Hill, John

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Fullname: John Hill
aka: Johnny Hill
Born: 17 January 1884
Died: […]
Birthplace: Dumbarton
Signed: 7 May 1913
Left: 23 October 1913 (to Vale of Leven)
Position: Outside-right
Debut: Celtic 3-2 Rangers, Charity Cup, 10 May 1913
Internationals: none

Biog

John Hill was a nippy outside-right signed by Celtic from Dumbarton Harp in May 1913. An electrical engineer with Wm Dennt & Bros, he was Dumbarton’s top striker, with around 72 goals in 125 league games over six seasons.

“A nippy little player, a neat and clever outside left who it is hoped will fill a place that has been weak since the departure of ‘Hammie'”.
[‘Hammie’ refers to David Hamilton]

He made his debut on 10th May 1913 as Celtic beat Rangers 3-2 at Parkhead in the Charity Cup final. He was so good that he was awarded the match ball. Added gem was that he played with a new goalie on that day, the great Charlie Shaw.

It was said by one Celtic fan that taking in the set of new players in that Charity Cup final that:

“Celtic sign on boys at 2 o’clock and hand them out gold badges at five!”.

Despite impressing on that occasion John failed to live up to early expectations and departed in October for Vale of Leven after just two league appearances for the Bhoys. His two league games were a 5-1 win over Ayr and a 1-1 draw with Motherwell in Aug 1913, both matches being the opening league matches of the 1913-14 season.

His only other two appearances were in the Glasgow Cup, firstly a 0-0 draw with Third Lanark and then the 1-0 defeat in the replay.

It wasn’t to be for John Hill at Celtic, but as Celtic went on to win the league title that season, he could look back proudly on having been a part of that success. Additionally, those two league games were the first of what was to be a new golden period for Celtic (on-field) as Celtic won four league titles in a row, albeit during the difficult war years. It was actually John Browning, a fellow Dumbarton man, who was to be the man to replace David Hamilton.

John Hill left Celtic very soon after his first league matches in just October 1913 to Vale of Leven.

It is arguable if it was a wise move as Vale of Leven finished the league season second bottom of the second tier in Scottish football, and then bottom the next season. The second tier was then suspended (due to wartime), and John Hill then spent two seasons at Renton who were now playing in lower minor leagues. However, John Hill appears to have returned & ended his career back at Vale of Levein in 1918.

Renton FC themselves dissolved a few years later in 1922, ending what was a proud history, having been a leading pioneer in Scottish football, previous Scottish Cup victors and also a generation before been crowned unofficial world champions after a cross-border victory.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Pictures

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