The Isuzu FA Trophy

Wealdstone boss hoping for raid on FA Trophy

Thursday 08 Jan 2015
Wealdstone have home advantage in The FA Trophy on Saturday
Type Wealdstone into Google and the word 'Raider' will instantly pop up alongside it. 

Press enter and you will be immediately hit by a barrage of videos, t-shirts and even a Christmas charity single - all in honour of Gordon Hill.

Hill, or the Wealdstone Raider as he is more commonly known, has gone from a fan of his beloved Conference South football team to an internet sensation.

Wealdstone v Bath City

The FA Trophy
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 10 January 2015
Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip
Winning clubs receive £6000 from prize fund
By Simon Collings

His now famous rant while watching Wealdstone play Whitehawk has nearly seven million views on YouTube, while his Christmas single charted in the top five this year. So far he has raised £20,000 from his new found fame, donating the money to three charities: Great Ormond Street Hospital, Autism Concern and Wealdstone FC Youth.

And, as the west London club prepare to face Bath City in the Second Round of The FA Trophy this weekend, their manager Gordon Bartlett has described the unexpected success of their die-hard fan as a blessing.

"He's still there at most games to be honest," said Bartlett. "The other week a young lad got a photo with him and I didn't tell Gordon until afterwards who it was, because it was the son of the Harrow Borough manager - our arch-rivals!

Wealdstone fan Gordon Hill, AKA Wealdstone Raider.

Gordon Hill, aka the Wealdstone Raider

"He has been on a really good journey and raised money for charity. It has raised the profile of the club too.

"He has sent a powerful message with his charity work and he has helped the club too. He gives money to the youth system, putting money back into the game that we love.

"It is quite odd because that moment at Whitehawk was two years ago. I am an old fossil, I don't use Facebook or Twitter, but with social media what it is you can see the video has really taken off."

While Hill may have been becoming an internet sensation off the pitch during the festive period, Wealdstone enjoyed their own success on the pitch too.

The Conference South side are currently on an 11-game unbeaten run, stretching back to 17 November.

FA Trophy

The FA Trophy resumes in the Second Round Proper this weekend

That is in stark contrast to their form at the start of the season, when Bartlett's side won just one of their opening ten games.

And as they get ready to welcome fellow Conference South side Bath City this weekend, Bartlett admits this season has been a learning curve for his squad.

"In the early part of the season we suffered from a lot of individual errors, which we probably made in the Ryman League," admitted Bartlett.

"This time though we were being punished for those mistakes, it was a bit of a learning curve.

"We also lost three key players. Glen Little decided to stay in the Ryman League with Grays, while Jerome Okimo and Tom Pett both went pro after being signed by Stevenage.

"So we had new players coming in. But other than the Bromley result all our matches were close and we were confident we could turn things around.

"The spirit in the dressing room never dropped and now we have gone on a run of 11 games unbeaten.

"We would love to go on a good Trophy run too as it brings that feel good factor."

By FA Staff