# Josh Hare

Joshua Darren Hare (born 12 August 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League South club Boreham Wood.

## Career

Hare signed his first professional contract with Gillingham in November 2012. In February 2012, he joined Isthmian League Division One South side Whitstable Town on a work-experience loan, along with Jake Hessenthaler. In January 2013, he signed for Isthmian League Division One side Maidstone United on a work experience loan. Following his loan at Maidstone, he signed for Isthmian League Premier side Lewes on another work experience loan in February 2013, along with Jake Hessenthaler. In October 2013, he signed for Hastings United on a one-month loan deal, following in the footsteps of his father who played for the club in the 1980's/90's. He signed a one-year contract with the "Gills" in May 2014, but found first-team football hard to come by and was sent on an initial one-month loan to Conference South side Eastbourne Borough. His loan was extended to 10 January but on 5 January the loan was cut short.
On 8 July 2016, having left Gillingham, Hare signed for Eastbourne Borough.

### Bristol Rovers

On 12 June 2019, Hare signed for Bristol Rovers on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Eastleigh.
After making an impressive start to the season, Hare suffered an injury and had to be stretchered off in a league match against Gillingham on 17 September. He returned to first-team action on 7 March 2020 in a 3–1 defeat to Southend United and featured three days later in a 2–0 win against Sunderland, the last match before the league's abandonment.
He scored his first goal for the club on 18 November 2020, scoring a 90th-minute winner in a 4–3 victory over Chelsea U21 in the final match of the group stage of the EFL Trophy, with Hare's goal seeing the Gas qualify for the knockout stages.
At the end of the 2020–21 season, a season that saw the Gas relegated bottom of the league, Hare was announced to be one of the players to not be having his contract renewed.

### Eastleigh

On 29 June 2021, Hare returned to National League side Eastleigh on a permanent deal. On 14 September, he scored his first goal back at the club with the fourth in a 4–1 thrashing of Dover Athletic having already set up his side's second goal.

### Dagenham & Redbridge

On 19 February 2022, he signed for National League divisional rivals Dagenham & Redbridge for an undisclosed fee. Manager Daryl McMahon stated that Hare was "a player that I've admired for a long time".
In May 2024, it was announced that Hare would depart the club upon the expiration of his contract.

### Boreham Wood

On 6 June 2024, Hare joined recently relegated National League South side Boreham Wood.

## Personal life

Hare is the son of former Gillingham youth team manager Darren Hare, the nephew of former Gillingham player and manager Andy Hessenthaler, and the cousin of another former Gills player, Jake Hessenthaler.

## Career statistics

    As of end of 2023–24 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Gillingham | 2012–13 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gillingham | 2013–14 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gillingham | 2014–15 | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Gillingham | 2015–16 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gillingham | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2012–13 | Conference South | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2014–15 | Conference South | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Leatherhead (loan) | 2015–16 | IL Premier Division | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Eastbourne Borough | 2016–17 | National League South | 36 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 48 | 4 |
| Maidstone United | 2017–18 | National League | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| Eastleigh | 2018–19 | National League | 43 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 46 | 5 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2019–20 | League One | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2020–21 | League One | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 2 |
| Bristol Rovers | Total | Total | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 2 |
| Eastleigh | 2021–22 | National League | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 28 | 2 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2021–22 | National League | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2022–23 | National League | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2023–24 | National League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | Total | Total | 64 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 71 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 244 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 289 | 19 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in the Sussex Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in the FA Trophy, one appearance in the Sussex Senior Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in the FA Trophy, four appearances and one goal in the Sussex Senior Cup, one appearance in the Sussex Community Shield
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in the National League Play-Offs, one appearance in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.

## Honours

Individual
* National League Team of the Year: 2018–19