Brian Hillier
Encyclopedia
Brian Hillier was a football chairman most notable for being chairman of Swindon Town
.
A lifelong Swindon Town supporter, he became chairman of the club in 1984 when they were in the Football League Fourth Division
- the lowest division of the Football League. He appointed legendary Manchester United
striker Lou Macari
as player-manager and in 1986 Swindon Town won promotion from the Fourth Division as champions with a then national league record of 102 points. In 1987 a second successive promotion took Hillier's team into the Football League Second Division
, where they had not played for more than a decade previously.
However, Hillier was arrested on suspicion of defrauding the Inland Revenue
in January 1990 and was also suspected of placing a bet against his own team losing an FA Cup
tie in the 1987-88 season
. His team won promotion to the Football League First Division
(top division of English football) four months later but shortly afterwards were found guilty on 36 charges of financial irregularities. This resulted in Sunderland
being promoted in their place, and Swindon Town being relegated to the Football League Third Division
with their place in the Second Division going to Tranmere Rovers
. The club won some respite when they were reinstated to the Second Division on appeal, a decision that infuriated Tranmere Rovers.
Meanwhile, Hillier was forced to leave Swindon Town after receiving a six-month ban from football as penalty for the illegal bet. He, along with chief accountant Vince Farrar and former manager Lou Macari
were committed for trial at Winchester
Crown Court
. On 29 July 1992, Macari was cleared of tax offences but Hillier and Farrar were both found guilty. Hillier received a one-year prison sentenced (later halved on appeal) and Farrar received a suspended six-month prison sentence. Hillier's ban from football was increased to three years.
After his ban from football expired, Hillier returned to the game as chairman of non-league Calne Town
(members of the Western Football League
). He remained in this position until his death from a stroke in October 2008, at the age of 65.
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/3826845.Hundreds_mourn_Calne_Town_chairman/
http://fchd.info/SWINDONT.HTM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/wales/1279300.stm
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
.
A lifelong Swindon Town supporter, he became chairman of the club in 1984 when they were in the Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
- the lowest division of the Football League. He appointed legendary Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
striker Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
as player-manager and in 1986 Swindon Town won promotion from the Fourth Division as champions with a then national league record of 102 points. In 1987 a second successive promotion took Hillier's team into the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, where they had not played for more than a decade previously.
However, Hillier was arrested on suspicion of defrauding the Inland Revenue
Inland Revenue
The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
in January 1990 and was also suspected of placing a bet against his own team losing an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie in the 1987-88 season
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
. His team won promotion to the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(top division of English football) four months later but shortly afterwards were found guilty on 36 charges of financial irregularities. This resulted in Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
being promoted in their place, and Swindon Town being relegated to the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
with their place in the Second Division going to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. The club won some respite when they were reinstated to the Second Division on appeal, a decision that infuriated Tranmere Rovers.
Meanwhile, Hillier was forced to leave Swindon Town after receiving a six-month ban from football as penalty for the illegal bet. He, along with chief accountant Vince Farrar and former manager Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
were committed for trial at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
. On 29 July 1992, Macari was cleared of tax offences but Hillier and Farrar were both found guilty. Hillier received a one-year prison sentenced (later halved on appeal) and Farrar received a suspended six-month prison sentence. Hillier's ban from football was increased to three years.
After his ban from football expired, Hillier returned to the game as chairman of non-league Calne Town
Calne Town F.C.
Calne Town F.C. is a football club based in Calne, Wiltshire, England.-Club history:Calne Town FC was established in 1886 and joined the Western Football League Division One in 1986. They earned promotion to the Premier Division with a runner-up effort in 1992–93, but returned to Division One...
(members of the Western Football League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
). He remained in this position until his death from a stroke in October 2008, at the age of 65.
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/3826845.Hundreds_mourn_Calne_Town_chairman/
http://fchd.info/SWINDONT.HTM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/wales/1279300.stm