more and more adventurous. I started running again, then twisting and turning and began training with the first team again in September.”
Hardie needed games and First Division Partick needed experience so these two needs were met in the one deal when Hardie moved to Firhill on loan.
“I had played three reserve team friendlies,” said Hardie before adding, “The first one lasted 45 minutes against Rangers at Murray Park and then 90 minutes against Hearts and St. Mirren. Then, when the Thistle offer came up, I did not need much persuading.
“I had a good time at Thistle before and I am having a good time again and winning two of the three games I have played in has certainly helped. They have some good young players and I am hoping that I am adding some benefit to them.”
Hardie is targeting another six points in his remaining two games saying, “I have another two games. Dundee away this weekend and then Morton at Firhill before heading back to Perth.”
Playing at Thistle has given Hardie great satisfaction as he explained, “My contract at St. Johnstone is up on 31st December and to be fair to them, they gave me that deal in the summer to prove my fitness.
“The games with Thistle have given me no ill effects, not even a twinge, and my re-hab programme has delivered so it has worked out well.
“I have played with players that have complained about suffering pain from knee injuries but I have not felt anything.”
Hardie had one final message for the Thistle fans saying, “I would love to leave Firhill having picked up another six points and hear the fans sing ‘Mad Mental Martin Hardie’.
“Hopefully, they have seen in my loan spell that I have not just been playing there to get myself fit for St. Johnstone.”
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