Hardy, affectionately referred to as "Old Harry" by the players he oversaw, has admitted that he feels "rotten" about having to retire after taking charge of well over 3,000 matches in the Derbyshire Sunday league since he first signed up in 1959.
"I twisted my hip thinking I'm 28, carrying a load of stuff up the stairs," told BBC Sport.
"It's put me out of any game for a little bit.
"When you've had a bit of time off you've got to get fit again because you can't walk round the fields, you've got to run."
Asked why he's plugged away at the reffing game for so long, Harry replied: "I'm able to mix with younger people on their level. You're one of the lads, aren't you?"
Harry's imminent retirement may signal the end of an era, but it's not as if his years of service have gone unheralded.
In fact, the Football Association awarded Harry a medal for his services to football in 2013 and then Prince William bestowed him with a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours the following year.
The man's a hero. Here's wishing him a swift and full recovery.
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