Matt Hill (footballer)

Matthew Clayton Hill (born 26 March 1981) is an English former footballer who played as a defender for Bradford Park Avenue. Born in Bristol, Hill started his career with Bristol City where he made over 200 appearances. He subsequently joined Preston North End where he also spent a successful spell, playing over 100 times for the Lancashire club. A move to Wolverhampton Wanderers followed but first team opportunities were more limited and he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers before leaving to join Barnsley. After only one season at the South Yorkshire club he transferred to Blackpool but again played few first team games before being loaned to Sheffield United, with the move being made permanent in the summer of 2012.

Matt Hill
Personal information
Full name Matthew Clayton Hill[1]
Date of birth (1981-03-26) 26 March 1981[1]
Place of birth Bristol, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Bradford Park Avenue (player-coach)
Youth career
000?–1996 Manor Farm Boys Club
1996–1998 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2005 Bristol City 203 (6)
2005–2008 Preston North End 105 (0)
2008–2010 Wolverhampton Wanderers 15 (0)
2010 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 16 (0)
2010–2011 Barnsley 23 (2)
2011–2012 Blackpool 4 (0)
2012 → Sheffield United (loan) 12 (0)
2012–2014 Sheffield United 66 (0)
2014–2016 Tranmere Rovers 42 (1)
2016–2019 Bradford Park Avenue 49 (2)
2019- Stafford Rangers 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:17, 4 august 2019-2020(UTC)

Career

Bristol City

Hill began his professional career at his home town club Bristol City, making his debut aged 17 on 7 November 1998 in a 6–1 defeat to Wolves. He progressed to become a first choice player by the 2000–01 season, claiming both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year honour at Ashton Gate in the same season in 2001–02 season. He twice came close to winning promotion with the Robins from the third tier, but they lost in the play-offs for two successive seasons.

Preston North End

The defender finally moved up a division when he joined Preston North End in January 2005 in a £100,000 deal.[2] His first season almost ended with a place in the Premier League, but it was third time unlucky for Hill in the play-offs as Preston lost the final to West Ham. The following season brought more disappointment as injury ruled him out of the final month, where the club once again missed out in the play-offs. He recovered for the 2006–07 season and went on to win the Preston fans' Player of the Year Award.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Hill joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 September 2008 signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[3] Hill contested the left–back slot with Stephen Ward throughout the season, but made 13 appearances in helping Wolves win promotion to the Premier League as champions.

After making only two appearances in the top flight, Hill was loaned to Championship side Queens Park Rangers in January 2010 for the remainder of the 2009–10 campaign.[4]

Barnsley

In October 2010. Hill joined Championship side Barnsley on a one-month emergency loan deal after full-back Jay McEveley picked up an injury.[5] He suffered a foot fracture which led to him returning to Molineux for treatment, before returning to Barnsley in the New Year.

In January 2011, his contract with Wolves was terminated by mutual consent and it was later announced that he had signed a deal until the end of the season with Barnsley.[6]

Hill scored his first goal in seven years in the 2–2 draw with Nottingham Forest on 1 January, latching onto a pass and thumping across Lee Camp. He emulated this feat in the 3–3 draw with Leeds United in February.

Blackpool
Matt Hill playing for Sheffield United in March 2013.

Hill's contract with Barnsley expired in May 2011 and he left the club.[7] He joined Blackpool on 9 July,[8] and played his first game with the club on 11 August in a goalless League Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday. Hill made his first League start in a home game against Derby County on 17 August. On 6 March 2012, Hill joined Football League One side Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season to ease a defensive crisis at the club.[9] He started regularly from that point, eventually making fifteen appearances for the South Yorkshire club. His final appearance for the Blades came at Wembley for the League One play-off final. Hill scored in the game's penalty shoot out when the game was level after extra time but United slipped to defeat.[10]

Sheffield United

Having been released by Blackpool, Hill signed a permanent deal with Sheffield United at the end of July 2012.[11] Having been a regular in the starting XI for most of the season, Hill was ruled out for 6 weeks with a broken jaw in January 2013.[12] Hill eventually returned to the side in March and played regularly until the end of the season, finishing having made 41 appearances in all competitions.[13]

During the 2013–14 season, Hill was largely used as a substitute by new managers David Weir and Nigel Clough, starting occasional games as cover for other defenders. Despite this Hill made a further 39 appearances for the Blades during the season.[14] In May 2014, with the season over, Hill announced that he would be leaving United as his contract had expired, stating that "I am sad to say I am leaving Sheffield United. I have had a fantastic time with the lads, staff and fans."[15] Hill played 95 times in total for United.

Tranmere Rovers

Hill joined Tranmere Rovers on a non contract basis in August 2014.[16] After five appearances he signed a one-year contract with Rovers.[17] Two weeks later Hill picked up the Achilles tendon injury against Newport County that forced him to miss the next six months.[18] He recovered by the end of the season making substitute appearance at Mansfield on 14 April.[19] Hill returned to the starting eleven against Plymouth, however Tranmere lost 2-3 which confirmed their relegation to the National League.[20] After the end of the season he signed a new six-month contract with Rovers.[21]

Career statistics
As of match played 16 December 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bristol City 1998–99[22] First Division 300000—30
1999–2000[23] Second Division 14000005[lower-alpha 1]0190
2000–01[24] 340601000410
2001–02[25] 40110205[lower-alpha 1]0481
2002–03[26] 44330106[lower-alpha 1]0543
2003–04[27] 45230201[lower-alpha 1]0512
2004–05[28] League One 23020203[lower-alpha 1]0300
Total 2036150802002466
Preston North End 2004–05[28] Championship 140——3[lower-alpha 2]0170
2005–06[29] 2602010—290
2006–07[30] 3803010—420
2007–08[31] 2602010—290
2008–09[32] 100010—20
Total 10507040301190
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2008–09[32] Championship 13010——140
2009–10[33] Premier League 200010—30
Total 150101000170
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2009–10[33] Championship 16000——160
Barnsley 2010–11[34] Championship 2321000—242
Blackpool 2011–12[35] Championship 400010—50
Sheffield United 2011–12[35] League One 12000—3[lower-alpha 3]0150
2012–13[36] 34030004[lower-alpha 4]0410
2013–14[37] 320700000390
Total 7801000070950
Tranmere Rovers 2014–15[38] League Two 110001000120
2015–16[39] National League 31120—00331
Total 421201000451
Bradford Park Avenue 2016–17[40] National League North 37200—00372
2017–18[40] 12000—00120
Total 492000000492
Career total 5351138016030061911
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  3. Appearances in the League One play-offs
  4. Two appearances in the Football League Trophy and two in the League One play-offs

Honours

Personal life

His son James Hill is also a footballer[42] as is his cousin, Scott Golbourne.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Preston offer for Hill accepted". BBC Sport. 4 January 2005.
  3. "Preston Defender Joins The Ranks". wolves.co.uk. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008.
  4. "QPR sign Matt Hill on loan from Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 January 2010.
  5. "Barnsley sign Wolves defender Matt Hill". BBC Sport. 20 October 2010.
  6. "Hill contract cancelled". wolves.co.uk. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011.
  7. "Five Players Leave Oakwell". Barnsley FC Website. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  8. "Hill Agrees Pool Move". blackpoolfc.co.uk. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  9. "Blades secure loan double". Sheffield United F.C. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  10. "Huddersfield promoted after shootout". Eurosport. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  11. "Triple swoop for Blades". Sheffield United FC Official Web Site. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  12. "Sheffield United defender Matt Hill out for six weeks". BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  13. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  14. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  15. "Sheffield United: Hill confirms Blades departure". Sheffield Star. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  16. "Tranmere Rovers sign Gerardo Bruna and Matt Hill". BBC Sport. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  17. "Matt Hill Signs Permanent Deal". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  18. "Hill Has Surgery On Injured Achilles Tendon". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  19. "Report: Mansfield 1 Tranmere 0". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  20. "Report: Plymouth 3 Tranmere 2". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  21. "Hill Signs New Deal". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  22. "Games played by Matt Hill in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  23. "Games played by Matt Hill in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  24. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  25. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  26. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  27. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  28. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  29. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  30. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  31. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  32. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  33. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  34. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  35. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  36. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  37. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  38. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  39. "Games played by Matt Hill in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  40. Matt Hill at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  41. "Bristol City sink Carlisle". BBC. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  42. Rosie Swarbrick (29 August 2018). "James Hill makes Fleetwood history as Joey Barton explains 11 team changes at Leicester". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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