*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Dean Hill
Appearances: 48+1 Goals: 4
Date / Year of birth: 14th October 1983
Position: Centre-back / Left-back
Season of first appearance: 2010/11
Season of last appearance: 2010/11
Also played for: Dover Athletic, Ashford Town, Sittingbourne, Ramsgate and Maidstone United
Tough-tackling defender who started his career in Dover's youth ranks and progressed to the reserves by the 2001/02 season.
Dean then joined Ashford for the 2002/03 campaign and stayed with the Nuts & Bolts until February 2004 when he signed for Southern League Division 1 East club Sittingbourne.
He spent the remainder of 2003/04 and the whole of the 2004/05 season with the Brickies before moving on to Ramsgate in June 2005.
Dean scored once from 18 league appearances (four as sub) as the Rams won the Isthmian League Division 1 title during 2005/06 and he then played 38 times (once as sub) in the Premier Division during the 2006/07 campaign, scoring three times.
In August 2007 Ramsgate's manager Jimmy Ward spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Dean and said "Tackles like a pit-bull terrier. He's one of them you don't want to play against because you know about it if he's marked you."
Dean went on to make 37 Premier League appearances and scored twice during 2007/08 as the Rams reached the play-offs. He was sent off in a 1-1 draw at Horsham in January 2008.
In May 2008 Dean rejoined Dover and he was a key part of their side that won the Premier Division during the 2008/09 season, scoring twice from 45 outings (one as sub) in all competitions. He then made 38 appearances (one as sub) and scored once in all competitions during 2009/10 as Dover consolidated in the Conference South.
Dean struggled for games at Dover during the first half of the 2010/11 campaign and in November 2010 he was loaned to Maidstone where he played three times before returning to Crabble in December 2010. Dean had only made six appearances for Dover (five as sub) during 2010/11 when he was released from his contract in February 2011 and signed for Margate.
He made his debut at centre-back in a 3-1 win at Carshalton in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 8.2.11 and Dean was then sent off in his next outing as Margate drew 1-1 with Horsham at Horsham YMCA. He was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card in the last few minutes of the game and had to serve a one-match ban.
Dean returned to Margate's defence in a 2-1 win over Carshalton at Hartsdown Park on 12.3.11 and then started four of the next five games at centre-back. On 26.3.11 he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 home draw with AFC Hornchurch and it was a great effort as Dean cut in from the left, beat two defenders and curled a low shot into the corner of the net. He then had to go off injured before half time of a 3-2 defeat against visitors Harrow on 2.4.11 and Dean missed two matches as a result.
He was back in the number six shirt at Margate lost 3-0 at home to Lowestoft on 23.4.11 and Dean then moved into midfield for a 2-0 defeat against Cray at Bromley on 25.4.11. He also featured in midfield as Margate took on Kingstonian at Hartsdown Park in the last game of the season on 30.4.11 and Dean capped a dramatic fight-back from 3-0 down by scoring with an acrobatic volley from 12 yards to level the scores at 3-3. He finished the campaign having scored twice from 10 outings.
At the start of July 2011 Dean was given a new one-year contract and a few days before the start of the 2011/12 season Margate manager Chris Kinnear spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about him. Kinnear said "Wasn't fit last year but looks in good shape now. Can play centre-half, left-back or centre-midfield. He's our Mr Consistency - you know what you're going to get out of him".
Dean made his first appearance of the new Isthmian League Premier Division campaign when he played at left-back in a 1-1 draw at Wealdstone on 20.8.11 and the Thanet Times said he "impressed at the back". From then on he was ever-present in the number three shirt for the next three months and on 4.10.11 Dean scored his first goal of the season in a 6-1 win at Thamesmead in the FA Cup when a wayward shot struck him on the chest and cannoned into the net.
Dean had started each of Margate's first 27 matches when he suffered a knee injury in the first half of a 5-0 win over East Thurrock at Hartsdown Park on 29.11.11 and had to go off. He was diagnosed with ligament damage and missed the next 15 games as a result.
In February 2012 Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "Dean will definitely play again this season...it's just a case of getting him match-fit." and on 25.2.12 he played a full 90 minutes as Margate's reserves drew 1-1 at Deal.
Dean returned to first team action on 3.3.12 when he came on as an 80th minute substitute in a 2-2 draw at Wingate & Finchley and he then started at left-back in a 0-0 draw with visitors Leatherhead on 10.3.12. He was a fixture in the number three shirt for the remainder of the campaign and on 31.3.12 Dean headed the opening goal from a Dan Stubbs corner to set Margate on the way to a 2-1 home win over Horsham. Dean made his last appearance of 2011/12 in a 5-0 defeat at Canvey Island on 28.4.12 and it turned out to be his final outing for the club. He'd played 39 times (once as sub) and scored twice during the season but in May 2012 Dean rejoined Ramsgate of the Isthmian League Division 1 South.
The Rams' manager Tim Dixon told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "This is a fantastic signing and is probably going to be our flagship signing of the summer. Dean is a winner and that is why I wanted him here." He added "He was keen to come back to Ramsgate and I am delighted that we have signed such an experienced player with proven quality and ability."
Dean captained Ramsgate during the 2012/13 campaign and scored three times in 42 appearances in all competitions. He stayed with the Rams for the 2013/14 season too.
In February 2014 Dean became Ramsgate's player-caretaker manager following the departure of Tim Dixon. He was assisted by former Margate player Mark Weatherly. Dean took charge for six games before Justin Luchford was appointed as the Rams' new boss in March 2014.
After only a handful of games in charge Luchford was sacked in May 2014 and two days after he'd been confirmed as leaving Southwood Dean was announced as Ramsgate's new player-manager aged only 30. He told Ramsgate's website "I'm delighted to take the full time position as manager at Ramsgate FC. I feel passionate about the current squad of players and with a few additions, that are right for the club, we can really push on this year." Dean immediately brought in former Margate player Paul Murray as a coach.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2010/11 (MFC) |
10 (49) |
0 |
2 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (16TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2011/12 (MFC) |
38 (54) |
1 |
2 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (15TH OF 22) |
3QR |
2QR |
3R |
QF |
|