Hill relishing chance for new challenge (From Worcester News)

Hill relishing chance for new challenge

8:30pm Sunday 14th June 2009

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By Steve Carley »

ONE of Worcester City’s most loyal servants is preparing for a new challenge.

Graham Hill is leaving his position as football secretary at St George’s Lane after six years to become the administrator of the Football Conference Youth League.

The 44-year-old, also the club’s representative on the Worcestershire Football Association, believes it is time for a change of scenery.

He said: “It’s part-time but it’s something that I feel I want to give 100 per cent commitment to, which I have done for the entire period that I have been here at St George’s Lane. If I do a job I want to do it properly.

“It’s football administration but I’m responsible for a number of clubs as opposed to just one so I thought I would try and grab the opportunity with both hands.

“It’s no secret that I’ve become increasingly frustrated over the last 12 months or so, it’s been well-documented what’s been going on at the club and I think the time is right for me to move on and for the football club to have a new face.”

During his time at City, a role he took on from Steve Bond in September 2003, Hill has been chiefly responsible for the registration of the players and ensuring all the paperwork is in order.

He also has to be aware of the ever-changing rules and regulations and ensure the club enters cup competitions, something they forgot to do with the FA Cup in 1986.

“It’s a massively important role,” said Hill, also a commentator for BBC Hereford and Worcester.

“Without blowing my own trumpet, it’s the most important role of a football club because there is so much responsibility.

“I look at teams who have points deducted and we were fortunate we never had any deducted because I would never forgive myself in the role as secretary.

“If we had points deducted for playing an illegible player, as far as I was concerned during my time as secretary, I would have walked out because I couldn’t have lived with myself.

“I feel as though I’m organised and I’d like to think the person who takes over from me will find that.”

Affectionately known as Benny, after the Crossroads character because he wore a bobble hat as a youngster, and not the comedian, Hill has fond memories, especially City’s run to the FA Cup second round in 2006.

A City fan since 1973, he said: “The highlight of the six years certainly has been the game against Huddersfield.

“The week leading up to that was quite stressful, there were a lot of people doing an awful lot of work. But when you saw the day itself and afterwards when people from the BBC and FA were very quick to praise the work and were complimentary, that meant an awful lot to me and to everyone else at the club.”

He added: “I think what I’ll miss more than anything is the away trips because to me there has been nothing better than when we’ve gone away from home, won a game of football and come back on the coach and everybody is happy. It’s not so good when you’ve lost, though, it’s very quiet on the coach.

“I have been lucky to have worked with some really good managers and I have got the utmost respect for John Barton, Andy Preece and Richard Dryden.

“I am a fan, I’ve got a real passion for the place and I’ll still be around to help the club in whatever way I can.”