Doug Hillard

Doug Hillard

Doug Hillard in August 1988, aged 53
Personal information
Full name	Douglas Alfred Hillard[1]
Date of birth	(1935-08-10)10 August 1935
Place of birth	Bristol, England
Date of death	1997 (aged 61–62)
Place of death	Bristol, England
Playing position	Full-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1957–1968	Bristol Rovers	318	(12)
1968–1973	Taunton Town	?	(?)
Teams managed
1968–1973	Taunton Town
1973–????	Mangotsfield United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Douglas Alfred Hillard (10 August 1935 – 1997) was an English professional footballer who played over 300 games in an eleven-year period for Bristol Rovers, his only Football League club. Prior to joining the Pirates Hillard had played as an amateur for Maywood, for whom he once scored eight goals in a 15–0 victory over Lockleaze Rovers Juniors in 1952, and Bristol Mental Hospital.^[2]

After leaving Bristol Rovers in 1968 Hillard joined Taunton Town as player-manager and found immediate success with the Somerset club, winning the team's first ever Western League title in his first year in charge. He remained in charge of Taunton for five seasons before being appointed manager of Mangotsfield United in 1973, a position he held for many years.^[2]

Before retiring from playing football Hillard opened a shop selling sporting goods, Doug Hillard Sports, which was originally located near Rovers' Eastville Stadium, but is now located in the Fishponds area of Bristol and under the management of his son Gary Hillard.^[3]

References