Matthew Hill (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Clayton "Matt" Hill (born 26 March 1981) is an English
footballer who plays as a defender
for Blackpool
.
, 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. 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.
The defender finally moved up a division when he joined Preston North End
in January 2005 in a £100,000 deal. His first season almost ending 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. Preston tried to re-sign Matt after he became a free agent but could not match an offer from Blackpool.
He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 September 2008 signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. 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.
In October 2010. Hill joined Championship
side Barnsley
on a one month emergency loan deal after full-back Jay McEveley picked up an injury. 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 has signed a deal until the end of the season with Barnsley.
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.
Hill's contract with expired with Barnsley in May 2011 and he left the club. He joined Blackpool on 9 July, 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.
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...
footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Career
Born in BristolBristol
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...
, Hill began his professional career at his home town club Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the 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. 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.
The defender finally moved up a division when he joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in January 2005 in a £100,000 deal. His first season almost ending 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
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. 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. Preston tried to re-sign Matt after he became a free agent but could not match an offer from Blackpool.
He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 September 2008 signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Hill contested the left–back slot with Stephen Ward
Stephen Ward (footballer)
Stephen Robert Ward is an Irish footballer who plays for English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Republic of Ireland national football team...
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
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in January 2010 for the remainder of the 2009–10 campaign.
In October 2010. Hill joined Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on a one month emergency loan deal after full-back Jay McEveley picked up an injury. 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 has signed a deal until the end of the season with Barnsley.
Hill scored his first goal in seven years in the 2–2 draw with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 1 January, latching onto a pass and thumping across Lee Camp
Lee Camp
Lee Michael John Camp is an English-born Northern Irish footballer who plays for Nottingham Forest and internationally for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper. He has also played for the England under-21's.-Derby County:...
. He emulated this feat in the 3–3 draw with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in February.
Hill's contract with expired with Barnsley in May 2011 and he left the club. He joined Blackpool on 9 July, and played his first game with the club on 11 August in a goalless 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 with Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Hill made his first League start in a home game against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 17 August.