Danielle Hill
Danielle Marie Hill (born 15 April 1988) is a retired English football goalkeeper and currently the goalkeeping coach for the Blackburn Rovers of the FA Women's Championship. She retired in 2020 after a spell with Blackburn Rovers. Hill briefly played for Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL 2. Born in Liverpool, she began her career with Everton Ladies and had a previous spell with Blackburn Rovers. She also played for ÍBV of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild and in Norway for Toppserien club Avaldsnes IL. She has represented England up to Under 23 level. Club career. Hill joined  Everton as a junior, making her senior debut at the age of 15. Although primarily an understudy to first-choice club and England keeper Rachel Brown, she took over when Brown was injured during the 2007–08 season, playing in the League Cup Final win over Arsenal and earning her first call-up to the senior England squad. In the 2005 summer season, Hill played in Iceland with ÍBV and made three Úrvalsdeild appearances. Hill left Everton to join Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the 2008 close season. However, in only her second game for her new club, Hill suffered cruciate ligament  damage against Chelsea and missed the remainder of the season. In September 2010 it was revealed that Hill had re-signed for Everton, when she was named in their UEFA Women's Champions League squad. At Everton's 2012 Christmas party, Hill was involved in an altercation with academy coach Mick O'Brien. She left the club in the aftermath of the incident and moved to Norwegian club Avaldsnes IL on a short-term contract. In January 2015 Hill signed for Doncaster Rovers Belles, having spent the previous season with Durham WFC. Later in the 2015 season Hill was attached to  Notts County. She was ineligible for the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final and The Football Association refused Notts County's request for dispensation to sign another goalkeeper, so Carly Telford played in the team's 1–0 defeat at Wembley Stadium despite a shoulder injury. In October 2015, Hill, who had been back playing for Blackburn Rovers, signed a short-term deal for Birmingham City as cover for the injured Rebecca Spencer. After a brief period of retirement, she re-joined Blackburn in February 2019. Hill retired at the end of the 2019-20 season and joined the Rovers staff  as the goalkeeper coach. International career. Hill has represented England at Under-19 and Under-23 level. Personal life. Tony Hateley is Hill's grandfather, and Mark Hateley is her uncle. Hill attended sixth form at Alsop High School, after winning the national Under-16 Schools championship with Notre Dame Catholic College (Liverpool).