The man who rewrote the rules of English football
In short: He was a player, a manager, and a broadcaster, but Jimmy Hill’s true legacy lies in the mechanics of the game itself. From abolishing the maximum wage to introducing three points for a win, Hill’s relentless drive for innovation fundamentally altered how football is played and watched.
Jimmy Hill’s influence extended far beyond the pitch. As chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, he led the successful 1961 campaign to scrap the Football League's £20 maximum wage, a move that allowed players like his Fulham teammate Johnny Haynes to become the first £100-a-week earners. His knack for structural change continued in 1976 when he suggested replacing 'goal average' with 'goal difference' to reward attacking play, and again in 1981, when he successfully lobbied for the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.
As a manager, Hill spearheaded the 'Sky Blue Revolution' at Coventry City. He modernized the club's identity by introducing sky blue kits and even penned 'The Sky Blue Song.' His list of 'gimmicks'—which later became industry standards—included the first fully fledged match programme, chartered trains for away supporters, and the first electronic scoreboard in 1964. He even pioneered the use of CCTV to broadcast live match footage on giant screens in 1965.
However, his career was not without intense controversy. In the 1976–77 season, Hill was accused of manipulating a relegation battle by delaying a kickoff against Bristol City to allow fans to arrive, an act that helped Coventry avoid relegation while Sunderland went down. Later, in 2004, he faced widespread condemnation for defending racist language used by pundit Ron Atkinson. Despite these flashpoints, Hill remained a television icon, famously hosting BBC's Match of the Day for years and shaping the modern era of football broadcasting.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jimmy Hill
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