Date of birth: 31/03/1952
Playing career: Leeds United, York City, Gillingham
Date appointed: 2002
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Age: 57 Date of birth: 31/03/1952 Playing career: Leeds United, York City, Gillingham Date appointed: 2002 |
Ron Hillyard was the stalwart Gillingham goalkeeper of the 1970s and 1980s, with over 650 league and cup appearances between 1974 and 1990, with 202 of those clean sheets. Ron still holds Gillingham's appearances record. He began his career at Leeds and then moved to York City in 1969 before joining the Gills three years later.
He had a three-year spell as assistant manager from 1989, retiring from playing in 1991 at the age of 41 because of a back injury, and left Priestfield a year later after being dismissed alongside manager Damien Richardson.
Ron was appointed goalkeeping coach at the Fleet in 2002 by former teammate Andy Ford and he has retained the position under Liam Daish, working with and developing some excellent goalkeepers including Paul Wilkerson, Craig Holloway and Lance Cronin.