James Hill On His Journey Fleetwood To The Premier League | BBC Sport

0:00 We could be on Bournemouth Beach, yeah?

0:01 Yeah, beautiful.

0:02 Laid back.

0:04 All that's missing is a coffee.

0:05 With the With the gaffer leaving at the end of the season,

0:08 we're trying to kick on another level again

0:10 for the next four games because we owe him that.

0:16 James, my man.

0:17 How are we?

0:18 How you doing, brother?

0:19 Yeah, good to see you.

0:20 Yeah, good to see you, too.

0:20 Good to see you.

0:21 Uh fancy a little walk and talk?

0:23 Yeah, that'd be amazing.

0:25 Obviously, it's been an amazing season.

0:27 Obviously, want to talk about that, but first I feel like

0:29 we should take it all the way back to the very beginning.

0:32 For you, when you were growing up, was it always football?

0:34 Did you always want to become a footballer?

0:37 I think inside of me, yes,

0:39 because obviously watching my dad become a professional and Yeah.

0:43 really inspired us, but in terms of like growing up,

0:48 I think at school it wasn't the main sport that I quite enjoyed.

0:52 I enjoyed playing like rugby.

0:54 I was massive into rugby, like rugby union,

0:57 um massive into my my athletics, and another sports.

1:00 I like to just do I'm I was really sporty.

1:03 I just love playing sports and uh wasn't until I was 10 then

1:08 my dad gave me the opportunity to actually join a Sunday league team.

1:11 Okay.

1:11 Um That's good.

1:12 See, I feel like that's quite late.

1:14 For a lot of like obviously Premier League and professional footballers,

1:17 they start with the Sunday league and Saturday

1:19 league when they're like five, six years old.

1:22 Yeah, they do.

1:22 And I think that comes from my dad, he was more wanting me to enjoy the game.

1:29 I think he values a lot about enjoying the game

1:33 and when you're playing and when you're out there, you're enjoying every moment.

1:36 Mhm.

1:36 Because when you get into this industry and you start to go up

1:40 the age groups at academy and stuff like that, it does become really tough.

1:45 Like you see kids fall out of love with the game because they

1:48 lose that enjoyment for it because

1:49 it does become quite serious, really competitive.

1:52 And for me, like I still carry that with me now,

1:55 like being out here, I enjoy every moment, coming into training.

2:00 Your dad has been instrumental to, you know,

2:02 your your your development, your career.

2:05 I feel we have to mention him, Matt, by the way,

2:06 who's got a very long uh career in the league system.

2:10 Yeah.

2:10 Does he still like talk to you about like go through games and stuff?

2:13 Yeah, 100%.

2:14 I think he was massive for me because he helped me,

2:17 say if I did make a mistake or or I I had a really good game,

2:22 it's not just the mistakes, but it's the good games as well.

2:24 It's Yeah.

2:25 about keeping me grounded and and keeping

2:28 me keeping me pushing for something else,

2:30 always setting me goals and he's always going through different games with me

2:34 and where I can improve because no one's ever the finished article.

2:38 No.

2:39 And I think I'm very lucky and very fortunate to have a a dad

2:42 who's played the game and he's been through it and understands it.

2:45 Your journey to the Premier League,

2:47 where we are now, obviously started at at Fleetwood Town,

2:50 where you became the youngest ever first team player at 16.

2:54 Yeah.

2:54 And for someone so young, how was that experience?

2:57 I knew that for me, when I was first coming

2:59 in, it was going to be tough to even get a debut, but that was always my sight.

3:04 It's it's the competition you want, like,

3:06 you may not get a an opportunity to start the game straight away,

3:10 but it's about looking ahead of you and saying, well,

3:13 as a 16-year-old, whose shirt are you possibly wanting to take?

3:17 Okay.

3:17 When if that person leaves, are you going to be that next person that steps in?

3:21 And the pressure coming in, I think,

3:23 making that debut at 16 is it was absolutely incredible.

3:27 I ended up starting the game against Blackpool, Yeah.

3:29 uh which was my first ever start,

3:31 and I found out in the morning that I was starting in that game.

3:34 And the nerves was Yeah, I was about to say.

3:36 absolutely through the roof.

3:38 Yeah.

3:38 It was absolutely through the roof.

3:39 Into the deep end you go, mate.

3:41 Exactly.

3:41 Sometimes baptism of fire is needed.

3:43 It is.

3:44 There you go.

3:44 Into the deep end and after that you go, "Oh, I'm sweet now.

3:47 I've I've done the hard bit." Exactly.

3:54 So, 16 is young to start [music] that professional journey though.

3:59 Like being thrust into like the lower leagues as well,

4:01 which is as I said [music] a bit more rough and ready.

4:04 But I mean you were saying like it's it's it's a good education.

4:07 It helps you in the long run in terms of when you do get that debut,

4:10 you're familiar with the people around you.

4:12 Mhm.

4:13 And it really helped me anyway like in terms of cleaning

4:17 the captain's boots and cleaning the gaffer's boots at the time.

4:20 It was like it was massive for me because you get

4:22 to integrate with the with the players and the staff and Yeah.

4:27 I think that little bit of experience just makes you settle in a little

4:30 bit more when that opportunity does come and and you're on that on that field.

4:34 Yeah, nice.

4:35 It's good.

4:35 Did you clean your dad's boots as well when you were growing up?

4:38 Um Little pocket money.

4:39 I didn't clean them but I nicked off of them when I managed to get

4:42 to his size and but then I ended up outgrowing them and I was absolutely gutted.

4:46 Oh, no.

4:47 When you run out?

4:48 Yeah, but when I would then end up getting to the same size boots, oh gosh,

4:52 I was in the attic rooting through all

4:54 the old Adidas classics and stuff like that.

4:57 Dad, can I have these?

4:58 Oh, don't think you can have them.

5:00 Okay.

5:00 Yeah, I'll just go and put them in my bag and shoot off to training.

5:03 So, uh Also, a big part of your development

5:05 I'm guessing as well is your your time online.

5:07 So, obviously signing for Bournemouth but then going

5:09 out on loan to to Hearts and Blackburn.

5:11 Yeah.

5:11 How were those two loan spells?

5:12 I think going to Hearts was massive for me.

5:15 The game time I got up there was so valuable as well.

5:18 I think it's that's a league where it's got a combination

5:21 of a lot of things in terms of physicality and I think

5:25 for me at that age it was it was about growing up

5:28 and and stepping into that that next level again to help me progress.

5:32 Obviously, after the Hearts it came to to Blackburn.

5:34 That's where I really turned the page and and started to progress even more.

5:40 I think that championship level was so vital for me

5:44 because I was showing that I was capable Yeah.

5:46 playing at that level.

5:48 Yeah, well, I mean we might as well talk

5:49 about this season because it's been it's been unbelievable.

5:52 Not not just for yourself also but for for the for the team.

5:55 I mean, how how enjoyable has that been for for you being you know,

5:58 a part of a part of that that unit at the back?

6:02 Definitely for me personally,

6:03 I think it'll be a one of my best ever seasons playing professional football.

6:08 I think as a club we've stepped on again.

6:11 I think the club's come on leaps and bounds.

6:14 It's down to the staff and the recruitment staff as well.

6:18 And the environment that this place creates.

6:20 You've played basically every Premier League minute since the end of December.

6:24 You've been like an absolute stalwart at the back.

6:26 Do you feel like now this is you feel super

6:30 comfortable in the fact that like I belong at this level?

6:32 Uh yeah, definitely.

6:34 I think obviously this is I feel like yeah,

6:38 this is the level that I belong at, I think.

6:41 The when I really realized that was at Blackburn.

6:44 Oh, really?

6:44 So, not even when you're in the Premier League?

6:46 No.

6:46 Well, I'd had a debut before that against West Ham, came off the bench.

6:51 But the game really stood out for me was when I was at Blackburn.

6:56 We got Chelsea away in the Carabao Cup.

6:59 Okay.

6:59 And I think I didn't get man of the match in that game

7:02 but my my rating was quite high and I

7:05 felt like I'd had a really comfortable game.

7:09 Yeah.

7:08 Ended up being 3-2 or 2-2 in the end and we lost on pens or something like that.

7:13 And that was the game where I really realized

7:16 that like this is the level I belong at.

7:19 And funny story about that as well, I went to go get a shirt at the end

7:24 of the game and passed my shirt over to Enzo Fernandez.

7:29 He said, "Oh, I'll give you one back." So,

7:32 I was like, "Brilliant." But one of the lads had took it.

7:35 Oh, no.

7:35 And they said, "Don't worry about it.

7:37 You'll get another one next season." But a little part of me was "You know what?

7:43 I actually might, yeah.

7:44 I will push to get that.

7:45 I will push to get a shirt of somebody in the Premier League

7:49 when I do play eventually." And From the outside looking in, as a club,

7:53 it looks like such a well-oiled machine.

7:56 And obviously, at the at the head of that is is Andoni.

7:58 Like, how has it been working with him?

8:00 He's definitely got the best out of me.

8:02 I think there's still more yet to come.

8:05 I still need to develop.

8:06 I still need to keep improving.

8:08 But, so far out of the full group,

8:11 the way that he's changed this football club as well,

8:14 I think he's been absolutely phenomenal.

8:16 I think he's What what is it that you feel he's done differently?

8:20 You've obviously served under the different managers,

8:22 but what is it What would you say sticks out to him?

8:24 He gives us the confidence every game that we're going in to take three points.

8:31 Really?

8:31 And how aggressive we play football.

8:34 We want to take teams into deep waters in terms of physicality,

8:37 running stats, and stuff like that.

8:39 Your press is nuts.

8:40 Yeah, but that's but that's but that's what we we want.

8:42 We want to be able to to keep the ball in their half,

8:45 whether it's us playing with the ball or us on the press.

8:49 And we want to win the ball high up.

8:50 And so, actually have the privilege to to work under him and obviously,

8:56 him to to play me in games as well is well, it's an absolute honor.

9:01 And I can't ask for much more for what he's given me.

9:04 And with the with the gaffer leaving at the end of the season,

9:08 we're trying to kick on another level again because we owe him that.

9:12 Yeah.

9:12 We We as players like everyone in this building,

9:15 well, we're trying to give him back what he deserves,

9:17 which is we've always been hunting the Europe spots, you know?

9:23 And for us to achieve something like that would be amazing.

9:26 The Premier League at the moment is there's

9:27 so much emphasis on like set pieces, long throws.

9:30 Obviously, you're great at defending,

9:33 but also you're you're known for your for your long throw.

9:35 Is that something one that you've always had?

9:37 And two, is it something that you work on as a team like

9:39 has has Andoni gone James it's time for the old The long throw.

9:44 [laughter] The long throw.

9:44 Um I think it's something that I've always I've always had.

9:48 It's from my youngster I think playing Sunday Sunday league yeah.

9:51 Well I helped playing other sports as well like doing javelin at school

9:54 and stuff like that so to be able to incorporate that you know how much

9:58 of a a massive effect it's had on on teams this season and that other

10:02 teams have really had some major successes of it and I think we did as well.

10:07 You recently announced as well you're

10:08 you're expecting a child with your partner.

10:11 So congratulations I really appreciate that.

10:14 No you're welcome.

10:14 I mean like how how exciting is it for this new chapter of your life?

10:17 Yeah no it's it's absolutely incredible.

10:21 I think I'm so fortunate to be even to be able to have a child.

10:24 Yeah.

10:25 And yeah it's another sphere of motivation just to keep

10:28 me going and gives me a new perspective as well.

10:32 Um but yeah it's another step in my journey that I can't wait to be a father.

10:37 I can't wait to have my child in my arms

10:39 and showing them the things that my dad got to show me

10:42 and my mom got to show me and I'm really excited

10:45 and my partner's really excited so yeah we're we're really excited.

10:49 Well best of luck for the rest of the season

10:50 and obviously best of luck for being a dad.

10:53 Thank you very much.

10:54 Thank you.

10:55 No it's been a pleasure.