Andy Hill (footballer) explained

Andy Hill
Fullname:Andrew Rowland Hill[1]
Birth Date:20 January 1965
Birth Place:Maltby, England
Height:[2]
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1981–1983
Youthclubs1:Manchester United
Years1:1983–1984
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1984–1990
Clubs2:Bury
Caps2:264
Goals2:10
Years3:1990–1995
Caps3:98
Goals3:6
Years4:1995–1998
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:100
Goals4:1
Totalcaps:462
Totalgoals:17

Andrew Rowland Hill (born 20 January 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. In a 15-year career, he scored 19 goals in 551 league and cup appearances in the Football League and Premier League.

He began his career as a youth team player at Manchester United and played on the losing side in the 1982 FA Youth Cup final. However, he never made a first-team appearance and moved on to Bury in July 1984. He was named Bury's Player of the Year after helping the club to secure promotion out of the Fourth Division in the 1984–85 season. He spent nearly seven years at Bury, making 312 appearances, before being sold to Manchester City for £200,000 in 1990. He played for City for close to five seasons, including the opening season of the Premier League, before being sold on to Port Vale for £150,000 in August 1995. He played on the losing side in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup final and retired in May 1998.

Playing career

Manchester United

Hill was born in Maltby, Yorkshire. Upon leaving school in 1981, he began an apprenticeship at Manchester United. He played in the youth side that finished as FA Youth Cup runners-up to Watford in 1982, his teammates included Clayton Blackmore, Mark Hughes and Norman Whiteside. He also gained England Youth Honours. He later signed as a professional but never got a first-team game at Old Trafford and signed for Fourth Division club Bury in July 1984.

Bury

The "Shakers" secured the fourth and final automatic promotion place in 1984–85, and Hill was voted the club's Player of the Year. Hill was then appointed as captain by manager Martin Dobson at the age of 19. Bury finished three points above the Third Division drop zone in 1985–86. They then finished comfortably in mid-table in 1986–87, 1987–88, and 1988–89. Sam Ellis then took over as manager and led the club to the play-offs with a fifth-place finish in 1989–90 – they were then beaten by Tranmere Rovers at the semi-final stage. The following season, under new boss Mike Walsh, he was sold to Manchester City. Hill played 317 matches and scored 12 goals for the Gigg Lane club.

Manchester City

Hill signed for Manchester City in a £200,000 deal in 1990 who were flying high in the First Division eventually finishing fifth under Peter Reid's stewardship. The "Sky Blues" again finished fifth in 1991–92, with Hill scoring a career-high of four goals in his 41 appearances. He started 23 Premier League games in 1992–93, as the Maine Road club posted a ninth-place finish. The club slipped down the table under new boss Brian Horton, with Hill missing large chunks of the Horton tenure due to injury. Hill was recommended for a new contract by Horton in May 1995; however, Hill rejected chairman Francis Lee's offer of a new two-year deal.

Port Vale

In August 1995, Hill joined John Rudge's First Division Port Vale for a £150,000 fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Potteries derby rivals Stoke City at the Victoria Ground on 27 August. He later featured in the FA Cup fourth round giant-killing over cup holders Everton. At the end of the 1995–96 season, he played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup final, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa. He made 43 appearances in 1996–97, as the "Valiants" made their highest post-war finish. He played 31 games at Vale Park in the 1997–98 season, before announcing his retirement in May 1998.[3]

Coaching career

After retiring, Hill went into coaching, where he has worked for Bury as the Head of Youth Development, the Academy Director at Nevada Wonders Soccer Academy and then developed his own successful football academy, Pro-Vision North West, based in the Greater Manchester area.[4] He was later appointed head of development at Bacup Borough.[5] However, he resigned from his role after being diagnosed with Spinal stenosis.[6]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United1982–83First Division00000000
Bury1984–85Fourth Division4331030473
1985–86Third Division3525060432
1986–87Third Division4211071502
1987–88Third Division43210101543
1988–89Third Division4302060510
1989–90Third Division4621070542
1990–91Third Division1201020150
Total2641012041231712
Manchester City1990–91First Division81001091
1991–92First Division3640050414
1992–93Premier League2413030301
1993–94Premier League1700000170
1994–95Premier League1300030160
Total986301201136
Port Vale1995–96First Division3506060470
1996–97First Division3810050431
1997–98First Division2702020310
Total1001801301211
Career total4621723066255119

Honours

Individual

Manchester United

Bury

Port Vale

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, Jeff . Port Vale Personalities . Witan Books . 136 . 1996 . 0-9529152-0-0 .
  2. Web site: Manchester City. footballsquads.co.uk. 3 May 2012.
  3. News: Fielding. Rob. 2 July 2020. You're playing tomorrow morning – Andy Hill on a hectic start to his Port Vale career. onevalefan.co.uk. 3 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Gray. Mikey. Port Vale – H. where-are-they-now.co.uk. 1 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405081240/http://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/port-vale/h.php. 5 April 2012. dead.
  5. Web site: Meet The Management . bacupboroughfc.co.uk . 3 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402161745/http://www.bacupboroughfc.co.uk/mangement.htm . 2 April 2012 .
  6. Web site: Andy Hill Q&A 21st November 2018 . Bluemoon MCFC . 3 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Anglo-Italian Cup 1995/96. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 12 July 2010.