Ian Hillier

Ian Hillier

Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-12-26) 26 December 1979
Place of birth	Neath, Wales
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Carmarthen Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
2001	→ Luton Town (loan)	13	(1)
2001–2005	Luton Town	42	(0)
2004–2005	→ Chester City (loan)	8	(0)
2005–2008	Newport County	110	(6)
2009	Newport County	0	(0)
2009–2012	Neath	38	(1)
2012–	Carmarthen Town	0	(0)
International career
2001	Wales U21	5	(0)
2007	Wales Semi-Pro	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:00, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Ian Hillier (born 26 December 1979 in Neath) is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Carmarthen Town.

Career

A Welsh under-21 international, 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.

He joined Carmarthen Town in June 2012 after the liquidation of Neath.

External links

• Ian Hillier career statistics at Soccerbase
• Welsh Premier profile