A widely experienced central defender who played in the Wembley defeat by Blackburn Rovers while still on loan with City. A £200.000 transfer not being negotiated until two months later.
Colin went on to pick up the club’s Player of the Year trophy following an ever present 1992/93, but was sidelined by injury collecting a hat-trick of successive Play-off Final appearances in 1994.
A cool head, a strong tackle and fine aticipation were features of Colin’s game under Brian Little, and deservedly won him the captaincy under Mark McGhee.
He had initially made an Arsenal breakthrough in 1983/84 at both centre and right-back, but was deposed by incoming buys Viv Anderson and Tommy Caton. Be broadenede his reportoire whi8le playing in Portuguese First Division football with Maritimo, ending up as top scorer in 1986/87. Division Four fare at Layer Road followed, but Colin won his first six caps for Northern Ireland after moving to Sheffield United. On top from with City, he was oddly overlooked at international level by Billy Bingham, and enve when Bryan Hamilton took over the Irish reins, Colin seemed fated.
His first three call ups were each nated by injury. His belated first caps as City player nonetheless finally came in spring 1995, when Hamilton selected im as a defensive midfielder against the Republic of Ireland and in Latvia.
He was with Leicester until 1997, but missed out on the EFL Cup final. Colin moved to Sweden to play for Trelleborg FF, returning to play on at Northampton, ending in 1999.
After retiring Colin spent ten years working in the Commercial and Hospitality sector for Leicester City FC, The Q Group and the THA Group.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Colin Frederick Hill
- Position: Defender
- Date of Birth: 12.11.1963
- Birthplace: Uxbridge, England
- Nation: Nothern Ireland
- Caps / Goals: 27 / 1
- Major League Career:
- 1981-86, Arsenal (46/1)
- 1986-87, Maritimo (30/8)
- 1987-89, Colchester United (69/0)
- 1989-92, Sheffield United (82/1)
- 1992-97, Leicester City (145/0)
- 1997-99. Northampton Town (54/0)
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