TT BLOG

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

Steve discusses the Torquay United legend

HILLY

When Kevin Hill first joined Torquay United in the summer of 1997, few could have imagined that he would overtake Dennis Lewis’ seemingly untouchable club appearance record and become a bona-fide Torquay United legend in the process.

As a youngster, he had been rejected by Exeter City for being ‘too small, not strong enough and couldn’t win headers.’ If you consider that he gained the reputation for being able outjump players far taller than his five feet nine inch frame, you begin to wonder just how wrong you can be about somebody!

Instead, the route that he took into professional football with the Gulls was one that was less travelled, taking in spells in the Devon and Exeter League, the Devon League and the Western League. It was in one of his stints in the Western League with Torrington, where former Plymouth Argyle boss Johnny Hore was in charge, that changed the course of his footballing life.

Hore secured him a trial with Sunderland, where his former Pilgrims teammate Bobby Saxton was first team coach under Peter Reid during the 1996-97 season. When Hilly returned home, Hore then circulated his name to all three of the Devon pro clubs and it was Torquay United, managed by one of Hore’s former Argyle charges Kevin Hodges, who took a chance on him.

Hilly made the first of his 474 appearances for United on the opening day of the 1997-98 campaign against Macclesfield Town, a day that proved to be a day of many firsts as it also marked Macclesfield’s first game as a Football League.

He also scored 57 goals and I will now take a look at five of his most memorable ones.

1. Versus Stockport County (H) New Year’s Day 2004.

On the stroke of half-time, with the game poised at 0-0, Stockport keeper Neil Cutler was poised to take a goal kick, but little did he know that Hilly was standing behind him.

Hilly then preceded to nick the ball off Cutler before calmly slotting home into an unguarded net to give United the lead with arguably the cheekiest goal ever scored by a Torquay United player.

2. Versus Barnet (A) May 5, 2001.

United’s brief heading into their final day decider with Barnet at Underhill was simple: avoid defeat or face relegation from the Football League for the first time ever.

Playing down Underhill’s famous slope in the first half, the Gulls took the lead on ten minutes when Jason Rees found the back of the net with a 25 yard strike. In the 25th minute, Hilly doubled the Gulls lead when he rose highest to head home a corner from the late Paul Holmes to give United an invaluable two-goal cushion. It was also his tenth goal of the season, which put him top of United’s goal scoring charts.

David Graham later added a third just before half time, but Barnet pulled two goals back before forcing the Gulls to survive a late onslaught and Hilly was one of a number of players who made several important blocks to keep the Bees at bay.

3. Versus Carlisle United (A) April 29, 2006.

Once again, United found themselves looking to complete another ‘great escape’ and they headed to League Two champions elect Carlisle United needing a result to avoid what would be a second successive relegation.

After keeping the Cumbrians’ strike duo of former Sunderland and Leeds frontman Michael Bridges and Karl Hawley, who would later find his way to Plainmoor in his career, at bay before Hilly gave the Gulls the lead on eight minutes.

Jo Kuffour drifted out to the right and produced a cross which picked out Hilly and he leapt off the ground and headed home to score his ninth of the campaign, with what could be described as the nearest thing to human flight as he appeared to hang in the air momentarily!

Four minutes before half-time, Kuffour went from being provider to scorer with a shot on the turn following good work from Martin ‘Buster’ Phillips and Lee Thorpe. In the second half, Carlisle pulled one back through Zigor Aranalde, but the Gulls held on to secure an important win.

4. Versus Macclesfield Town (H) January 24, 2004.

In the eighth minute, a corner kick from Alex Russell was flicked on by Steve Woods towards Hilly, who, with his back to goal, opened the scoring with a ‘bicycle kick’ over his head as United went on to win 4-1.

5. Versus Exeter City (H) May 5, 2008, Blue Square Premier Play-off semi-final.

The Gulls lead 2-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg at St James Park and they led further on 58 minutes when Tim Sills crossed to Chris Zebroski on the right, and Zebroski – in turn – rolled the back into the path of Hill, who beat Grecians keeper Paul Jones from 10-yards with a left-footed strike.

It was Hilly’s first goal against Exeter and on the same day that he equalled Dennis Lewis’ club appearance record; the script seemed to perfectly written as his effort had put United closer to reaching Wembley and the chance to secure an immediate return to the Football League. However, it would all go horribly wrong as the Grecians came back to win 4-1 to reach the final against Cambridge United.

Footnote: As well as being Torquay United’s record appearance holder, Kevin Hill is also one of a select band of players to have won the club’s Player of the Year award twice (1999-00 and 2005-06). He is also the last player to date to be awarded a testimonial by the club.