John Hills (footballer)

John David Hills (born 21 April 1978) is an English former footballer. He is assistant manager of Bamber Bridge.

John Hills
Personal information
Full name John David Hills
Date of birth (1978-04-21) 21 April 1978
Place of birth Blackpool, England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Bamber Bridge
(assistant manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Blackpool 0 (0)
1995–1998 Everton 3 (0)
1997 → Swansea City (loan) 11 (0)
1997 → Swansea City (loan) 7 (1)
1998 → Blackpool (loan) 6 (0)
1998–2003 Blackpool 157 (26)
2003–2005 Gillingham 52 (2)
2005–2007 Sheffield Wednesday 45 (0)
2007–2008 Blackpool 4 (0)
2008–2010 Fleetwood Town 44 (0)
2010–2011 AFC Fylde 28 (12)
Total 357 (41)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Early career – From Blackpool to Everton and back to Blackpool

Hills started in the youth team at hometown club Blackpool. He was signed by Everton manager Joe Royle for £90,000 as a schoolboy from Blackpool in 1995, after he impressed in an FA Youth Cup match playing for the Blackpool youth team against their Everton counterparts.[1]

His only full appearance for the Toffees was at home to Chelsea on 11 May 1997. He had two loan spells at Swansea City, making eighteen appearances and scoring once, before returning to his hometown club for £60,000 in 1998, after an initial loan spell. In the 2000–01 season he was an integral part of the promotion team, playing 90 minutes as Blackpool defeated Leyton Orient 4–2 in the Third Division play-off final.[2] He signed a one-year contract extension in April 2001.[3] In the 2001–02 season he scored the Seasiders' third goal as they beat Cambridge United 4–1 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to win the LDV Vans Trophy.[4]

Hills made almost two hundred appearances over five years, scoring twenty goals and he also held the captain's armband in the absence of Ian Hughes.

Gillingham and Sheffield Wednesday

Hills left Blackpool for Gillingham, who were then in the Championship in 2003 and appeared fifty-eight times over two years, scoring two goals. After his contract was not renewed, Paul Sturrock signed him for Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he sometimes played on the left-wing. His time with the Owls was blighted by injury, which only allowed him to appear forty-six times, and was released by the club after two years.

Back to Blackpool again

On 5 July 2007, Hills signed a one-year contract (with an option for a further year) with Blackpool, his third spell with his hometown club. On 7 May 2008 he was released by Blackpool after making only four league appearances.[5]

Fleetwood Town

An operation in the summer meant he was not fully fit and without a club.[1] On the eve of the 2008–09 season, Hills signed for local Fylde coast club Fleetwood Town who had been promoted to the Conference North,[6] on a non-contract basis.[1] On 25 October 2008 he played in Fleetwood's FA Cup fourth qualifying round 4–3 win over Nantwich Town which saw the club reach the First round proper.[7] At the end of the 2009–2010 season he was released by the club.

AFC Fylde

Following his release from Fleetwood Hills signed for his third Fylde team AFC Fylde as player and first team coach ready for the 2010–11 season. He played and coached the team for one season before returning to Blackpool to become Head of Youth.[8]

Bamber Bridge

Hills was named assistant manager to Jamie Milligan at Bamber Bridge in December 2019.[9]

Personal life

In 2008 Hills invested in a public house in Blackpool, becoming the landlord of The Welcome pub, in Marton.[1] He has also helped coach youngsters on the Fylde coast with two fellow local players, who were also with Hills at Everton Jamie Milligan, now at Southport, and Gavin McCann. In February 2008, Milligan and McCann launched the first football academy on the Fylde coast, the Milligan-McCann Academy which is aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds and runs at King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in Lytham St Annes. Hills also coaches.[10] John is married to Samantha and they have two children Isla and Rocco.

Coaching career

Hills retired professionally from an ankle injury in 2008 and went straight in to coaching at Fleetwood Town. Hills also set up Fleetwood Towns first ever youth team with manager Micky Mellon.

In 2010 Hills was employed by AFC Fylde as both player and first team coach which he performed for one season before getting the job of Head of Youth at Blackpool.[8]

In 2011, Hills returned to his first club Blackpool as a coach in their Centre of Excellence. In August of that year, he was made Head of Youth, replacing Jamie Shore who has been brought in to replace the sick Gary Parkinson.[11]

In 2013 Hills worked for Templegate Training coaching and educating underprivileged youngsters in Blackpool helping them gain relevant qualifications to gain employment. In 2014 Hills was promoted to regional manager.

On 15 May 2013, Hills was appointed as assistant to Alan Wright at Southport.[12]

On 13 November 2014, Hills became First-team coach at Hyde, but left on 2 January 2015.

In October 2019, Hills became caretaker manager of AFC Fylde leading them to a 6–1 victory over Peterborough sports in the FA cup and a 2-0 league win over Boreham Wood in the national conference league.

Honours

Blackpool

Individual

  • Blackpool Player of the Season: 2001–02,[13] 2002–03[14]

References
  1. Canavan, Steve (16 October 2008). "Hillsy – the down to earth football star". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  2. "Blackpool pip Orient to promotion". 26 May 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. "Hills signs One year deal". BlackpoolFC.co.uk. Blackpool Football Club. 3 April 2001. Archived from the original on 7 April 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  4. Fletcher, Paul (24 March 2002). "Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  5. "Retained List Latest". Blackpool. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  6. "John Hills signs for Town". Fleetwood F.C. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  7. "Fleetwood Town 4–3 Nantwich Town FT". Fleetwood F.C. 26 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  8. "News Story | A.F.C. Fylde". afcfylde.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  9. "Jamie Milligan is named new Bamber Bridge manager" – Lancashire Post, 10 December 2019
  10. Thomas, Cherry (28 February 2008). "Academy for young sports aces". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  11. "HILLS APPOINTED HEAD OF YOUTH" Archived 21 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Blackpool F.C.'s official website, 9 August 2011
  12. "Alan Wright is the new Southport Manager". Southport F.C. Archived from news_id=8232 the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013. I am bringing in John Hills as my number two. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  13. Wilson, Steve. A View From The Terraces: Part Two – 1998–99 to 2014–15. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-326-40661-5.
  14. "Priestfield set-up impresses Hills". Kent Online. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
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