Hill wants a different trip to Wembley
KEITH Hill’s last trip to Wembley 10 years ago ended with him declaring his hope that it wouldn’t be his defining moment in football.
Nearly a decade later, he can rest assured his visit to the stadium in 2008 was not to be his finest hour in football management. He has achieved plenty since then.
Rochdale’s last game at the national stadium came in May 2008, when they suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to local rivals Stockport County in the League Two play-off final.
Hill was distraught with his side’s narrow defeat back then, saying after that game: “Even if there is some consolation in the way we played, there’s no consolation in defeat. It was a dream to lead my team out at Wembley, but I hope this doesn’t prove to be my best moment in football.”
It wouldn’t turn out to be his best moment, as Hill has performed miracles at the club since then, leading Rochdale to two separate promotions, and now heads back to Wembley to face Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a wild, windy afternoon in London for that League Two play-off final against Jim Gannon’s Stockport side in 2008, with both sides making the trip down south to battle it out for a place in League One.
A total of 35,715 were in attendance, and Rochdale made a good start when Rory McArdle headed them in front at the near post early on, but they then scored an own goal when Nathan Stanton diverted a cross into his own net with his hand for Stockport’s equaliser.
It remained 1-1 at half-time, before Anthony Pilkington’s header went in off the crossbar to put the Hatters ahead early in the second half.
County extended their lead when Liam Dickinson scored the third with a close range effort, before Adam Rundle’s powerful volley for Rochdale ensured a tight finish.
Stockport have since endured a difficult period after their win over Rochdale, suffering multiple relegations which now leaves them in the National League North, three divisions below Hill’s side.
‘I hope this doesn’t prove to be my best moment in football’