Farewell to Gary Hart in Sussex

[The Large One]

My first ever game with just a mate (maybe my first ever game ever!) was his Testimonial. His song to this day remains my favourite song. The Great Escape.

Say what you will but Poyet didn't have to give him a send off at Withdean. I'm glad he did though!

It was Poyet who insisted Harty stick around long enough to play in the Sussex Senior Cup Final, and subsequently made him captain.

Harty really didn't want to play as he felt he was getting too much attention. He loves football, but HATES the limelight.

But it was a fine send-off for him.

 

[goldstone]

You see, here's what makes me think he should have a banner up on the wall at the Amex.

Not just for the many years of whole-hearted service. Not just the amazing value (how many players cost £1000 these days?). Not just for the goals, the promotion seasons, or the occasionally mental tackling. Not just for making more appearances for the Albion than all but four men.

But because you know it would really, really mean something to him to be there. Does Leon Knight give a shit whether his image is up on the wall? I doubt it. Would Gary? Hell yes, I reckon he'd be over the moon.

And I'd say he's earned it.

100% agree with you on this.

 

[Norman Potting]

Me again. Haven't checked to see if this has already been added but it is a lovely 5'



Some class goals there.

 

[Hotchilidog]

oops wrong thread!

 

[The Large One]

The key with this situation is make sure it doesn't escalate. Sadly after the overthrow of an elected (no matter what you thought of it) government Putin's actions could hardly have been a surprise. To listen to John Kerry and William Hague talk about this 'invasion' on a thin pretext being unacceptable is quite frankly nauseating given our record of doing just that over the last decade or two on multiple occasions. How they can talk of democracy when they supported the coup in the first place is also hypocrisy of the highest order.

It is quite clear that there is massive divide in the Ukraine between those who look to the West and those who look to Russia, this is is not a simple good guy, bad guy narrative here. The best option for the Ukraine would have been to wait for elections and vote the govt out if that was what they wanted, or used parliament. The moment you circumnavigate parliamentary democracy then pretty much all bets are and you have to be prepared for a power vacuum.

For the record I cannot stand Putin, I think he is a vile dictator overseeing a country run by intolerance and corruption. However, he holds all the cards here, and to think otherwise is simply naive and dangerous. How this situation is dealt with requires careful diplomacy not bluster and sabre rattling.

This, for me, has always been Harty's main problem, never really had much success with foreign attackers.

 

[Norman Potting]

This, for me, has always been Harty's main problem, never really had much success with foreign attackers.

But I am sure that if he went over there they would all be filled with an overwhelming sense of goodwill to each other and the problem would be solved. And Putin would realise he was a CJTC, change his ways and the world would be a saner happier place.

 

[upthealbion1970]

It was Poyet who insisted Harty stick around long enough to play in the Sussex Senior Cup Final, and subsequently made him captain.

Harty really didn't want to play as he felt he was getting too much attention. He loves football, but HATES the limelight.

But it was a fine send-off for him.

 

[MarioOrlandi]

A player who really wanted to play for us at a time when we needed it. With Richie Barker I think that was one of my favourite forward lines.

Could not agree with you more, remember his first goal at Scarborough, he gave the defender a 20yd start and mullered him
OH GARY HART
GARY GARY GARY HART

 

[MarioOrlandi]

I think there should also be a special mention for his best mate Kerry Mayo, who but for a season would have played at all four "home" grounds

 

[MarioOrlandi]

Indeed , first goalscorer at both I believe

 

[Norman Potting]

You see, here's what makes me think he should have a banner up on the wall at the Amex.

Not just for the many years of whole-hearted service. Not just the amazing value (how many players cost £1000 these days?). Not just for the goals, the promotion seasons, or the occasionally mental tackling. Not just for making more appearances for the Albion than all but four men.

But because you know it would really, really mean something to him to be there. Does Leon Knight give a shit whether his image is up on the wall? I doubt it. Would Gary? Hell yes, I reckon he'd be over the moon.

And I'd say he's earned it.

That, cubed.

 

[CAPTAIN GREALISH]

cheers gary all the best in what ever you do

 

[BN9 BHA]

Me again. Haven't checked to see if this has already been added but it is a lovely 5'



Some class goals there.

Enjoyed watching that
I agree some class goals there, proper 100% footballer we were lucky he played for us.

 

[MarioOrlandi]

100% agree with you on this.

We had better start a campaign then!

 

[Razzoo]

OGH was such a gutsy battler, all the best for your future. Some superb goals, one away at Huddersfield sticks out for me.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Every time OGH was in the starting 11 you knew his effort and endeavour alone it would make it worth the admission cost. Shame my kids were never old enough to see him play because when people talk about role models in sport you'd have to go a long way to find a better one than Harty.

Hopefully I'll bump into him up here in north Essex one day and get to say thanks.

 

[summer]

Hi everyone, Gary's mum here. Just like to thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes about Gary. I've loved reading them. He is moving back to Harlow very soon to start a new project in this area. He's not giving up football just yet and will be signing for a team in this area. He often speaks about his Brighton days with fondness and I know he (and his dad and I), would be so proud to have his name up on the wall out side the Amex Stadium. He is hoping Brighton make the play offs this year and would love to come back to the Amex and watch them in the Premier League. Thanks again Maureen

 

[Man of Harveys]

Brilliant player. Brilliant bloke. Yes, he was a rare ray of light among the dog sh1t-strewn alleys of Gillingham but he was bloody magnificent throughout our time at Withdean too.

If that man ever has to pay for a drink in Sussex again when there's an Albion fan nearby, then something's gone very wrong in the world.

 

[Man of Harveys]

Right, this is perhaps the last time I'll get to eulogise about the man whom I described on NSC as 'my wearer', so it would seem quite wrong to pass it up.

Having watched the Albion since '78 and seen a number of heroes along the way (Ward, Robinson, Foster, Case, Zamora et al), I can honestly say that no one player stirred my soul quite as much as OGH did.

I chose my username on NSC based on the fact that he put 100% commitment into every single performance. Numbering and size aside, it would have been easy to have worked out which shirt Gary Hart wore during each match. It would have been the one with more sweat on than any other shirt simply because he'd worked harder and run further than any other. That's what fans look for from a player. Win, lose or draw, it's knowing that he's left it all out on the pitch. It was a promise to the fans, an unwritten code of conduct or badge of honour that Harty delivered unfailingly week-in, week-out.

Some great games and goals along the way. The petrol crisis game midweek at Blackpool in 2000? On the stroke of halftime, he sealed the win having beaten 2 players on the way. While Zamora blew defences away, Hart would often provide the ammunition.

So much more than just a 'loyal servant' to the club, Gary Hart remains a real hero in the eyes of the Albion faithful. Despite playing in football's modern age, I always considered him a throwback to a time when the fans could connect and identify with players more easily than they can today.

Every club should have a Gary Hart type of player representing them at some point.

I'm incredibly grateful that I got the chance to see the original.

All heart. Gary Hart. Oh, Gary Hart...

Nail. On. Head. Well said sir.

 

[BangaloreGull]

His Priestfield strike partner stood on the terrace at Mansfield (as an ex-player).

I stood chatting to John Robinson on the terrace at Oxford many years ago - we were awful, when I moaned he commented that if I thought it was bad, he was watching a team he couldn't get a place in. . .