David Hillier
Encyclopedia
David Hillier is an English
former footballer.
Hillier was born in Blackheath
, London
and had played schoolboy football for his region before joining Arsenal
in January 1984 as an associated schoolboy. He later became a trainee and turned professional in February 1988; Hillier captained the Arsenal side which beat Doncaster Rovers
in the 1988 FA Youth Cup
final. He progressed to the club's reserve side, winning the Football Combination
in 1989-90
, before making his first-team debut in a League Cup
tie against Chester City
on September 25, 1990.
Hillier became a frequent, though not first-choice, player in the Arsenal side that season, making 16 appearances in central midfield
, as Arsenal won the First Division
title with only a single defeat. The following two seasons Hillier became more of a regular fixture; he played 43 matches in 1992-93
, and made a name for himself as a combative, strong midfielder who would make up for any shortcomings in skill with his workrate. However, a leg injury near the end of the season meant he missed both the League Cup and FA Cup
finals that season; Arsenal won both, the first time an English club had completed the Cup Double.
Hillier returned the next season but another injury forced him to miss the club's 1994 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
victory over Parma. By now he was less of a regular in the Arsenal side, especially after the signing of Stefan Schwarz
, although Hillier did finally play a cup final for Arsenal, featuring in the Gunners' unsuccessful defence of their Cup Winners Cup title in 1995, losing 2-1 to Real Zaragoza
.
Despite this, Hillier's form had clearly declined since his early days at the club, and he was a marginal player under Bruce Rioch
. Additionally, Hillier's behaviour off the pitch had started to concern the management. In March 1995, a drugs test at the Arsenal training ground revealed that Hillier had taken cannabis
, but he avoided punishment after explaining that traces of the drug had entered his bloodstream after smoking a spiked cigarette
. A bizarre incident at Gatwick Airport, where he was caught stealing £3,000 of another passenger's luggage, further damaged his Arsenal career; he was later fined and ordered to pay costs by magistrates. When Arsène Wenger
succeeded Rioch in autumn 1996, Hillier was already on the transfer list and did not feature in Wenger's future plans for the side. Having played 142 matches for Arsenal (scoring two goals), Hillier was sold to Portsmouth
for £250,000.
Hillier played 61 matches in two and a half years for Pompey, before moving to Second Division
Bristol Rovers
in February 1999, where he scored twice against Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup and Luton Town in the league. However, his spell here was not a success and he was released in 2002; he had a spell at Barnet
before retiring in 2003. He now works as a fireman
in the Bristol
area and managed non-league team, Oldland Abbotonians
before moving to Almondsbury UWE in 2010. He also co-commentates on Arsenal matches for Arsenal TV online.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer.
Hillier was born in Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and had played schoolboy football for his region before joining Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in January 1984 as an associated schoolboy. He later became a trainee and turned professional in February 1988; Hillier captained the Arsenal side which beat Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in the 1988 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
final. He progressed to the club's reserve side, winning the Football Combination
Football Combination
The Football Combination , is a football competition for the reserve teams of English Football League clubs from Southern England and Wales...
in 1989-90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
, before making his first-team debut in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie against Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on September 25, 1990.
Hillier became a frequent, though not first-choice, player in the Arsenal side that season, making 16 appearances in central midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
, as Arsenal won the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
title with only a single defeat. The following two seasons Hillier became more of a regular fixture; he played 43 matches in 1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, and made a name for himself as a combative, strong midfielder who would make up for any shortcomings in skill with his workrate. However, a leg injury near the end of the season meant he missed both the League Cup and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finals that season; Arsenal won both, the first time an English club had completed the Cup Double.
Hillier returned the next season but another injury forced him to miss the club's 1994 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
1994 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
The 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match on 4 May 1994 contested between Arsenal of England and Parma of Italy. It was the final match of the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 34th European Cup Winners' Cup Final. The final was held at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen,...
victory over Parma. By now he was less of a regular in the Arsenal side, especially after the signing of Stefan Schwarz
Stefan Schwarz
Hans-Jürgen Stefan Schwarz is a Swedish former footballer.Born to a German father, he played as a midfielder and a left-back. He started playing football at youth level in Kulladals FF and began his career at his hometown club Malmö FF...
, although Hillier did finally play a cup final for Arsenal, featuring in the Gunners' unsuccessful defence of their Cup Winners Cup title in 1995, losing 2-1 to Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
.
Despite this, Hillier's form had clearly declined since his early days at the club, and he was a marginal player under Bruce Rioch
Bruce Rioch
Bruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
. Additionally, Hillier's behaviour off the pitch had started to concern the management. In March 1995, a drugs test at the Arsenal training ground revealed that Hillier had taken cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, but he avoided punishment after explaining that traces of the drug had entered his bloodstream after smoking a spiked cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
. A bizarre incident at Gatwick Airport, where he was caught stealing £3,000 of another passenger's luggage, further damaged his Arsenal career; he was later fined and ordered to pay costs by magistrates. When Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
succeeded Rioch in autumn 1996, Hillier was already on the transfer list and did not feature in Wenger's future plans for the side. Having played 142 matches for Arsenal (scoring two goals), Hillier was sold to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
for £250,000.
Hillier played 61 matches in two and a half years for Pompey, before moving to Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in February 1999, where he scored twice against Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup and Luton Town in the league. However, his spell here was not a success and he was released in 2002; he had a spell at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
before retiring in 2003. He now works as a fireman
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
in the Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
area and managed non-league team, Oldland Abbotonians
Oldland Abbotonians F.C.
Oldland Abbotonians F.C. is a football club based in Oldland Common, near Bristol, England. In the 2006-07 season, they finished third in the Somerset County League, which is a level 11 league of the English football league system. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Western Football...
before moving to Almondsbury UWE in 2010. He also co-commentates on Arsenal matches for Arsenal TV online.