Posted December 29, 2024 03:16
· last edited December 29, 2024 03:21
Interesting NZ connection with Northampton Town. One of their best-ever strikers was former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill. In comedian Alan Carr's semi-autobiographical comedy series "Changing Ends", the brilliant footballer whose goals save the club, signed to Northampton Town by Alan Carr's dad Graham in the mid 1980's, is based on Richard Hill. Changing Ends - Wikipedia The first series of the hit UK comedy series (two broadcast, two more commissioned) screened in NZ on TVNZ One last summer. Series 2 screened in the UK earlier this year. Series 1 is available on TVNZ+ https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/changing-ends ________________________________________ Christchurch United signed Hill in 1983 from non-league Nuneaton Borough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hill_(footballer,_born_1963) He had a very good season in the NZ national league and on returning to England, was soon snapped up by Northampton Town, then in the fourth tier. Northampton's manager at the time was none other than Graham Carr, father of current well-known English comedian Alan Carr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Carr Graham Carr was previously also Hill's manager at Nuneaton Borough and had no doubt been tracking Hill's success in NZ. So he signed him as soon as he took over as Northampton Manager in 1985. Richard Hill was a sensation at Northampton, scoring 104 goals in two seasons (54 appearances). That attacted the attention of numerous top flight clubs and Graham Taylor signed him to Watford in 1987. He went from there to join another former Christchurch United player, All Whites centre-back Ceri Evans at Oxford United. Retiring early due to injury, Hill has had a solid managerial career, including spells as assistant manager at some Premier League clubs like Villa and success as a manger in the Conference. ___________________________________________ All these connections are fascinating. One of the most unlikely stories of any comedian is that of the flamboyantly gay and unathletic Alan Carr, the TV celebrity comedian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carr#Early_life His episode of "Who Do You Think You Are" is fascinating (clip of Alan & his dad): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptIyoxbzTzE&t=1s His dad Graham was a tough old-school northern footballer and coach. At the end of his career he was Head Scout at Newcastle United in the EPL until 2017., a club Alan's grandfather had played for. Alan and his dad get on well these days, obviously sharing a sense of humour. Alan Carr has made a very entertaining comedy about a struggling lower league club - the stand is so decrepit that the "Northampton Town" sign falls off the stand roof onto the pitch; Alan Carr is bullied at school because the kids find out he is the son of the manager of the terrible local football team...Alan can't catch a football, let alone kick one....then Richard Hill (name fictionalized) arrives at the club.....
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Unknown editoredited December 29, 2024 03:21
Interesting NZ connection with Northampton Town. One of their best-ever strikers was former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill. In comedian Alan Carr's semi-autobiographical comedy series "Changing Ends", the brilliant footballer whose goals save the club, signed to Northampton Town by Alan Carr's dad Graham, is based on Richard Hill. Changing Ends - Wikipedia The first series of the hit UK comedy series (two broadcast, two more commissioned) screened in NZ on TVNZ One last summer. Series 2 screened in the UK earlier this year. Series 1 is available on TVNZ+ https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/changing-ends ________________________________________ Christchurch United signed Hill in 1983 from non-league Nuneaton Borough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hill_(footballer,_born_1963) He had a very good season in the NZ national league and on returning to England, was soon snapped up by Northampton Town, then in the fourth tier. Northampton's manager at the time was none other than Graham Carr, father of current well-known English comedian Alan Carr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Carr Graham Carr was previously also Hill's manager at Nuneaton Borough and had no doubt been tracking Hill's success in NZ. So he signed him as soon as he took over as Northampton Manager in 1985. Richard Hill was a sensation at Northampton, scoring 104 goals in two seasons (54 appearances). That attacted the attention of numerous top flight clubs and Graham Taylor signed him to Watford in 1987. He went from there to join another former Christchurch United player, All Whites centre-back Ceri Evans at Oxford United. Retiring early due to injury, Hill has had a solid managerial career, including spells as assistant manager at some Premier League clubs like Villa and success as a manger in the Conference. ___________________________________________ All these connections are fascinating. One of the most unlikely stories of any comedian is that of the flamboyantly gay and unathletic Alan Carr, the TV celebrity comedian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carr#Early_life His episode of "Who Do You Think You Are" is fascinating (clip of Alan & his dad): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptIyoxbzTzE&t=1s His dad Graham was a tough old-school northern footballer and coach. At the end of his career he was Head Scout at Newcastle United in the EPL until 2017., a club Alan's grandfather had played for. Alan and his dad get on well these days, obviously sharing a sense of humour. Alan Carr has made a very entertaining comedy about a struggling lower league club - the stand is so decrepit that the "Northampton Town" sign falls off the stand roof onto the pitch; Alan Carr is bullied at school because the kids find out he is the son of the manager of the terrible local football team...Alan can't catch a football, let alone kick one....then Richard Hill (name fictionalized) arrives at the club.....
Unknown editoredited December 29, 2024 03:19
Interesting NZ connection with Northampton Town. One of their best-ever strikers was former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill. The brilliant footballer whose goals save the club in comedian Alan Carr's semi-autobiographical comedy series "Changing Ends", who is signed to Northampton Town by comedian Alan Carr's dad Graham is based on Richard Hill. Changing Ends - Wikipedia The first series of the hit UK comedy series (two broadcast, two more commissioned) screened in NZ on TVNZ One last summer. Series 2 screened in the UK earlier this year. Series 1 is available on TVNZ+ https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/changing-ends
Christchurch United signed Hill in 1983 from non-league Nuneaton Borough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hill_(footballer,_born_1963) He had a very good season in the NZ national league and on returning to England, was soon snapped up by Northampton Town, then in the fourth tier. Northampton's manager at the time was none other than Graham Carr, father of current well-known English comedian Alan Carr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Carr Graham Carr was previously also Hill's manager at Nuneaton Borough and had no doubt been tracking Hill's success in NZ. So he signed him as soon as he took over as Northampton Manager in 1985. Richard Hill was a sensation at Northampton, scoring 104 goals in two seasons (54 appearances). That attacted the attention of numerous top flight clubs and Graham Taylor signed him to Watford in 1987. He went from there to join another former Christchurch United player, All Whites centre-back Ceri Evans at Oxford United. Retiring early due to injury, Hill has had a solid managerial career, including spells as assistant manager at some Premier League clubs like Villa and success as a manger in the Conference. ___________________________________________ All these connections are fascinating. One of the most unlikely stories of any comedian is that of the flamboyantly gay and unathletic Alan Carr, the TV celebrity comedian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carr#Early_life His episode of "Who Do You Think You Are" is fascinating (clip of Alan & his dad): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptIyoxbzTzE&t=1s His dad Graham was a tough old-school northern footballer and coach. At the end of his career he was Head Scout at Newcastle United in the EPL until 2017., a club Alan's grandfather had played for. Alan and his dad get on well these days, obviously sharing a sense of humour. Alan Carr has made a very entertaining comedy about a struggling lower league club - the stand is so decrepit that the "Northampton Town" sign falls off the stand roof onto the pitch; Alan Carr is bullied at school because the kids find out he is the son of the manager of the terrible local football team...Alan can't catch a football, let alone kick one....then Richard Hill (name fictionalized) arrives at the club.....
