Jamshedpur FC have announced that club captain Peter Hartley has agreed to a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club till the end of the 2021-22 season.
The English defender, a fan favourite at the Men of Steel the Red Miners, played a pivotal role in leading Jamshedpur to a club-record nine clean sheets (9) in the 2020-21 campaign while also scoring twice.
Peter Hartley exclaimed his joy on continuing in the red colours of Jamshedpur, after signing a new contract on the dotted line. "I had an amazing season with Jamshedpur. We made a club record for the number of clean sheets in a season, and I hope we can better that record in the coming season and bring the ISL trophy home,” Hartley said.
The 33-year-old also heaped praise on Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle. "We have a fantastic gaffer in Owen Coyle. I am thrilled to continue playing under his guidance and do well for him as well as for the fantastic supporters of Jamshedpur."
Coyle, in return, was ecstatic that Peter Hartley is staying put at the club. “We were mean in defence the previous season and a lot of it was down to how the skipper organized things at the back for us," Coyle said.
"Like I said when we signed Peter, he is a big player for us who hates conceding goals. He brings with him so much experience from the English and Scottish Leagues, something that evidently rubbed on to everyone around him. It was essential for Jamshedpur to have him again,” he added.
Hartley, a left-footed centre-back, rose through the ranks of Sunderland AFC and made his debut in 2007 against Leicester City. After a loan spell at Chesterfield FC, the defender signed for Hartlepool United in 2009 where he became not only the most capped player in his four-year stint but also captained the side for two seasons.
The Englishman also boasts of competitive experience in English cup competitions like FA Cup and the League Cup. Peter Hartley faced a Burnley team in 2009, which was then under the management of Coyle, and has notably scored against Antonio Conte’s Chelsea in a 2016-17 League Cup tie.
Featured photo: Twitter / Peter Hartley
