Burnley FC

1 appearance, 2 goals against

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 13: A 2
100% successful
1899

disciplined: none
Captain: none
minutes played: 90

According to the 1871 census, William, the youngest of two children to Susan, is living with her parents, his grandparents, at 1 Caledonia, Calstock in Tavistock. His grandfather, John, is a labourer.
The Birth Certificate reveals no father, which is why Jack had the Hillman name.

According to the 1881 census, Susan had married Robert Barrett (possibly in 1878), a blacksmith, and both Mary Ann and William took the surname. His mother is a cotton winder. They live at 25 Hart Street in Burnley.

According to the 1891 census, mason John W. [Hillman] is living with his widowed mother, Susan, and his widowed grandmother, Melinda. They now live in 23 Robinson Street in Burnley.

According to the 1901 census, Wm Jno. is a bricklayer, now married to Fanny and they live at 16 Hinton Street in Burnley.

According to the 1911 census, William J. is still married to Frances, they now have one son, John. They live at 35 Thurston Street in Burnley.
His fiftieth birthday was celebrated by Burnley FC on 30 November 1920 at The Empress Hotel in Burnley.

 "A BURNLEY FOOTBALLER IN TROUBLE.
"On Monday, John Hillman, goalkeeper to the Burnley Football Club, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Church-street the previous afternoon. The constable who proved the case said the prisoner was behaving like a madman. He was jostling foot-passengers about, seized an old man by the throat and held him against the wall. Hillman, who said he got his drink at Todmorden, was fined 20s., including costs, or 14 days' imprisonment." - The Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, Saturday, 12 November 1892.
"THE BURNLEY GOALKEEPER IN TROUBLE.
"This morning, at the Burnley Police Court, John Hillman, goalkeeper to the Burnley Football Club, was summoned with Edith Dixon for disorderly behaviour in Chuch-street, on the 18th inst. The two defendants were bracketed together. The case was proved by P.C. Lockwood. Hillman was fined 10s and costs and the female defendant, who did not appear, was fined 15s., including costs." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Wednesday, 1 March 1893.
"CHARGE AGAINST BURNLEY FOOTBALLER.
"At the Burnley Borough police Court, on Wednesday, John Hillman, 'footballer, was summoned for assaulting Sarah Ann Riley, a good looking woman, on Oct 15th.—Complainant stated that the defendat, without saying, struck her in the face with his fist in Lindsay-street. He struck her three times, once on the face, knocked her down, and kicked her in the side.—Cross-examined: She was hurt, and had to go to the doctor because her arm was hurt in falling. She was not the worse for drink, and did not use bad language to the defendant. She was summoned by the police for using obscene language the same evening. He struck her again the same evening.—Edith Grant, of 36, Lindsay-street, said complainant said something to defendant, who either struck or pushed her.—Mr. Sutcliffe submitted that the complainant was the aggressor by using a disgusting expression to the defendant, who said, "That sort of language won't do for me," and pushed her away, and being fresh, she fell. No blow was struck. Complainant wanted to have a "flare up," and went a second time.—This statement was borne out by a witness, and the Bench dismissed the case.—Mr. Sutcliffe said he had three more witnesses, and asked for costs, which were not allowed.—Riley was summoned for using obscene language, and was fined 10s., including costs." - The Lancaster Gazette, Saturday, 28 October 1893.
 "HILLMAN AND THE BURNLEY COMMITTEE.
"THE CUSTODIAN SUSPENDED.
"John Hillman, the Burnley goalkeeper for the League eleven, has been suspended indefinitely by the committee of the Burnley FC for insubordination. Seeing, therefore, that considerable interest is being taken in the matter by all lovers of the national sport locally, the following details, supplied officially, will throw no little light on the subject:—Hillman, it is stated was injured a fortnight ago in the match against Liverpool at Turf Moor, He attended at the surgery of Dr. Watson (chairman of the committee) on the Tuesday, and had his injury attended to, and he should have gone on the following Thursday, but did not do so. Not only that but without the doctor's consent he removed the bandage which had been placed on his leg. On the Saturday morning he attended Dr. Watson's surgery to have his leg dressed again, and the doctor then told him that he would not be able to play in the afternoon. That was purely in consequence of his having disobeyed the doctor's instruction, and not gone to the surgery on the Thursday. When the doctor attended to Hillman's injuries on the Saturday morning he told him that he must go home and gave his leg perfect rest for two days, and that he (the doctor) would call in and see him on the Sunday morning and dress it again. He asked Hillman where he had to call at, and was told, "68, Ardwick-street"—Hillman's residence. To Dr. Watson's surprise, however, Hillman was at the match at Turf Moor as a spectator in the afternoon, and the following morning when he (the doctor) called at his house he found that Hillman had not been there since the previous day. Neither could his whereabouts be ascertained on the Monday morning. Eventually he was notified that he must appear before the committee last Monday evening. This he did, but his remarks to the chairman were, it is said, of a somehat insulting character. In consequence of his disobeying the doctor's orders Dr. Watson reported that Hillman would not be in a fit state to play to-day at Newcastle. Hillman's services to the club have, therefore, been lost for two weeks through, as the committee allege, insubordination, and at a meeting of the committee, on Wednesday evening, he was suspended indefinitely for this offence.
It should be stated that the exact nature of the injury to Hillman's knee was an abrasion of the skin over a considerable portion, but the under-skin was left intact. This it was believed would have been easily helaed had the proper care been taken. On the other hand, in justice to Hillman, it should be added that he had himself attended to the injury, but the committee were of opinion that he ought to have obeyed strictly the instructions of Dr. Watson." - Express and Advertiser, 2 February 1895.
At the beginning of the 1898-99 season, Dundee FC suspended Hillman for too many lacklustre displays, he left for Burnley FC, who, by the end of that season, were struggling to avoid relegation from the First Division. Going into their final match against Nottingham Forest FC, they needed a win. Hillman attempted to bribe the Forest players, offering them £2 each to "take it easy". At half-time he increased his offer to £5. Burnley were thrashed and were subsequently relegated. After the game, the Forest secretary wrote to the FA to complain about his activities. Hillman was summoned to a joint FA-Football League commission in Manchester. The FA were not convinced by Hillman's explanation of jesting and banned him for a season for his actions.
"BURNLEY FOOTBALLER IN TROUBLE.
"This morning, at Burnley, John Hillman, footballer, was summoned by Annie Parker for assualting John Ramsbottom. Mr. W. Mossop represented complainant, and Mr. Lloyd appeared for defendant.
"Mr. Mossop said there had undoubtedly been an assault on Ramsbottom, and Barker, who witnessed it took out a summons against the defendant. The affair, however, turned out more serious than was anticipated. Ramsbottom lost some work, and had to incur a doctor's bill. He decided to withdraw the summons with a view to proceedings for damages in the County Court, but he (Mr. Mossop) understood the defendant was willing to apologise for what had happened, to compensate the prosecutor with the sum of £5, pay the doctor's bill of £1 1s., and also pay the legal costs that had been incurred. The assault consisted in getting hold of prosecutor's head and bringing it down against his knee, knocking a tooth out.
"After a short conference between the Magistrates Clerk (Mr. Mellor) and the Justices, it wasagreed to allow the case to be withdrawn on the terms mentioned." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Wednesday, 6 July 1904.
In the 1906 close season the FA investigated Manchester City FC's accounts for bonuses. The FA chose to make an example of City, and Hillman was one of seventeen players suspended until 1 January 1907, and banned from representing the club again. Hillman was also fined £50. The ban on playing for Manchester City was rescinded in 1908, but Hillman never played for the club again.