Soccer player makes mark

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 72

Soccer player makes mark

The former Christchurch soccer player, Richard Hill, is starting to make his mark in the English division one competition with his new club, Oxford United.

Hill joined Watford from Northampton Town last year for a record £235,000 but fell out of favour with the club’s new manager, Dave Bassett, after one game. Soon after he signed for Oxford along with David Bardsley in a £500,000 deal and in three games for his new club has hit two goals from midfield. In those games Oxford beat Queen’s Park Rangers, 2-0, Derby, 1-0, and Norwich, 3-0, to move into tenth place. Hill reportedly had a great game against Norwich, scoring one and setting up another. An official with Christchurch United, Mr Brian Davies, said Hill rang him after the Derby victory to boast about beating “The Rams,” which is the nickname of both Derby and Christchurch. . Mr Davies said Hill was delighted with his form and much happier with the style of football played by Oxford. “When the crowd at Watford heard that Richard had scored against Q.P.R. they started chanting his name and booing the guy who sold him the week before.”

Hill played for Christchurch in the national league in 1983 and only returned to England because he could not get a permanent resident’s visa. He was going to return here but an offer to play in Finland materialised.