Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
302	280	22	116	0	0	348

David Hartley has the unique distinction of being the first substitute to score a try in a Rugby League Cup Final. Against Bradford in 1973, he replaced Mick Smith in the closing stages and immediately added his contribution to the Rovers 33-14 score line. It was his second Wembley appearance, but as substitute back in 1967 he was not called upon. In 1974, however, he was first choice selection as centre against Warrington in his third Wembley final. Unfortunately, he was the victim of a stiff-arm tackle by Alex Murphy in the third minute and, as Warrington recorded a 24-9 victory, his winning sequence at Wembley was broken.

Hartley joined the Rovers from Leeds as a nineteen year old and made his senior debut at centre v Hull (at home) on 29 January 1966. He made 16 consecutive appearances, scoring his first try in only his second game, and he was named a 'most promising prospect' at the end of the season. That promise did materialise and he spent the next ten years as an important part of the Featherstone set-up. He was equally at home on either the wing or centre and his strong bustling style made him very difficult to stop when into his stride. His career total of 116 tries puts him well up in the Rovers all-time try-scorers list.  He scored in the first three rounds of the 1974 RL Cup, his solitary try at Bradford in the third being the match winner. He also scored four tries in a match on two occasions, v York (at home) in March 1969 and v Whitehaven (at home) in April 1971. He was the club's leading try-scorer in three seasons from 1968 to 1971 and again in 1973/74. His best return was 19 in 1969/70 and 1973/74. In 1969/70, he appeared in all 41 games and had 66 consecutive appearances from December 1968 to 12 September 1970.

He was still prominent in 1974/75 with 10 tries, but thereafter his appearances diminished. His last game was at home to Wakefield on 2 May 1976 and as one would expect from such a prolific try-scorer, he signed off with a try. He was then transferred to Rochdale. Once described as being 'like a centurion tank', he was extremely fast and used his bulk very effectively, although his all-round play would have benefited from more secure handling. He flourished in the Rovers back line of that time and was a very fine finisher.

Biography by Ron Bailey