[8] He made his senior debut for the club on 2 January 2021, appearing as an 80th-minute substitute for Ben Osborn in a 2–0 away league defeat by Crystal Palace.
[12] In December 2021, Hackford joined National League North side Alfreton Town on a one-month loan, going straight into the squad for the fixture at Curzon Ashton where he scored on his debut in a 2–1 win.
[15][16][17] Hackford featured in two Premier League games when manager Paul Heckingbottom was short of attacking options at the start of the 2023–24 campaign, making cameo appearances in narrow defeats to Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane and away at Nottingham Forest.
[25] Hackford scored his first goal in the English Football League on 21 September, when his 95th-minue strike secured a 2–2 draw at Accrington Stanley.
[26] He scored a "terrific volley" in a 2–1 Boxing day defeat at Bradford City, after which he was praised by strike partner Jayden Stockley for his hold-up play and attitude.