Born in Mansfield, Hardwick began his professional career at Chesterfield before joining the Magpies in December 1976 for £80,000, a then club record fee for a goalkeeper.

A former England youth and amateur international, Hardwick spent six years at St. James' Park, making over a century of competitive appearances for United before leaving Tyneside for Oxford United in 1983, assisting the U's in their rise from the Third Division to the English top-flight, before heading to Huddersfield Town in the summer of 1988.

After a three-year spell with the Terriers, Hardwick had made almost 600 outings in league and cup football.

A keen club cricketer, too, he was later involved with Yorkshire village side, Hoylandswaine, as a noted wicket-keeper before becoming their captain and later groundsman, living in the village near Barnsley.

The thoughts of everyone at Newcastle United are with Steve's family and friends.