R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 11:44 am
Many of you will not know Joan but she was an important figure at the club in the nineties, I think she was a director at some point but she worked in the commercial part of the club. She has sadly passed away and my thoughts go to her family and friends.
10:50 21st May 2013
Joan Hill.
It is with much sadness and regret that we must inform you that Joan Hill passed away in the late hours of last night. Joan had been battling against her illness for many months and had been an inspiration in the way she managed to be positive and gracious in her fight for quality of life.
At no time did ‘Joanie’ ever consider ‘giving up’ or feeling sorry for herself and at all our visits to see her the conversation would only be about the football club and the Youth and Community departments she loved so much.
We will advise of further details as appropriate.
Read more at http://www.theposh.com/news/article/201 ... GmiGYMi.99
10:50 21st May 2013
Joan Hill.
It is with much sadness and regret that we must inform you that Joan Hill passed away in the late hours of last night. Joan had been battling against her illness for many months and had been an inspiration in the way she managed to be positive and gracious in her fight for quality of life.
At no time did ‘Joanie’ ever consider ‘giving up’ or feeling sorry for herself and at all our visits to see her the conversation would only be about the football club and the Youth and Community departments she loved so much.
We will advise of further details as appropriate.
Read more at http://www.theposh.com/news/article/201 ... GmiGYMi.99
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 11:49 am
RIP - I think she was around the same time as the Kumar Brothers ?
Thoughts are with her family at such a sad time
Thoughts are with her family at such a sad time
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 11:49 am
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 12:15 pm
RIP Joan 
Joan Hill looking forward to Cardiff City reunion.
JOAN Hill was Cardiff City’s Peter Ridsdale of the mid-1990s.
JOAN Hill was Cardiff City’s Peter Ridsdale of the mid-1990s.
In the days before Sam Hammam came to South Wales, Samesh Kumar was the club owner and London-born Hill was appointed to organise the day-to-day running of the Bluebirds.
Ridsdale is current chairman and chief executive of the football club, while in Hill’s day she was chief executive and owner Kumar was the chairman.
The football club, as a business and as a league force, was a lot smaller back then, but it was still a daunting challenge for the female football fan from London.
“I will always have a big affinity with South Wales – and Cardiff City has a place in my heart,” says Hill. “I loved Cardiff, both the city and the football club. Everybody made me so welcome.
Today, Hill works for Peterborough United, the club Cardiff City face at their London Road home on Monday.
The return fixture is on Tuesday, February 9 and she says: “I can’t wait to come down, visit the new stadium and meet a few people I haven’t seen for a long time.
“I have kept in contact with Suzanne Twamley, who is Cardiff’s commercial wizard, and Jackie Rockey, who was personal assistant at Ninian Park and now secretary at Swansea City.”
Hill is the players’ welfare officer at Peterborough United plus PA to new manager Mark Cooper.
“It’s been an amazing journey with Peterborough United,” says Hill. “I’ve been back with the club for eight years. I was ill for a long time before that, but now I am healthy and happy.
“My job is a vocation for me.
“My family are around me in the Peterborough area and that’s fantastic.”
It was in 1995 that Kumar bought the club from Rick Wright and he stayed for four years before Steve Borley took over and opened the way for Hammam to start a soccer revolution.
Hill breezed into Ninian Park and took charge. Former Birmingham City chairman Kumar ran his sports clothing business in London day-by-day, while Kenny Hibbitt and Phil Neal ran team matters and Hill looked after the business side of things. Later, Russell Osman and Frank Burrows, who led the Bluebirds to promotion in 1998-99, were appointed as managers.
She has worked for Birmingham City, Peterborough United and Cardiff City in football, while Hill was chief executive of the London Knights when they were playing at the top level of British ice hockey.
Changes were made in the boardroom and the round table was out – and a long, antique table put in place.
“That round table made the boardroom at Ninian Park look like the inside of a pub,” she said. “The new table made things a lot better.”
Hill also insisted on plenty of fresh flowers in the boardroom – blue, yellow and white bouquets – on match days.
“I don’t want to make it too feminine – football is still very much a male domain,” she said.
She also turned to the business side of City, working with local businesses to strengthen links with the community. Hill was a central figure in bringing Celtic Leisure, who owned Cardiff Devils and the Wales National Ice Rink, into the football club.
They invested in Cardiff City and one director of Celtic Leisure was Paul Guy, who is still a major investor in the Bluebirds today and was a key man in ensuring the new stadium was built.
“I felt I was on trial at Cardiff City until that deal was sealed,” she said. “I think all supporters saw was this blonde, young thing. Maybe back then I looked young from a distance, but I was 50 years old with three grown-up sons. When people got to know me I hope they realised I’m not a blonde bimbo just in it for the glory. I worked hard in Cardiff. I loved the job and gave it everything I had.
“I know some men would think ‘Ah, there’s a blonde up there,’ but that’s was never a problem for me.
“I had to attract the right people. We didn’t want people with big egos. I tried to work with people who really cared about Cardiff City Football Club.”
Hill grew up 100 yards from Arsenal’s old Highbury Stadium, raised in the Finsbury Park area, which is staunch Gunners’ territory.
“I was two years old when my dad started taking me to watch Arsenal,” says Hill.
“I used to go on his shoulders and be passed down to the front, then passed back up safely again to my dad.”
Hill left school at 16 to work for a recruitment firm.
Her first job in football was at Peterborough United – and she is back there today and has been for eight years.
Club boardrooms were often closed to women, but the blatant sexism of the time did not offend her.
“I respect the traditions of football,” she said at the time.
Hill left South Wales in 1999 when lifelong City fan Borley took over as chairman.
“After leaving Cardiff City I was very poorly for some time in hospital,” says Hill. “Then I had to start all over again. I had lost just about everything I had before the illness.
“But I was emotionally tough and got on with it. I met an old friend, former Arsenal player Frank McLintock, and he introduced me to businessmen involved in ice hockey. That’s when I started working for London Knights.
“That came to an end when they took the ice rink away where the Knights played and I offered to work for Barry Fry at Peterborough – a month without charge. I’m still here and loving it.
“Everybody here is working exceptionally hard to make sure Peterborough United continues to progress.
“It will be fantastic to have Cardiff City at London Road on Monday – and I will really enjoy coming back to Cardiff and seeing the new stadium in February. I can’t wait.”
Joan Hill looking forward to Cardiff City reunion.
JOAN Hill was Cardiff City’s Peter Ridsdale of the mid-1990s.
JOAN Hill was Cardiff City’s Peter Ridsdale of the mid-1990s.
In the days before Sam Hammam came to South Wales, Samesh Kumar was the club owner and London-born Hill was appointed to organise the day-to-day running of the Bluebirds.
Ridsdale is current chairman and chief executive of the football club, while in Hill’s day she was chief executive and owner Kumar was the chairman.
The football club, as a business and as a league force, was a lot smaller back then, but it was still a daunting challenge for the female football fan from London.
“I will always have a big affinity with South Wales – and Cardiff City has a place in my heart,” says Hill. “I loved Cardiff, both the city and the football club. Everybody made me so welcome.
Today, Hill works for Peterborough United, the club Cardiff City face at their London Road home on Monday.
The return fixture is on Tuesday, February 9 and she says: “I can’t wait to come down, visit the new stadium and meet a few people I haven’t seen for a long time.
“I have kept in contact with Suzanne Twamley, who is Cardiff’s commercial wizard, and Jackie Rockey, who was personal assistant at Ninian Park and now secretary at Swansea City.”
Hill is the players’ welfare officer at Peterborough United plus PA to new manager Mark Cooper.
“It’s been an amazing journey with Peterborough United,” says Hill. “I’ve been back with the club for eight years. I was ill for a long time before that, but now I am healthy and happy.
“My job is a vocation for me.
“My family are around me in the Peterborough area and that’s fantastic.”
It was in 1995 that Kumar bought the club from Rick Wright and he stayed for four years before Steve Borley took over and opened the way for Hammam to start a soccer revolution.
Hill breezed into Ninian Park and took charge. Former Birmingham City chairman Kumar ran his sports clothing business in London day-by-day, while Kenny Hibbitt and Phil Neal ran team matters and Hill looked after the business side of things. Later, Russell Osman and Frank Burrows, who led the Bluebirds to promotion in 1998-99, were appointed as managers.
She has worked for Birmingham City, Peterborough United and Cardiff City in football, while Hill was chief executive of the London Knights when they were playing at the top level of British ice hockey.
Changes were made in the boardroom and the round table was out – and a long, antique table put in place.
“That round table made the boardroom at Ninian Park look like the inside of a pub,” she said. “The new table made things a lot better.”
Hill also insisted on plenty of fresh flowers in the boardroom – blue, yellow and white bouquets – on match days.
“I don’t want to make it too feminine – football is still very much a male domain,” she said.
She also turned to the business side of City, working with local businesses to strengthen links with the community. Hill was a central figure in bringing Celtic Leisure, who owned Cardiff Devils and the Wales National Ice Rink, into the football club.
They invested in Cardiff City and one director of Celtic Leisure was Paul Guy, who is still a major investor in the Bluebirds today and was a key man in ensuring the new stadium was built.
“I felt I was on trial at Cardiff City until that deal was sealed,” she said. “I think all supporters saw was this blonde, young thing. Maybe back then I looked young from a distance, but I was 50 years old with three grown-up sons. When people got to know me I hope they realised I’m not a blonde bimbo just in it for the glory. I worked hard in Cardiff. I loved the job and gave it everything I had.
“I know some men would think ‘Ah, there’s a blonde up there,’ but that’s was never a problem for me.
“I had to attract the right people. We didn’t want people with big egos. I tried to work with people who really cared about Cardiff City Football Club.”
Hill grew up 100 yards from Arsenal’s old Highbury Stadium, raised in the Finsbury Park area, which is staunch Gunners’ territory.
“I was two years old when my dad started taking me to watch Arsenal,” says Hill.
“I used to go on his shoulders and be passed down to the front, then passed back up safely again to my dad.”
Hill left school at 16 to work for a recruitment firm.
Her first job in football was at Peterborough United – and she is back there today and has been for eight years.
Club boardrooms were often closed to women, but the blatant sexism of the time did not offend her.
“I respect the traditions of football,” she said at the time.
Hill left South Wales in 1999 when lifelong City fan Borley took over as chairman.
“After leaving Cardiff City I was very poorly for some time in hospital,” says Hill. “Then I had to start all over again. I had lost just about everything I had before the illness.
“But I was emotionally tough and got on with it. I met an old friend, former Arsenal player Frank McLintock, and he introduced me to businessmen involved in ice hockey. That’s when I started working for London Knights.
“That came to an end when they took the ice rink away where the Knights played and I offered to work for Barry Fry at Peterborough – a month without charge. I’m still here and loving it.
“Everybody here is working exceptionally hard to make sure Peterborough United continues to progress.
“It will be fantastic to have Cardiff City at London Road on Monday – and I will really enjoy coming back to Cardiff and seeing the new stadium in February. I can’t wait.”
Last edited by Deano1 on Tue May 21, 2013 12:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 12:16 pm
Wasn't she in a relationship with one of the Kumar brothers?
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 1:14 pm
I went down ninian v burnley with a couple of young kids , left my wallet in the house , Joan let us in for nothing ,I offered to drop the money in later in the week . Joan was having none of it
A very nice gesture from Joan . RIP
A very nice gesture from Joan . RIP
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 1:16 pm
Very sad. Joan Hill worked hard for CCFC
RIP Joan
RIP Joan
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 1:22 pm
RIP, yes Joan was Samesh Kumars partner RIP
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 1:24 pm
princebluegaz wrote:I went down ninian v burnley with a couple of young kids , left my wallet in the house , Joan let us in for nothing ,I offered to drop the money in later in the week . Joan was having none of it
A very nice gesture from Joan . RIP
No wonder we didnt have a pot to piss in
Respect to the lady
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 3:20 pm
samesh Kumar's girlfriend I think-R.I.P Joan Hill
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 3:22 pm
New Joan Hill well, she knew her football, was similar to Peter Ridsdale.
RIP
RIP
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 3:58 pm
Remember Joan Hill from the Kumar period and she worked hard for our Club
RIP Joan and deepest condolences to family and friends,
RIP Joan and deepest condolences to family and friends,
Re: R.I.P. Joan Hill
Tue May 21, 2013 8:55 pm
I remember in the mid 90s writing a letter (note to younger readers: an ancient form of communication before email) to City moaning about something or other, I forget what it was. I certainly didn't expect a reply.
I was living in Kidderminster at the time and my phone rang and I had the shock of my life because it was Joan answering my complaint.
She chatted to me for ages and I was charmed and my anger over whatever I was moaning about soon subsided.
She obviously cared a lot about the club and her work here.
RIP Joan
I was living in Kidderminster at the time and my phone rang and I had the shock of my life because it was Joan answering my complaint.
She chatted to me for ages and I was charmed and my anger over whatever I was moaning about soon subsided.
She obviously cared a lot about the club and her work here.
RIP Joan