Gemma Hillier
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 October 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Gosport, England | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Gosport Borough | ||
| 2001 | Fulham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2017 | Portsmouth | 300+ | (99) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gemma Hillier (born 18 October 1987)[1] is a former footballer and beach soccer player who is Portsmouth Women’s all-time record goal scorer and appearance-maker.
Football career
[edit]Hillier came through the academies of Gosport Borough and Fulham before joining Portsmouth in 2001 at the age of 13,[2] and during her time at the club, she played in the FA Women's Premier League and the Southern Premier League, while also winning the Hampshire County Cup fifteen times. While at Portsmouth, Hillier was offered the chance to join several of the top-league clubs, but she rejected to continue playing at Portsmouth without payment.[3]
After captaining the club for eight years,[4] she last played against Coventry United in October 2017 and retired in November 2017 after last being included in the matchday squad against Lewes.[2]
Officially, Hillier made 292 appearances scoring 92 goals during her 17 years at the club but despite this, the FA records only start in 2003 and she had already been playing for the club since 2001, meaning she made over 300 appearances and is believed to have scored 99 goals.[3]
Beach soccer career
[edit]After retiring from association football, Hillier has since represented England and Team GB at several beach soccer tournaments including the 2016 and 2017 Women's Euro Beach Soccer Cup and the 2019 World Beach Games[4] before retiring after reaching 21 caps.[1]
She played for Terrassa-Bonaire BSW as a forward with 6 goals in 30 matches for the club.[1]
Personal life
[edit]She is a school teacher.[2]
Legacy
[edit]In 2018 she became the first Portsmouth Women player to be inducted into Portsmouth FC’s Hall of Fame.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Gemma Hillier". Beach Soccer Worldwide.
- ^ a b c "Pompey star Hillier bows out with ultimate club accolade". Sent Her Forward. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Pompey Hall of Fame: Gemma Hillier". 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Gemma Hillier to represent Team GB at the World Beach Games Opening Ceremony". Team GB. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Portsmouth FC Website". Portsmouth FC.