Thistle boss quits to be family man

Jan 15 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WILLIE Hill led Bathgate to the top of the junior game.

The former Thistle boss ploughed his heart, his time and his cash into the club over a 31 year period as he helped mould them into one of the top junior sides in the country.

He helped the club to dozens of trophies and last year he realised a life-long dream as he brought the Junior Scottish Cup back to Creamery Park.

But the recently departed boss wanted his lasting legacy with the club to be helping Bathgate become a self-sufficient club and a blueprint for all other junior clubs in Scotland.

Hill proposed selling off their home ground for residential housing and using the profits to build a new home with a 3G Astroturf pitch.

The new site would mean games wouldn’t be postponed anymore and could also be used to generate income in all weathers.

But although his proposal didn’t get enough support he is convinced it is the only way forward for football in Scotland.

He said: “We had a plan to sell Creamery Park for residential housing and use the money to build a new football academy.

“Unfortunately although everybody told me they supported the idea it didn’t seem to get anywhere. To be fair it has been mentioned again but the key to the whole thing is selling the park for housing and the residential market now is dead.

“If you could find a buyer you’d only get 60 per cent of the true worth meaning the facility you want to build would be half the size of the one you wanted.

“But we could have achieved a lot if the scheme had moved quicker and that was another of the reasons I held on a bit longer.

“It would have been a nice legacy to pass on and it could have been done and the club could have used some of sales revenue to create a wee income every year to help with the upkeep and running.

“I think it may be a little late to resurrect the Creamery Park proposal but in terms of long term future of the club that's what Bathgate needs.”

Hill arrived as part of a player swap deal at the Jags as a fresh-faced 18-year-old with his first job with the club being stoking the fire.

But he quickly became a key player and after netting more than 200 times and bossing the side for 17 years, he announced his decision to quit in December.

And the popular businessman insists his decision was purely about taking some time out with his family.

He added: “It’s been on the back of my mind for a long while to walk away and the only reason was time. It takes up so much time with us training twice through the week. Saturday is completely gone with a game and Sunday mornings can be taken up speaking to players and reporters.

“I mentioned three or four years ago to my older kids that I was thinking of stopping and they actually persuaded me to stay on as they liked the idea of coming along to games and supporting the club.

“That worked for a wee while but I’ve a young son now and I need more time to spend with him.

“I’ve also heard rumours I’m going to invest in Airdrie or Motherwell but the last thing I need is to get involved with another football club. All I need is time to spend with my kids.

“I’ve not fallen out with anyone and although I’m disappointed by the start to the league I’m not leaving because of that.

“I’m also not pulling out because of the credit crunch because I’m willing to offer the club a level of sponsorship if someone else steps in to run it.

“I hope someone does come on board because Bathgate is a great club and has a good reputation and I’ll help anyone who comes in any way I can, except too much of my time.”