John Hills

…

N/A – John Hills

DoB – 21-04-1978

Height – 5.08

Weight – 10.08

Place of Birth – Blackpool

Nationality – English

Previous Clubs – Blackpool, Everton, Swansea, Blackpool, Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool

Joined Blackpool – 05-07-2007

Fee – N/A

The versatile left-sided player started his career with Blackpool back in 1994, however the home-town player made the switch to Everton at the age of 17 to ply his trade in the Premiership.



First team places were limited so he was shipped out to Swansea City to gain first team experience. When he returned to the Merseyside club, he made his full debut in a defeat to Chelsea.



In 1998 he started his Blackpool career, returning on loan for a month before then manager Nigel Worthington made the move permanent paying £60,000 for the player – thus making a £30,000 profit from the fee Everton paid back in 1995.



He was an inspirational part of the side which gained promotion back to the old Second Division (now League One of course) in 2001, forming a strong partnership with Tommy Jaszczun on the left hand side – not forgetting when he was paired with Paul Simpson on the left hand side also.



In 2003 he turned down a new contract at Bloomfield Road and Steve McMahon left Hills out of the match squad on a regular basis before Hills eventually left for Gillingham – who were in the old Division One at the time.



He was taken from Gillingham to Sheffield Wednesday by Paul Sturrock when his contract expired but, unfortunately for the Yorkshire club, his time with them was plagued by injury problems which ultimately led to his release by current manager Brian Laws.



Speculation had run wild about Hills returning all season and he has now become a Blackpool player for the third time and gone through his first training session with the current crop of players.



Many fans believe it is a step back taking Hills on at this stage of his career – and that signing former players is a bad move in general – however Hills is to provide some well-needed cover for the left hand side which has been a troublesome spot for Simon Grayson in his time in charge.