Sean Hillier
Quick Facts
Biography
Sean Hillier (born 19 April 1986) is an English semi-professional football defender who is currently unattached. Hillier began his career at Brentford, making one professional appearance before dropping into non-league football upon his release in 2005. He made over 250 appearances for North Greenford United across four spells with the club.
Playing career
Brentford
Hillier began his career as a youth at Brentford. He played in the 2–0 2004 Supporters Direct Cup win over AFC Wimbledon on 20 July 2004, replacing Chris Hargreaves after 87 minutes. Hillier received his first call into the first team squad for a Football League Trophy first round match against Milton Keynes Dons on 28 September 2004. Manager Martin Allen selected a side mostly composed of players from the youth team, including Ryan Peters, Jamie Palmer, Josh Lennie, Karleigh Osborne, Darius Charles, Luke Muldowney and Scott Weight. Hillier made his professional debut when he started the match at right back and played the full 90 minutes of the 3–0 defeat. Hillier was called into the squad for two further matches was released in the summer of 2005.
Welling United (loan)
Hillier signed on loan for Conference South side Welling United on 3 September 2004, as cover at right back for Tony Browne. He made his debut in a league match against Redbridge. He returned to Brentford on 27 September.
Hendon (loan)
Hillier and Brentford youth colleague James Morrison joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Hendon on loan in January 2005. He made his debut in a 7–1 league defeat to Eastleigh on 8 January, starting the match and playing the full 90 minutes. Hillier was on the bench for the following game, an Isthmian League Cup match away to Leatherhead. He replaced Shayne Demetrious after 55 minutes of the 6–3 extra time defeat. Hillier made two appearances for the club and returned to Griffin Park in mid February.
North Greenford United (loan)
Hillier joined Combined Counties League Premier Division side North Greenford United on loan in February 2005, until the end of the 2004–05 season. He made his debut in a 3–1 win over Merstham on 5 March. He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–4 win over Godalming & Guildford on 30 April and scored again in a 2–0 win over Raynes Park Vale on the final day of the season. Hillier helped the Blues to a second-place finish the league, despite having three points deducted. He made 11 appearances and scored two goals during his spell.
AFC Wimbledon
Hillier signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side AFC Wimbledon on 30 July 2005. He made only one first team appearance for the club, coming on as a 51st-minute substitute for Michael Woolner in a 2–0 defeat to Bromley on 25 October 2005. He made 9 appearances for the club's reserve side and scored two goals. Hillier departed the club in the summer of 2006.
Return to North Greenford United (loan)
Hillier rejoined Combined Counties League Premier Division side North Greenford United on loan in November 2005, until the end of the 2005–06 season. He made his second debut for the club in a 4–2 win over Merstham on 12 November. Hillier scored three goals in three games in January 2006, netting in a 2–1 victory over Bedfont and bagging a brace two games later in a 5–3 victory over Cove. In late February and early March he scored two in two games, helping the Blues to a league win over Sandhurst Town and a Premier Challenge Cup third round victory over Colliers Wood United. Hillier made 28 appearances during his spell and scored a seasonal-best five goals.
Hanwell Town
Hillier signed for Southern League Division One South & West side Hanwell Town in the summer of 2006. He left the club in early 2007.
Third spell with North Greenford United
Hillier rejoined North Greenford United for the third time in early 2007 and made his first appearance in a 3–0 win over Raynes Park Vale on 3 February. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 defeat to Cobham on 17 February. Hillier helped the Blues to the 2007 Premier Challenge Cup Final versus Merstham, but was on the wrong end of a 4–1 defeat. He made 21 appearances and scored one goal during the 2006–07 season. Hillier made his first appearance of the 2007–08 season in a 3–2 defeat to Chessington & Hook United on 11 August 2007. Hillier scored his first goal of the campaign in a 2–2 draw with Bedfont Green on 23 October and followed up with another three games later in a 4–2 defeat to Bedfont. He departed the Blues in February 2008, having made 46 appearances and scored three goals during his year with the club.
Chertsey Town
Hillier signed for Combined Counties League Premier Division side Chertsey Town on 27 February 2008. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Raynes Park Vale on 1 March. Hillier made eight appearances in what remained of the 2007–08 season and left the club at the end of the campaign.
Fourth spell with North Greenford United
Hillier signed for North Greenford United for the fourth time in the summer of 2008. He scored on first competitive appearance of the season, netting in a 2–2 draw with Egham Town on 9 August 2008. He was a virtual ever-present during the 2008–09 season, making 42 appearances and helping the Blues to a second-place finish in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. Hillier won the first competitive silverware of his career during the 2009–10 season, helping the Blues to the Combined Counties League Premier Division title (which brought promotion to the Southern League Division One Central) and the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup. The cup win set up a match versus Middlesex Senior Cup winners Staines Town for the George Ruffell Memorial Shield in August 2010, but though Hillier got on the scoresheet, the Blues were denied more silverware after suffering a shootout defeat. Playing Southern League Division One Central football for the 2010–11 season, Hillier made 52 appearances and scored one goal in a season of consolidation. Hillier made 44 appearances and scored three goals in the 2011–12 season. Hillier made 44 appearances and scored one goal during the 2012–13 season, his last with the club.
Honours
As a player
Brentford
- Supporters Direct Cup: 2004
North Greenford United
- Combined Counties League Premier Division: 2009–10
- Middlesex Senior Charity Cup: 2009–10
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Brentford | 2004–05 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Hendon (loan) | 2004–05 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
North Greenford United (loan) | 2004–05 | Combined Counties League Premier Division | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | |||
AFC Wimbledon | 2005–06 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
North Greenford United (loan) | 2005–06 | Combined Counties League Premier Division | 25 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 28 | 5 | ||
North Greenford United | 2006–07 | Combined Counties League Premier Division | 18 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
2007–08 | 24 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||||
Total | 42 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 49 | 3 | ||||
Chertsey Town | 2007–08 | Combined Counties League Premier Division | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
North Greenford United | 2008–09 | Combined Counties League Premier Division | 40 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
2009–10 | 42 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 47 | 1 | ||||
North Greenford United total | 160 | 11 | — | — | 14 | 1 | 174 | 12 | ||||
Career total | 170 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 186 | 12 |