Top of the Hill

Darts Captain Josh Hill confirms his retirement from the game – and speaks to Gareth Morgan about his football journey and Dartford memories, in this farewell interview.

While many players jetted off abroad for a well-deserved break after the season finale against Dover, Darts captain Josh Hill was preparing for an even bigger challenge.

This time, however, there was no football involved and the only safe hands needed were those of the Obstetrician.

As just five days after the Play-off Final, Josh and wife Laura were welcoming daughter Freya into the world.

While the defender announced his retirement in the last programme notes of the season, many fans may have missed the news, while others had their fingers crossed that he may just change his mind.  

But with a new baby and ‘struggling physically,’ he has confirmed it’s time to hang up his boots for good.

He said: “It just felt like the right time. I want to spend more time with my family and I’ve been struggling physically. I have played non-league for 15 years and although I feel I could have got a few years more out of my body, it all takes a toll.

“I’m 33 now, but since turning 30 I’ve had a broken leg and knee operation separate from each other. I’ve been told multiple times by medical professionals to pack it in. But I always wanted to get back to the point where I could retire on my own terms and make it my own decision.”

Josh almost retired last season, but a call from Ady convinced him back to Princes Park for one final time.

The past season was his third spell at the club. In 13/14, at the age of 21, he made three starts and two as sub. From 19/20 to 21/22, it was 51 starts and five as sub. During the most recent campaign, he managed 47 starts, with three goals to his name.

He continued: “I told my friends and family that I was finished and I had retired before last season. I said, the only way I’d go back, really, is if I got an offer from a club that had a really good infrastructure, was professionally run, had good training facilities and a good ground and would be playing for something.

“Then Ady called me. I obviously knew the Club inside-out and it made sense to have that discussion with him. Then, when I met him, he became one of the other reasons that it made sense, because I believed in what he was saying, and how he does things and how he looks after people. We had a really good conversation back in June or July.

“I was honest. I said I didn’t think I’d get through every game this season because of my body, but, I’m dedicated, and I told him I’d do my best to get out on the pitch every single week. And he trusted me every week to see the physio or go to a gym, whatever was needed to get me ready.

“We had a bit of a laugh about it at the end of the season. He got 47 games out of me! Neither of us really know how it’s happened, but it shows if you treat people with respect and trust some players to look after themselves, it can come back to reward you.”

Josh started his career later than many, playing local football until making it into the Loughborough University side and playing alongside students who had been at Premier League Academies.

He said: “I thought to myself that maybe I could make a career out of the game. So, I dedicated myself from then. Loughborough, at the time, had a team in the non-league, at Step Four or Step Five, I think. And that’s how I started out. I then went to Ilkeston which was down the road from the Uni and that’s when I first started getting paid. I moved down to London in 2012 and went to Dartford.”

While Josh’s first stint at the Club was short-lived, his second spell across three seasons saw the Club make the play-off final in the National League South, with Dartford losing on penalties to Weymouth.

This time around, Josh joined the team having just been relegated.

He continued: “The Club was in a bit of shock from a very surprising relegation. But a huge credit to the rest of the guys at the Club behind the scenes and Ady, of course, for bringing in the right type of players with enough quality within the budget that he’s working to, to go and challenge.

“It’s a big deal when the fans believe in the players and know that we’re working hard for the badge and for the Club. If you’d watched any games this season, whether it was one game or 10 games or 50 games, I think you can’t really argue that the boys were doing that and giving it their all every week.”

Josh has played for a number of teams in different leagues around the country, while pushing forward in his every-day career as a Creative Operations Lead at Tesco. More recently, the couple had a son, Jack and now, daughter, Freya, to add to the mix.

But he’s rightly proud of the football career he’s had.

He continued: “From where I started out at university at 18-years-old, I’ve played with a lot of players that have more talent, or speed, or skills, but I’ve seen a lot of players fall off because of a lack of dedication, or they haven’t made enough sacrifices, or worked hard enough to stay in the game at the highest level they can.

“And I think that’s the one thing I’m most proud of. I’ve always played at the highest level I was able to at the time.  It would have been nice to make that next jump into full-time football, but I don’t regret a thing, as I always gave my best. I’ve also built a career alongside football, meaning I don’t have to worry about what I do next.”

So, what have been the highlights of his football journey?

He continued: “I’ve been promoted three times in a 15-year period and they’re definitely the things that stand out, with a fair few play-off finals and play-off campaigns mixed in between.”

Now, on to his last spell at Dartford. A season that has seen the team miss out on a title on the last game of the season. What does Josh make of it?

He continued: “I think the semi-final against Cray is my favourite moment. It’s pretty much one of the favourite moments I’ve had in football, never mind just this season.

“It felt like the game was over. But we kept going and got the late goal that took us to extra-time.

“The stadium absolutely erupted. And when we went on to win in extra time, there was that feeling of relief. It was incredible. I’ll never forget it.”

Another moment that will live long in the memory of all who were there, was the 35-yard screamer he scored against Whitehawk, that won him Goal of the Season as voted by supporters.

He said: “We played in a back three sometimes, which gives you a bit more freedom to get the ball from a centre midfielder, or push forward into the opposition half.

“I think it was a clearance and I remember it being a bit of a slow game and the pitch opened up and you get supporters shouting ‘shoot’ and there was nothing really on in front of me. I thought, if I just hit it, it might take a deflection, or fall forward to someone. But as soon as I hit it, I thought I’ve never hit something like that ever in my life. It was an amazing feeling to score a goal like that and win the game as well.”

This season has seen a bond built between players and supporters again, one that Josh and his teammates have often spoken about throughout the campaign.

He said: “I just want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at the Club, from behind the scenes, to Ady, the staff and my teammates.

“But the supporters have been amazing.  Yes, the winning helps, but the foundation of that is to work hard for each other and the fans will see that. It’s obviously a massive shame that we couldn’t get over the line in the end, because I feel like the fans deserve that, but we had an amazing season, and, personally, I’m very grateful for their support throughout the year.

“They spend their hard-earned money to get on the train, pay entry, pay for food and so on. I spoke to one supporter, Mitch, at the end-of-season presentation and I think he’d been to every game apart from one and that’s more than some of the players. It’s incredible, really. That’s what keeps clubs like us going.”

For Josh, it’s not a ‘goodbye’, it’s more a case of ‘see you soon.’ He recently moved house to Brentwood, so promises he will be coming to games next season to support the team.

He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing the likes of Olly, George and the Sams develop. They can have long football careers if they apply themselves in the right way.

“I’ve made over 100 starts at Dartford, so it’s a massive part of my career and even if I didn’t want to come back, I’d have no choice as my three-year-old Jack is now a massive fan and can’t stop going on about the Club! He’ll been supporting them for a long time, I’m sure.

“I really hope that the momentum that we built this year continues and Ady carries on his great work, which I’m sure he will.”

All at DFC congratulates Josh on the new addition to his family and thanks him for his time at the Club – and for being such an amazing ambassador and role model. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

The post Top of the Hill appeared first on Dartford Football Club Official Website.