User:Tommyhartley

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Tom Hartley

Tom Hartley was born in Cheltenham and is a talented young footballer who is currently playing in the lower leagues of the English Football ladder for Diamonds FC who he joined in March 2005.

His career however started in 1998 when a local football team called Battledown Saracens offered Tom a trial at the club. During the two-week trial he impressed the coaching staff especially the manager Robbie Tyler who offered him a place in his Under 10's side as a central midfielder. In his first full season at the club, Tom often found himself left on the bench and grew frustrated at his lack of first team chances. This all changed however when in 2000, at Under 12's level, the new club manager Richard Molloy decided to switch Tom to central defence as the main centre back at the club had left the previous season. Tom grabbed the chance with two hands and played their regularly for the next two seasons scoring three goals in forty six appearances and also became the first player to be officially sent off in a Cheltenham youth league match since 1994. However in 2002 he suddenly left the club and was without a club until former Diamonds FC manager Mark Jeffries signed up the young 17 year old defender in March of 2005 on the recommendation of another youngster at the club, Scott Jones. The youngster made an instant impact alongside the other main centre back at the club Jesse Stuart and the two formed a formidable defensive barrier. The club however suffered some adverse results at the start of the 2005/2006 campaign and therefore, Tom tipped the new club manager Peter Cowley to sign up Tom Evans, a young, versatile 17 year old who had just been released by Charlton Rovers. He instantly slotted into a back three along with Tom Hartley, Jesse Stuart and with some defensive support from Scott Jones and Matthew McNamara, the defensive performances gradually improved throughout the season. Currently, Tom Hartley has made 22 appearances for New Life including 4 substitute appearances and has scored 2 goals including one of the goals of the 2005/2006 season, a long-range pile driver from 25 yards.