Joe Hill began his career at Leeds United but did not make a League appearance until he moved to Barnsley in 1931. He made only eight appearances and scored three goals for the Oakwell club before moving to Queen's Park Rangers in the summer of 1932.
Moving between wing-half and inside-right, Hill was not a regular in his one season with Rangers, scoring once in his 16 League and Cup appearances.
He joined County in July 1933, but although he waited over four months before making his first appearance, he had the unique experience of making his home debut in the 13-0 match against Halifax Town in which he scored a hat-trick.
Even this did not result in a regular place and it was not until Hill's second season that his County career blossomed. Establishing himself as County's regular inside-right, Hill, whilst not a selfish player, was an individualist, a clever dribbler with the ability to find space where he could unleash a splendid shot.
His contributions to the team were substantial. In 1935, he scored the winning goal in three of the four FA Cup rounds to take County into the fifth round for the first time.
In County's Third Division championship team of 1937, Hill was the only forward who had played in the Halifax match and, in addition to finishing as top scorer in that season, scored the crucial goal in the memorable last game of the season against Lincoln City.
In his five seasons at Edgeley Park, Joe Hill had an excellent return of 71 goals in 154 League and Cup appearances, a particularly fine achievement for a player who was not regarded primarily as a goalscorer.
After failing to secure a regular place in County's Second Division side, on 13 August 1938, Joe Hill was transferred to Walsall where, as with Barnsley, he made only eight appearances, scoring once before retiring from professional football in 1939.
He returned to his native Yorkshire where he worked as an assistant to a bookmaker.
Thanks to Stockport County - A Complete Record by Peter Freeman with assistance from Richard Harnwell.
