Post by QPR Report on Mar 7, 2010 7:51:29 GMT
He's now near Dallas, Texas
(Nothing in the piece re QPR...Critical of Dave Sexton. And this explains, at least in part, why kind of flopped at QPR)
Sunday Times
Best & Worst: Gordon Hill
Recommend?
What was your best moment?
Signing as a professional...even at Millwall. That’s when I knew the road was open. When somebody tells you they want to sign you as a pro it’s a wonderful moment. I was bouncing off the walls. I was on 25 quid a week and thought I’d won the lottery.
And your worst moment?
Getting a bad injury. In 1978 I left Manchester United and went to Derby, who were then a top side. I was still the same, scoring goals and playing for England. Then one night we were playing a League Cup tie at Leicester. I’d scored what turned out to be the winning goal and it was the last minute. I attempted a slide tackle on Geordie Armstrong. My left leg bent sideways instead of forward and back and I knew immediately it was a bad one. It’s haunted me ever since. Why did I have to make that tackle? Before the surgeon operated he warned me I might never play top football again. I did get back but was never the same. I’d lost a yard of pace so I never played for England again. I had to rebuild my game, dropping a bit deeper and becoming a left-sided midfielder.
Related Links
Best & Worst: Victor Ubogu
Best & Worst: Tony Galvin
Best & Worst: Richard Krajicek
What was your best goal?
I scored two for United against Derby County in the FA Cup semi-final in 1976 to take us to Wembley. The first one stands out. I was in the middle and played a one-two with Gerry Daly, who was at the left edge of the penalty area. I took one touch and as Roy McFarland ran to close me down I bent a left-footer into the top corner.
Who was your best coach?
Benny Fenton at Millwall was the man who gave me the early confidence to succeed. Tommy Docherty at United was a great one for inspiring you to perform to your best. I’m careful not to overcoach a youngster. I try to see what he’s already good at and help him do it even better.
What about the worst?
When Dave Sexton came to United after TD was sacked in 1977, he didn’t take to me. I found him a difficult guy. We couldn’t come off the training field until we’d done something perfectly ... even if that was at walking pace. He was the wrong person for the job at that time.
What was your worst match?
The 1976 FA Cup final was a nightmare. Everybody expected us to beat Second Division Southampton but the day got to us. That season they’d brought out the card system, where they held up your number for substitutions. It was towards the end of the game and we were losing 1-0 when I saw number 11 go up. As I walked to the bench I turned to Tommy Docherty and said, ‘What? F***ing me?’ and he said, ‘No, the whole f***ing team’. Even though I was so disappointed I had to chuckle.
And your best?
The next year against Liverpool. We were the underdogs but won 2-1. After the game the press wanted us all to pose for pictures with the cup in the bath. Wembley’s old bath was about 6ft deep and they put about 4ft of water in it. So we threw in the lid and then the cup itself, but the guy who’d filled the bath had forgotten to put cold water in. Stuart Pearson was aching so much he’d put Fiery Jack on his legs. He jumped in and nearly got third-degree burns. He jumped out without touching the sides ... he looked like a lobster. We all stood looking at the cup at the bottom of the bath. It had taken us a season to win the bloody thing and it was still out of reach.
What’s the worst thing in football?
Diving. If you dived in my day you were called a coward. These days they take a dive and then look at the referee and hold up their hand, as if with a card, trying to get a guy booked. It’s cheating. And the best part of modern football?
These days are a dream for skilled players. I would thrive ... without diving.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I own and run United FC, a youth soccer club in McKinney, about 25 miles from Dallas. I moved out here five years ago after working in Manchester, doing stuff on the radio and hospitality at United and MUTV. So I thought I’d try my hand at coaching. I did all the badges and had spells at Chester City, Hyde United and with Nova Scotia in Canada. My set-up has no official tie-in with Man Utd, though if I find a little diamond he will be steered towards the club. I’m also planning to set up a Gordon Hill Centre of Excellence. I’m in the UK three or four times a year, helping run soccer schools at Newport and Cardiff. I try to put a little bit back into the game.
ON TV TODAY
1977 FA Cup final: Man United v Liverpool
6.30pm ESPN Classic, Sky channel 429
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article7052368.ece
(Nothing in the piece re QPR...Critical of Dave Sexton. And this explains, at least in part, why kind of flopped at QPR)
Sunday Times
Best & Worst: Gordon Hill
Recommend?
What was your best moment?
Signing as a professional...even at Millwall. That’s when I knew the road was open. When somebody tells you they want to sign you as a pro it’s a wonderful moment. I was bouncing off the walls. I was on 25 quid a week and thought I’d won the lottery.
And your worst moment?
Getting a bad injury. In 1978 I left Manchester United and went to Derby, who were then a top side. I was still the same, scoring goals and playing for England. Then one night we were playing a League Cup tie at Leicester. I’d scored what turned out to be the winning goal and it was the last minute. I attempted a slide tackle on Geordie Armstrong. My left leg bent sideways instead of forward and back and I knew immediately it was a bad one. It’s haunted me ever since. Why did I have to make that tackle? Before the surgeon operated he warned me I might never play top football again. I did get back but was never the same. I’d lost a yard of pace so I never played for England again. I had to rebuild my game, dropping a bit deeper and becoming a left-sided midfielder.
Related Links
Best & Worst: Victor Ubogu
Best & Worst: Tony Galvin
Best & Worst: Richard Krajicek
What was your best goal?
I scored two for United against Derby County in the FA Cup semi-final in 1976 to take us to Wembley. The first one stands out. I was in the middle and played a one-two with Gerry Daly, who was at the left edge of the penalty area. I took one touch and as Roy McFarland ran to close me down I bent a left-footer into the top corner.
Who was your best coach?
Benny Fenton at Millwall was the man who gave me the early confidence to succeed. Tommy Docherty at United was a great one for inspiring you to perform to your best. I’m careful not to overcoach a youngster. I try to see what he’s already good at and help him do it even better.
What about the worst?
When Dave Sexton came to United after TD was sacked in 1977, he didn’t take to me. I found him a difficult guy. We couldn’t come off the training field until we’d done something perfectly ... even if that was at walking pace. He was the wrong person for the job at that time.
What was your worst match?
The 1976 FA Cup final was a nightmare. Everybody expected us to beat Second Division Southampton but the day got to us. That season they’d brought out the card system, where they held up your number for substitutions. It was towards the end of the game and we were losing 1-0 when I saw number 11 go up. As I walked to the bench I turned to Tommy Docherty and said, ‘What? F***ing me?’ and he said, ‘No, the whole f***ing team’. Even though I was so disappointed I had to chuckle.
And your best?
The next year against Liverpool. We were the underdogs but won 2-1. After the game the press wanted us all to pose for pictures with the cup in the bath. Wembley’s old bath was about 6ft deep and they put about 4ft of water in it. So we threw in the lid and then the cup itself, but the guy who’d filled the bath had forgotten to put cold water in. Stuart Pearson was aching so much he’d put Fiery Jack on his legs. He jumped in and nearly got third-degree burns. He jumped out without touching the sides ... he looked like a lobster. We all stood looking at the cup at the bottom of the bath. It had taken us a season to win the bloody thing and it was still out of reach.
What’s the worst thing in football?
Diving. If you dived in my day you were called a coward. These days they take a dive and then look at the referee and hold up their hand, as if with a card, trying to get a guy booked. It’s cheating. And the best part of modern football?
These days are a dream for skilled players. I would thrive ... without diving.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I own and run United FC, a youth soccer club in McKinney, about 25 miles from Dallas. I moved out here five years ago after working in Manchester, doing stuff on the radio and hospitality at United and MUTV. So I thought I’d try my hand at coaching. I did all the badges and had spells at Chester City, Hyde United and with Nova Scotia in Canada. My set-up has no official tie-in with Man Utd, though if I find a little diamond he will be steered towards the club. I’m also planning to set up a Gordon Hill Centre of Excellence. I’m in the UK three or four times a year, helping run soccer schools at Newport and Cardiff. I try to put a little bit back into the game.
ON TV TODAY
1977 FA Cup final: Man United v Liverpool
6.30pm ESPN Classic, Sky channel 429
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article7052368.ece