| Hugh Hill |
 Hugh Hill was born on Tuesday, 1st December, 1863, in Whiteinch, Glasgow. The 5' 4 (10st 10lbs) midfielder joined Thistle in the mid-1880s. Aged 22, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 5th December, 1885, in a 1-1 friendly draw away to Clyde. There were no known goals for Hugh during his spell with Thistle. He played his last known game for the club on Thursday, 1st January, 1891, in a 2-2 friendly draw away to Bootle, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 7 occasions. His known club-list included only Partick Thistle. Hugh died on Thursday, 19th March, 1953, in Springvale, Maine, aged 89. |
 The son of James Hill (b. 1842, iron turner) and Sarah Jane Hill (née Dawson, b. 1853). Both parents were Irish. By 1881, Hugh had an older brother, George (18), as well two younger sisters - Mary Elizabeth (13) and Grace (9). At that time he was apprentice ship fitter and blacksmith, and the latter trade would stay with him for a number of decades. Although he was never a prominent member of the first team, his son, George Hill, wrote that his Dad played for Thistle for 14 years! (see 'Scrapbook' tab). There's no contemporary evidence for that length of service, and a span of several years from the mid 1880s seems closer to the mark. Hugh mainly played in the reserves and, indeed, he was the stated captain of the second eleven side of 1889-90, although he still managed to register a handful of appearances in the first eleven that term, a real mixed bag run; Albion Rovers [a] L2-6, Aberdeen FC [a] W5-2, Kilbirnie [h] W5-2 and Methlan Park [h] L2-7. He was involved again during the festive period the following season, turning out in the 4-0 win at home to Pollokshaws (27th December) followed a few days later by the 2-2 draw at Bootle on New Years Day, 1891. In November 1891, Hugh married Agnes Martin at Nitshill. His best man was Thistle team mate Andrew MacKay! Hugh and Agnes raised a large family together. The couple emigrated to the United States of America in 1922, arriving in New York and settling in Springvale, Maine, for some 30 years. In April 1923, when he filled in his 'Declaration of Intention' to become a naturalised American citizen, Hugh described himself as a Whiteinch-born blacksmith, of fair hair and blue eyes, standing at 5' 4 and weighing in at 150 lbs. He, Agnes, and most of the children (two of them stayed in Britain) were already settled in at 3 George Street, Springvale. Hugh lived to the grand old age of 89 and when his time came, the local paper (see 'Scrapbook' tab) stated that he was survived by 5 sons, 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Hugh was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery (see 'Gallery' tab) in his home village of Springvale. |
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