Mexborough and Swinton Times October 12, 1928
Bowls Champion-And School Football Organiser
Mr. Wilson Hardy, of West Melton, has for a number of years been connected with many branches of sport, with football and bowls in particular. In these games he has had wide experience as player and manager.
He is a teacher. When at Sheffield Training College he was a member of the football team which he captained in his second year. He was also a member of the University team in the Christie Cup matches when the College was part of the University.
After leaving college he played on several occasions with Doncaster and Worksop. He then turned to football management and his appointment to a Wath school put him in touch with the Wath Athletic Club. He became a member of the football management committee and during his long connection with the club, he has three times held the vice-chairmanship.
In school spurt, particularly football, Mr. Hardy has a notable record. Before the war he was secretary of the Wath School Association. Then lie had four years active service. After the war he was one of the chief movers in the revival of school football, as a result of which the present Dearne Valley Association was formed. In this association he has been president and treasurer. In 1920 he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Yorkshire County School Sport Association and after an unbroken period of service became Chairman of the Council in 1927.
Mr. Hardy realised the gap between school and senior football and felt the need for suitable intermediate organisation. He was one of the founders of the Dearne Valley Old Boys club, of which he has been president since its inception.
In the summer Mr. Hardy’s interests are chiefly in bowls. He took up the game in 1913 and won a Wath League medal in 1914. Since the war he has been a regular member of the Wath Athletic Club and has a number of medals, including four “Telegraph” Cup and two Ledingham Bowl awards; but the most valued is the Yorkshire Cup medal won this year. In the last-named competition he was in great form. He played through both the Yorkshire and “Telegraph” Cup competitions without being beaten. With Mr. G. Jackson he set up a Ledingham Bowl record by winning a game 21-1; and with Mrs. Worrall he won the Mexbro’ Mixed Doubles Merit, competition. He was finalist in the Rotherham League Merit competition, 1919; and finalist in the Victory Tournament, the chief tournament of the district, in 1925 and 1927. He is chairman of the Wath Bowls Club and the Wath Bowls League competition. As a member of the Wath Athletic Ground Committee he takes an interest in most games and has served on the cricket and tennis committees.