Clint Hill

Clinton Scott Hill (born 19 October 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

He is currently assistant manager of League Two side Stockport County.

Hill began his career with local side Tranmere Rovers in 1997.

Born in Huyton, Merseyside, Hill began his career as a trainee at Tranmere Rovers, where he made his debut during a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest in the 1997–98 season.

By the 1998–99 season Hill had become a regular starter in the Tranmere side and was part of the team which played in the 2000 English League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium against Leicester City.

However Hill was sent-off during the game and Tranmere lost the match 2–1.

Hill made 140 appearances during his five years in the Tranmere first team.

He broke into the first team and became a regular as Rovers reached the League Cup final in 2000.

Hill was sent-off however as Tranmere lost 2–1.

He remained at Prenton Park until 2002 when he joined Oldham Athletic and after impressing there he was signed by Championship side Stoke City.

His first season with Stoke was cut down due to injuries which hampered his time at the club.

He left for Crystal Palace after making 84 appearances for Stoke in five years.

A£250,000 move to Oldham Athletic in 2002 saw him make just 17 league starts in one season before it was cut short when Hill broke his leg during a League Cup tie against Crystal Palace in December 2002, which kept him sidelined for the remainder of the 2002–03 season.

Hill scored one league goal for the Latics, ironically against Tranmere.

Hill was then given a £120,000 move to Stoke City during the summer of 2003.

Hill's first season at Stoke City was disrupted with injury and he was forced to sit out a lot of the 2003–04 season, making only nine first team starts and three substitute appearances.

However Hill impressed during his second season at Stoke with his defensive ability and won the club's player of the year award for the 2004–05 season.

However, Hill's career at Stoke was hindered by recurring knee injuries, he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament towards the end of the 2004–05 season which prevented him from playing again until late into the 2005–06 season, however he made an immediate impact on his return, forging a strong partnership with Michael Duberry in central defence.

However, Hill's season was brought to a premature end when he required a further operation on the same knee he injured in 2005.

He remained at Stoke for the first half of the following season, although he joined Crystal Palace on loan in October.

Ironically, his last outing for Stoke was a late appearance as a substitute in a victory at Palace.

Hill's move to join Neil Warnock's Eagles was for an initial period of two months.

He found himself unable to hold down a regular first place during the 2006–07 season, with Danny Higginbotham and Michael Duberry preferred to him as first choice central defenders and Andy Griffin occupying the left-back slot.

He made the majority of his appearances during the 2006–07 season as a stand-in left-back.

After impressing hugely, he then made the move permanent for an undisclosed fee in January 2008.

He established himself as first choice left back, and became a fan's favourite due to his professional and committed attitude.

After an extremely successful first season at Palace, where they made the Play-off semi-finals, Hill continued his superb consistency in the 2008–09 season.

An equally disappointing season 2009–10 witnessed Palace in severe financial plight with a consequential ten points deduction and a final position in the division of 21st.

At Palace he played well despite the club struggling financially and when manager Neil Warnock joined Queens Park Rangers Hill followed him in July 2010.

In his first season at Loftus Road QPR won the Championship and gained promotion to the Premier League.

They went on to ensure survival on the final day of the season, Hill winning the supporters player of the year award for his performances this despite playing 25 matches and also spending a short time on loan at Nottingham Forest.

On 1 July 2010, Hill left Palace on a free transfer to join Queens Park Rangers and reunited with his former boss Neil Warnock.

On 7 August 2010, Hill made his QPR debut in a 4–0 win over Barnsley where he got his first clean sheet.

Hill scored his first goal for QPR against Portsmouth on 1 February 2011.

Hill played over thirty games for the Hoops and made the left back position firmly his.

He scored his second goal for QPR in a 2–0 home win against Ipswich Town, in a game where he also set up a goal for Heiðar Helguson to seal the win.

After QPR sealed the Championship title, Hill was able to play in the Premier League for the first time in his career.

However, he was sent off on the opening day of the season for a headbutt on Martin Petrov of Bolton Wanderers in a 4–0 defeat at Loftus Road.

On 20 September 2011, Hill signed for Nottingham Forest on a 93-day emergency loan deal, given squad number three.

Despite his performances, Palace finished in a disappointing 15th place in the Championship table.