Latics face Millwall at the DW Stadium on Tuesday as they look to ensure a playoff spot, whilst Millwall are fighting against the drop, the man in the middle ensuring fair play will be Hertfordshire referee Keith Hill.
Keith Hill took charge of his first Latics game for 13 years back in January when we visited the Keepmoat Stadium and were soundly trounced by Doncaster 3-0, we haven’t had to wait as long for his next game, here’s hoping the result is a little different.
The 45 year old official has been around the Football League for 15 years, the former sales exec as been travelling around the world of late training ref’s from far flung countries, he has been to Japan, Afghanistan, Dubai, South Africa, Ecuador, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia spreading the gospel according to the English FA.
Whilst in Afghanistan Hill was former Premier League referee Peter Jones’ assistant in a game in Kabul, Hill said on the experience – ‘On so many levels, it was just so great to be involved out there.
‘We were warned of the dangers and, apparently, we were shot at as we took off in the plane to come home. To be fair, I didn’t think that Peter had had that bad a game.’
Hills ambition though is to officiate at Wembley, after all these years doing the circuits and not getting the big gig you may think that he would have given up on that dream, but he says – ‘You have to have an ambition and that’s mine. I’ve still got a lot I want to achieve. It’s every player’s dream to play at Wembley and it’s no different for a referee. You only get an appointment there if you’ve earned it. And I aim to earn it.’
Nice one Keith, have a good game on Tuesday and as FA cup semi-finalists we just may put a good word in for you when we are at Wembley on Saturday.
Keith Hill Card Watch 2013/14
Games – 31
Yellows – 119
Reds – 4
Wigan Athletic v Millwall
Referee – KEITH HILL
Assistants – Christopher Akers and Nicholas Gibbons
Fourth Official – Steven Rushton
Keith Hill
