Hill Len Image 5 Lincoln City 1927

Description

Islington, London born goalkeeper Len Hill began his football career playing for Cranley Rovers before the First World War, during which he served in the Armed Forces, but after the War he signed for Southern League club Southend United as an amateur in 1919. moving to join Queen’s Park Rangers in August 1920, who had just entered the Third Division (South), Hill making his Football League debut the following month at Watford.

Described as “a thoroughly capable custodian… very clever in anticipating the movements of opposing forwards”, he stayed five seasons at QPR being ever present in their 1922-23 campaign, but having made 176 appearances for Rangers he lost his place to Bill Field in January 1925, before joining Second Division club Southampton as understudy to Tommy Allen in June 1925.

However he only played 11 matches for The Saints the following season before a move to Third Division (North) club Rochdale exactly a year later. He had a full 1926-27 season at Spotland, making 35 appearances for Dale, but moved on to Lincoln City in July 1927, where he was ever present in their 1927-28 campaign and where in two seasons at Sincil Bank he made 75 appearances for The Imps. He then returned south to join non league Grays Thurrock United in July 1929, his last recorded club before his eventual retirement.