Richard Hill (footballer, born 1963)

Last updated

Richard Hill
Personal information
Full name Richard Wilfred Hill [1]
Date of birth (1963-09-20) 20 September 1963 (age 60) [1]
Place of birth Hinckley, [1] England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Leicester City 0 (0)
1982–1985 Nuneaton Borough
1983 Christchurch United
1985–1987 Northampton Town 104 (52)
1987 Watford 4 (0)
1987–1990 Oxford United 63 (17)
1990-1992 Kettering Town
Managerial career
1998–2000 Stevenage Borough
2012–2015 Eastleigh
2016 Whitehawk
2017 Eastleigh
2023–2024 Eastleigh
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Wilfred Hill (born 20 September 1963) is an English football coach and manager who was most recently manager of Eastleigh. He is also a former footballer who played for Oxford United, Watford, Northampton Town and Leicester City. He has been assistant manager at six different clubs, including Queens Park Rangers, and had a difficult but successful stint as manager of Stevenage Borough [3] [4] before taking Eastleigh into the Conference for the first time in their history. [5]

Contents

Playing career

During his playing days Hill played for Nuneaton Borough, Christchurch United in New Zealand, Northampton Town, Watford and Oxford United. In his time at Northampton, Hill scored 33 league and cup goals in one season, winning the golden boot for finishing as the club's top goal scorer.

Hill was transferred from Northampton Town to Watford for a Fourth Division record fee of £258,000. He was the last signing made by Graham Taylor before his departure from Watford to manage Aston Villa at the end of the 1986–87 season. He did not feature in the plans of incoming manager Dave Bassett and consequently, his stay at Vicarage Road was brief only appearing 4 times: he was transferred to Oxford United for £260,000.

Hill had to finish his playing career early due to a serious knee injury, but having amassed 69 goals from just 171 Football League games.

Managerial career

Since retiring from playing Hill has been assistant manager to John Gregory at both Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers, Brian Little at Aston Villa, Martin Wilkinson at Northampton Town, Andy Hessenthaler at Gillingham, Tranmere Rovers and was first-team coach at Reading. He has also coached at Swindon Town, scouted for Derby County and managed Stevenage Borough.

In June 2010, Hill was appointed technical advisor to the Ethiopia national football team and worked with them during African Nations qualifying games.

In June 2011, Hill was appointed assistant manager to FC Kairat in the Kazakhstan Premier League.

On 12 September 2012, Hill was appointed manager of Conference South club Eastleigh. [6] In his first season, he led Eastleigh to the Conference South Play Off Semi Finals. At the start of the 2013–14 season Eastleigh were big favourites to win the league. Under Hill's guidance he led Eastleigh to the Conference South title and promotion in the 2013–14 season. The 2014–15 season saw Eastleigh in the Conference Premier, the highest level of football the club had ever competed at, with Hill taking Eastleigh to the Play Off Semi Finals at the end of that season. During his initial spell as manager of Eastleigh, Hill achieved a win ratio of 62%.

Hill resigned at Eastleigh on 23 September 2015 after just over 3 years in the job, following a run of five games without a win, culminating in a 5–2 defeat to Dover Athletic. Leaving the club, Hill said it felt like a break-up, and it was time for a change for both himself and the club. [7]

On 9 September 2016, Hill returned to management, replacing Pablo Asensio as boss of National League South club Whitehawk. [8] [9]

On 29 November 2016 Hill left Whitehawk and joined Aston Villa to be part of Steve Bruce's recruitment staff. [10] Following the departure of Martin Allen as manager at Eastleigh, after a run of seven games without a win, Hill returned to The Spitfires as Director of Football and caretaker manager on 23 February 2017. [11]

Between May 2018 and July 2020, Hill held the position of Head of Football Operations at Sunderland. [12] He came under criticism from supporters of the club on account of what was perceived as poor transfer business, however received support from owner Stewart Donald whom Hill had previously worked with at Eastleigh. [13]

In March 2023, Hill once again returned to Eastleigh in the role of Club Director. [14] Following the departure of Lee Bradbury in August 2023, he was once again placed in temporary charge of the first-team. [15] On 28 September, he was given the job on a permanent basis. [16]

Honours

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland A.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sunderland Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The team compete in the Championship, the second level of the English football league system.

Ross Daniel Flitney is an English footballer who plays for Wimborne Town as a goalkeeper.

Lee Michael Bradbury is an English football manager and former footballer who was most recently the manager of National League club Eastleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastleigh F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Eastleigh Football Club is a professional association football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Clarke (English footballer)</span> English footballer

Ryan James Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Southern League Premier Division South club Hungerford Town. He previously trained with the England under-18 squad in La Manga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehawk F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Whitehawk Football Club is a semi-professional English football club based in Whitehawk, a suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove, The club currently plays in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Whitehawk's home ground is the 3126-capacity Enclosed Ground, situated within East Brighton Park. Nicknamed The Hawks, the club's traditional playing colours are red and white. Prior to 2010, the club had never played above County League level, but after three promotions in four seasons, the Hawks reached Conference South in 2013 as well as the second round of the FA Cup in 2015.

Ian Leslie Atkins is an English football manager, scout, and former player. Atkins amassed over 300 appearances for Shrewsbury Town, the club where he began his career. He also made appearances in the Football League for Sunderland, Everton, Ipswich Town and Birmingham City.

The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England. This year The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level on points, replacing the traditional goal average tiebreaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring. Coloured red and yellow cards were introduced for the first time in domestic English football.

Paul Mark Reid is an English former professional footballer who was previously Head of Youth Development and Academy Director at Sunderland before leaving the role on 30 June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Hand</span> English footballer (born 1984)

Jamie Hand is an English former professional footballer and scout. A "tough-tackling, no-nonsense" midfielder, he made around 400 appearances in a 14-year career in football, and played in the English Football League, Scottish Premier League, Isthmian League, Conference, Southern League and Northern Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Strevens</span> English footballer (born 1980)

Benjamin John Strevens is an English former professional footballer and manager who played as a striker or an attacking midfielder. He is currently the manager of National League club Dagenham & Redbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wilder</span> English association football manager (born 1967)

Christopher John Wilder is an English professional football manager who formerly played as a right-back. He is the manager of Premier League club Sheffield United.

Colin West is an English former footballer. He played as a forward and scored 158 goals in 555 league and cup games in the English Football League, Conference and the Scottish Football League.

Aaron Martin is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for National League club Eastleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Scowen</span> English footballer

Joshua Charles Scowen is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League One club Wycombe Wanderers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Asensio</span> Argentine footballer and manager

Pablo Asensio is an Argentinian former professional footballer, most recently first team manager at National League South side Whitehawk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke O'Nien</span> English-Singaporean footballer

Luke Terry O'Nien is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder or a defender and captain for EFL Championship club Sunderland.

Lee Stephen Burge is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Northampton Town.

The 2015–16 FA Cup was the 135th edition of the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. It was sponsored by Emirates, and known as The Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. It began with the extra preliminary round on 15 August 2015, and concluded with the final on 21 May 2016. The FA Cup winner qualifies for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League group stage.

Stewart Donald is an English businessman and football administrator. Based in Witney, Oxfordshire, he is the chairman and majority shareholder of Eastleigh F.C. and former CEO of Bridle Insurance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Richard Hill". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p.  258. ISBN   978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ↑ Brodetsky, Martin (2009). Oxford United: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 168, 169. ISBN   978-1-85983-715-3.
  4. ↑ Howland, Andy & Roger (1989). Oxford United: A Complete Record 1893–1989. Breedon Books. p. 198. ISBN   978-0907969525.
  5. ↑ "Eastleigh win promotion after clinching Conference South title". BBC Sport. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hill announced as new Eastleigh boss". Southern Daily Echo. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Hill leaves Eastleigh with "a heavy heart" after three great years in charge". Southern Daily Echo. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Brian Owen (9 September 2016). "National League: Richard Hill takes charge as Whitehawk sack Asensio". The Argus. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Tom Harris (9 September 2016). "Club statement - managerial change". Whitehawk F.C. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Richard Hill leaves the Hawks". Whitehawk F.C. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Eastleigh bring in Hill after Allen exit". BBC Sport.
  12. ↑ "Hill and Coton leave SAFC". www.safc.com. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ↑ Johns, Craig (14 November 2019). "Stewart Donald: Richard Hill saved Sunderland Football Club - buy him a beer!". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Copley, James (9 March 2023). "Ex-Sunderland head of football operations appointed as National League club director". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "CLUB STATEMENT | LEE BRADBURY". www.eastleighfc.com. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "NEWS | RICHARD HILL APPOINTED AS FIRST-TEAM MANAGER". www.eastleighfc.com. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 146.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.