In the fourth of our interviews with current and formers managers, Non League Yorkshire speaks to Stocksbridge Park Steels chief Chris Hilton.
Clubs managed: Worsbrough Bridge (June 2010-May 2014), Stocksbridge Park Steels (May 2014-present)
Chris Hilton and Jamie Vardy in battle many years ago. Picture: Ian Revitt
Jamie Vardy is busy preparing for England’s Euro 2016 opener against Russia tomorrow. He is probably unaware that he had a tiny part in sowing the seeds for current Stocksbridge chief Chris Hilton’s managerial career.
Go back to a warm Bank Holiday Monday in August 2009, a young Vardy ran rings around Hilton in Stocksbridge’s 4-1 victory over Frickley Athletic with his speed and ability. Hilton came off after 55 minutes and immediately told then-Blues boss Billy Heath that his career was over.
“He finished my playing career,” admits Hilton. “I had been ill in hospital and then I played three games in three days and the final one was a Bank Holiday Monday and I ended up marking a lad called Jamie Vardy.
“When I came off after 60 minutes I remember telling Billy Heath the manager ‘my legs have gone Bill, that’s me done’. Unbeknown I was marking a future England international that is about to play at the Euros.
“There comes a time when you think that you’re body has taken enough punishment and think it is time to give something back coaching-wise.”
Vardy’s display brought an end to Hilton’s long career in the Northern Premier League. He had spent eleven years with Frickley, in two spells, three years at Sheffield FC and a year-a-piece at Belper Town and Stocksbridge.
He still well-thought of at Westfield Lane and during his final year he was granted a testimonial game and dinner in his honour. Loyalty runs right through his career. Recently he offered a new contract by Stocksbridge, he signed without hesitation.
“I try and be as loyal as you can be,” he says.
“I expect people to be loyal to me so I have to be. When they offered a contract here I never had any second thoughts about taking it because they stuck by me in the first year.
“I was always loyal in my playing career. I was never one of those who chase money.”
Chris Hilton collects a player of the year award during his time with Frickley
Chris Hilton pictured at his testimonial
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton (right) was rewarded with a long term contract in February. Picture: Peter Revitt
Chris Hilton
His first strides into coaching and management were at the backend of the 2009-10 season. Then-Worsbrough boss Mick Norbury asked him to come down to Park Road and help out.
Mick Norbury left in the summer to go be Nigel Danby’s assistant at Harrogate Railway, leaving Hilton “thrown in the deep end” and in the hot-seat for the first time.
“The idea was to go down to play and coach,” he says. “That was for only nine games, but after that Norbs said he was leaving to go to Harrogate Railway.
“Ian Shirt who I have known for many years said he wanted the job and the chairman wanted me to get involved so we decided to do it jointly. I could help out on the coaching front, while Ian knew the management side so he could show me things.
“The first season was very tough. We had a very scratched team which had just finished bottom before we took over.
“We had to try and get some stability in there. We wanted local lads to come and play for us which we did, but it took time.
“We built half a team in the first year and moved half the team out in the second season. You can see the progression in the third and fourth season. We set the atmosphere up so it was one you could enjoy and feel like you belonged to the club.”
By the second season, Hilton was on his own as Shirt, who is now back in charge at Worsbrough, stepped aside. The third and fourth campaigns are the most notable because of Bridge’s home record. In the third, they stayed unbeaten at Park Road, while in the fourth, they only lost twice at home.
Numerous players from Hilton’s reign at Park Road have gone onto play in the Evo Stik or have enjoyed success in the NCEL.
“It was always going to be my last season, even before Stocksbridge asked me to come and be interviewed,” says Hilton, talking about his fourth campaign at the helm at Worsbrough.
“I thought about leaving after the third season, but I then decided to give it another go as along as the lads stayed. The lads said they would stay if I stayed so we gave it another go.”
“I was always going to quit after the end of the fourth season. I have a young family, but I was going to do my coaching badges and get up to UEFA B, that was the plan.
“Stocksbridge then called me. I never phoned Worsbrough, they asked me if I wanted to go there and help them.
“I never phoned Stocksbridge either, they contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in applying for the job. I sent my CV in and the rest is history.”
Stocksbridge were impressed with Hilton’s temperament and ability to build winning teams with limited resources. Whilst his first year at Bracken Moor was difficult, his second was almost spectacular. The Steels went some distance in the FA Trophy, beating Northwich, Ilkeston and incredibly the holders North Ferriby United. They finished sixth in the Evo Stik Division One South, narrowly missing out on the play-offs.
Hopes are high for 2017, but Hilton is staying level headed.
“I wouldn’t say a disaster (if Stocksbridge don’t reach the play-offs) because as I’ve said before in previous reports, we did better than what I expected last season,” he adds.
“I expected us being in the top half of the table, I just didn’t expect us to kick on as we did.
“We are going to aim for the play-offs. Alright if we don’t get there, there will be a part of me that says I’m disappointed, but as long as we’re there or there abouts, it will still be a good season for us.”
Preparations are well-underway for it with Harrison Biggins, David Reay and Joe Lumsden already signed up.