Ian Hillier
Encyclopedia
Ian Hillier is a Welsh
footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.
, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur
before joining Luton Town
on loan in August 2001. He made his professional debut in a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town
on 18 August and went on to make a total of 13 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 2-1 win over York City
. Towards the end of 2001, he made his move to Luton permanent with a two-year deal for a fee of £30,000. A regular in his first two seasons, Hillier gradually fell out of favour with new manager Mike Newell
and, after making 42 league appearances and having a spell on loan at Chester City
, left to join Newport County
in the summer of 2005 following trial spells at Oxford United
, Bristol Rovers
and Grimsby Town
. Hillier made his debut for the Wales semi-professional international team in May 2007.
At the end of his first season at Newport, Hillier was voted both players and supporters player of the year and was later awarded the captaincy at the start of the 2008–09 season. In September 2008 Hillier broke his leg in three places in an accident while working in his day job as a tree surgeon
when a falling branch struck his leg, breaking his tibia
, fibula and ankle. He was subsequently sacked by Newport County as he was unable to fulfil his contract and would be out of the game for a large part of the 2008-09 season. Hillier appealed the against the cancellation of his contract and won an initial case against the club. Newport themselves decided to appeal against the case but prior to the hearing a surprising turnaround saw the club offer Hillier a new contract, which he accepted. However, he never played for Newport again and signed for Neath in April 2009.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.
Career
A Welsh under-21 internationalWales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
before joining Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on loan in August 2001. He made his professional debut in a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
on 18 August and went on to make a total of 13 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 2-1 win over York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. Towards the end of 2001, he made his move to Luton permanent with a two-year deal for a fee of £30,000. A regular in his first two seasons, Hillier gradually fell out of favour with new manager Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
and, after making 42 league appearances and having a spell on loan at 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...
, left to join Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in the summer of 2005 following trial spells at Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, 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....
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. Hillier made his debut for the Wales semi-professional international team in May 2007.
At the end of his first season at Newport, Hillier was voted both players and supporters player of the year and was later awarded the captaincy at the start of the 2008–09 season. In September 2008 Hillier broke his leg in three places in an accident while working in his day job as a tree surgeon
Arborist
An arborist, or arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants...
when a falling branch struck his leg, breaking his tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
, fibula and ankle. He was subsequently sacked by Newport County as he was unable to fulfil his contract and would be out of the game for a large part of the 2008-09 season. Hillier appealed the against the cancellation of his contract and won an initial case against the club. Newport themselves decided to appeal against the case but prior to the hearing a surprising turnaround saw the club offer Hillier a new contract, which he accepted. However, he never played for Newport again and signed for Neath in April 2009.