By Martin Morgan

Published at 15:52, Wednesday, 17 March 2010

HOWARD Hill has said a big thank you to all who have helped make his testimonial year a roaring success.

autograph time: Howard Hill signs copies of his testimonial brochure at Unique Sports in Whitehaven

The popular Haven forward’s testimonial brochure is now on sale, and he is more than happy with the result.

“Bob Sewell has done a great job on it,” he said.

“Considering the time involved, I can’t thank him and others enough. There are so many people, I can’t thank them all.

“If it had been up to me, I probably wouldn’t have even put in for the testimonial, but everything has been done for me. Everything was started off by Des Byrne.”

Byrne, chairman of Hill’s testimonial committee, said: “We’ve had a good year and everyone on the committee has worked really hard for Howard.

“The fact he is so popular has certainly helped. And we still have a few functions left before it ends. We hope these are as well-supported as the previous ones.

“The brochure is a keepsake and again highlights what a likeable and hard-working player he is.”

The latest testimonial event will be a Ladies Night in the Marchon Club on May 1. Entertainment will come from group Foxx and a disco, and Haven players will act as waiters. Tickets are available from Howard or wife Leeanne.

The forward’s career is chronicled in detail in the glossy 72-page booklet.

From his beginnings at local amateur club Hensingham through to his all-to-brief Super League stint at Oldham Bears, before the club went belly up, to his decade of service at the Recre.

His Haven coaches, from Paul Cullen, to Steve McCormack, Dave Rotheram and Ged Stokes all write of their respect for the player.

While more personal contributions come from the likes of his dad Tony, Leeanne and Howard himself.

Tony Hill recalls how his son joined Hensingham at eight and returned from his first training session to reveal he had been named in the Under-11 team the following Sunday, against Kells.

“The first time he got tackled he hadn’t a clue what to do and when the referee told him to play the ball ... he booted it straight in to touch,” Hill Snr recalls.

Perhaps the most telling contribution comes from his former youth coach at Hensingham Trevor Laverick, who rates Howard the best player he has coached at the club.

And as Laverick notes, he coached the likes of future top-flight stars Craig Murdock, Jonathon Roper and Stephen Holgate.

The brochure, priced at £5, is on sale at Unique Sports, in Whitehaven, Sproat’s Newsagents at Cleator Moor and The Whitehaven News office.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk