Lewis Hardcastle

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lewis Hardcastle

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Lewis James Hardcastle{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Barrow |publisher=English Football League |page=6 |accessdate=17 September 2020}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|7|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bolton, England{{Soccerway|lewis-hardcastle/426353}}

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2004–2015

| youthclubs1 = Blackburn Rovers

| years1 = 2015–2019

| clubs1 = Blackburn Rovers

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2015

| clubs2 = → Salford City (loan)

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2018–2019

| clubs3 = → Port Vale (loan)

| caps3 = 6

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019

| clubs4 = → Barrow (loan)

| caps4 = 9

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2019–2021

| clubs5 = Barrow

| caps5 = 54

| goals5 = 4

| totalcaps = 79

| totalgoals = 6

| manageryears1 = 2022

| managerclubs1 = Daisy Hill

}}

Lewis James Hardcastle (born 4 July 1998) is an English football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Having been with Blackburn Rovers since the age of six, he turned professional at the club in December 2015 after impressing on loan at Salford City. He captained the Blackburn Rovers U23 team to the Premier League 2 Division 2 title during the 2017–18 season. He joined Port Vale on loan for the first half of the 2018–19 season and signed permanently with Barrow in February 2019 following a loan spell. He helped Barrow to win promotion into the Football League as champions of the National League in the 2019–20 season.

Hardcastle retired from football in March 2021, aged 22, after being diagnosed with a heart condition. He was appointed manager of Daisy Hill in February 2022.

Club career

=Blackburn Rovers=

Hardcastle joined the Academy at Blackburn Rovers at the age of six.{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Rich |title='The club have done a lot for me - Rovers youngster Lewis Hardcastle delighted to sign contract extension |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/15690426._The_club_have_done_a_lot_for_me_-_Rovers_youngster_Lewis_Hardcastle_delighted_to_sign_contract_extension/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=29 November 2017 |language=en}} He played 12 games for the under-18 team during the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |title=Lewis Hardcastle - Midfielder - Profiles - Blackburn Rovers |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/teams/development-squad/profiles/midfielder/lewis-hardcastle/ |website=www.rovers.co.uk |accessdate=30 August 2018 |language=en-gb}} He appeared for the under-21 team in the second leg of the Under-21 Premier League Cup final defeat to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on 20 April 2015, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute for David Carson in what ended as a 2–1 defeat after extra time.{{cite news |title=REPORT: Southampton 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (Under-21 Premier League Cup final second leg) |url=https://southamptonfc.com/news/2015-04-20/report-southampton-21-blackburn-rovers-under21-premier-league-cup-final-second-leg |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Southampton FC |date=20 April 2015}} He scored two goals in 22 appearances for the under-18's during the 2014–15 season.

On 24 September 2015, Hardcastle joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Salford City on a one-month loan deal.{{cite news |title=Blackburn Rovers youngster Lewis Hardcastle joins 'Class of 92' side Salford City |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/13778951.Blackburn_Rovers_youngster_Lewis_Hardcastle_joins__Class_of_92__side_Salford_City/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=24 September 2015 |language=en}} The 17-year-old's loan deal was later extended to three months, after which time co-manager Anthony Johnson said that "we're devastated to be losing him because he's been an integral part of what we've done".{{cite news |title=Praise for returning Blackburn Rovers youngster Lewis Hardcastle |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14164855.Praise_for_returning_Blackburn_Rovers_youngster_Lewis_Hardcastle/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=24 December 2015 |language=en}} He helped the "Ammies" to reach the Second Round of the FA Cup, eliminating Notts County in the First Round with a 2–0 win at Moor Lane.{{cite news |last1=Wheelock |first1=Paul |title=Blackburn Rovers youngster helps Salford City pull off FA Cup giant-killing |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/13951420.Blackburn_Rovers_youngster_helps_Salford_City_pull_off_FA_Cup_giant-killing/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=6 November 2015 |language=en}} He signed his first professional contract with Rovers whilst at Salford, after manager Paul Lambert gave him a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract.{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Joe |title=Blackburn Rovers Starlet Lewis Hardcastle Agrees Professional Terms Under Paul Lambert |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/2809240-blackburn-rovers-starlet-lewis-hardcastle-agrees-professional-terms-under-paul-lambert |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=90min.com |date=18 December 2015 |language=en}} He returned to playing for the "Riversiders" youth team and scored the only goal of the game against Luton Town in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.{{cite news |last1=Wheelock |first1=Paul |title=Lewis Hardcastle the hero as Blackburn Rovers book place in FA Youth Cup semi-finals |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14296886.Lewis_Hardcastle_the_hero_as_Blackburn_Rovers_book_place_in_FA_Youth_Cup_semi-finals/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=23 February 2016 |language=en}} He scored three goals in 26 youth team appearances during the 2015–16 season and scored two goals in 33 youth-team appearances during the 2016–17 season, including three appearances in the EFL Trophy. In November 2017 he signed a new contract to keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2019.{{cite news |title=Hardcastle signs new deal |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/november/hardcastle-signs-new-deal/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=rovers.co.uk |date=28 November 2017 |language=en-gb}} He went on to captain the under-23 team to the Premier League 2 Division 2 title at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news |title=Hardcastle joins Valiants on loan |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/august/hardcastle-joins-valiants-on-loan/ |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=rovers.co.uk |date=30 August 2018 |language=en-gb}}

On 30 August 2018, Hardcastle joined EFL League Two side Port Vale on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |title=Ben Whitfield & Lewis Hardcastle: Port Vale add youngsters to squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45359000 |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2018}} He said that "the gaffer (Tony Mowbray) said to me I needed to go out and play games in men's football, come back strong and fit and you never know" and that he was "excited about the challenge" in playing in the English Football League.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=Blackburn boss told Vale signing to go and prove himself in League Two |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/port-vale-blackburn-lewis-hardcastle-1957692 |accessdate=31 August 2018 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=31 August 2018}} He made his first-team debut two days later after starting in a 2–1 defeat to Newport County at Vale Park.{{cite news |title=Port Vale v Newport County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45304953 |accessdate=1 September 2018 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2018}} However, he made only five starts and four substitute appearances for Neil Aspin's "Valiants" before he was recalled to Blackburn on 7 January.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Transfer news: Lewis Hardcastle returns to Blackburn Rovers from Port Vale |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/blackburn-rovers-port-vale-hardcastle-2400986 |accessdate=7 January 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=7 January 2019}}

=Barrow=

On 8 February 2019, he joined National League side Barrow on an initial one-month youth loan.{{cite news |last1=Bazeley |first1=Marc |title=Rovers midfielder Hardcastle makes AFC loan move |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/17419958.barrow-afc-sign-blackburn-rovers-lewis-hardcastle-on-loan/ |accessdate=9 February 2019 |work=The Mail |date=8 February 2019 |language=en}} The deal was made into a permanent move on 28 March after he impressed "Bluebirds" boss Ian Evatt with his dynamism and bravery in midfield;{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Matt |title=Hardcastle joins Barrow AFC on a permanent transfer |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/17535041.midfielder-lewis-hardcastle-signs-for-barrow-afc-on-a-permanent-transfer-from-blackburn-rovers/ |accessdate=28 March 2019 |work=The Mail |date=28 March 2019 |language=en}} he signed a contract to run until summer 2020.{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Rich |title=Rovers allow youngster to leave on permanent deal |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17535081.rovers-allow-youngster-to-leave-on-permanent-deal/ |accessdate=28 March 2019 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=28 March 2019 |language=en}} He scored three goals in 41 appearances in the 2019–20 season, which was permanently suspended on 26 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with Barrow top of the table.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52381612 |title=National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately |newspaper=BBC Sport |accessdate=22 March 2020}} Though the season was not resumed, Barrow went on to be promoted to the Football League as National League champions.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale's message to Barrow after they clinch promotion with former Valiants |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vales-message-barrow-after-4238277 |accessdate=18 June 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=18 June 2020}}

On 24 March 2021, Hardcastle announced his retirement from football at the age of 22 after being diagnosed with a heart problem (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy).{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2021/march/240321-barrow-midfielder-lewis-hardcastle-forced-to-retire-following-diagnosis-of-issue-with-heart/|title=Club Statement: Lewis Hardcastle|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=24 March 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56516954|title=Barrow's Hardcastle retires aged 22|work=BBC Sport}} An Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was fitted to his heart to keep him alive.{{cite book |title=official matchday programme Port Vale v Exeter City |date=2 April 2021 |page=9 |url=https://pvfc-shop.com/portvale/download/oxrIdLJLLD8CSS0LyPn5.pdf |access-date=20 August 2023}}

International career

Hardcastle was called up to England C team for their friendly fixture against Wales C on 24 March 2020.{{Cite news |title=England C squad announced ahead of Wales C clash |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/29442/england-c-squad-announced-ahead-of-wales-c-clash/ |publisher=TheFA |date=3 March 2020 |accessdate=5 March 2020}} The match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.

Style of play

Hardcastle played as a box-to-box midfielder.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=Vale double transfer swoop as Whitfield returns and Hardcastle arrives |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/port-vale-transfer-whitfield-hardcastle-1952834 |accessdate=30 August 2018 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=30 August 2018}}

Coaching career

In February 2022, Hardcastle was announced to be the new head coach of NWCFL Division One North club Daisy Hill.{{cite tweet|number=1495820723180421121|title=🤝📝 NEW HEAD COACH Daisy Hill FC are delighted to announce the signing of new head coach @HardcastleLewi1. The Ex-professional footballer will join the Cutters immediately and we look forward to the future with Lewis and the team! #UpTheCutters⚪️🔵|user=OfficialDHFC|author-link=Daisy Hill F.C.|date=21 February 2022}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=5\|Blackburn Rovers \|2015–16{{Soccerbase season\|id=88998\|season=2015\|accessdate=1 July 2018}}	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016–17{{Soccerbase season\|id=88998\|season=2016\|accessdate=1 July 2018}}	EFL Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017–18{{Soccerbase season\|id=88998\|season=2017\|accessdate=1 July 2018}}	EFL League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018–19{{Soccerbase season\|id=88998\|season=2018\|accessdate=1 July 2018}}	EFL Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Salford City (loan) \|2015–16{{Cite web\|title=Results\|url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/results/\|access-date=2020-12-27\|website=Salford City Football Club\|language=en-GB}} \|Northern Premier \|10 \|0 \|7 \|0 \| - \| - \|2{{efn\|name=fatcc\|1 appearance in the FA Trophy and 1 appearance in the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup}} \|0 \|19 \|0
Blackburn Rovers U23 \|2016–17	–	0	0	0	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=flt\|Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy}}	0	3	0
Port Vale (loan) \|2018–19 \|League Two \|6	0	0	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=flt}}	0	9	0
rowspan="4"\|Barrow \|2018–19	National League	15	3	0	0\|

\|0	0	15	3
2019–20 \|National League \|36	2	1	0\|

\|4{{efn\|name=fat\|Appearances in the FA Trophy}}	1	41	3
2020–21 \|League Two \|12	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	13	1
colspan="2"\|Total !63	6	1	0	1	0	4	1	69	7
colspan="3"\|Career total !79	6	8	0	1	0	12	1	100	7