Jimmy Hill - Public Image

Public Image

Jimmy Hill has become a cult figure, with many British comedy shows parodying his personality and prominent chin. He was a regular character called 'Knobchops' in the comedy series Stella Street (impersonated by Phil Cornwell). Hill is routinely drawn into panels of various Viz comic strips, typically in locales which the real Hill is unlikely to frequent.

He was also spoofed in The Goodies episode "2001 & A Bit", and parodied himself with appearances in both Monty Python's Flying Circus (dressed as Queen Victoria) and Harry Enfield and Chums.

Hill's large chin was referenced by popular British schoolboy slang in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with the phrases "Jimmy Hill!", "Itch my chin!" and "Chinny reckon!", accompanied by the exaggerated stroking of an imaginary lengthened chin, being used to convey the expression of mocking disbelief.

Jimmy Hill has been immortalised in the Scottish football chant "We hate Jimmy Hill, he's a poof, he's a poof", to the tune of the British Airways "Fly the Flag" ad campaign. He had become unpopular with Scotland fans, better known as the Tartan Army, for describing David Narey's goal against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup as "a toe-poke" during the BBC's live coverage. He did apologise for this on BBC Scotland TV coverage of the World Cup in France 1998.

One of Hill's more light-hearted football moments took place in 1972. Arsenal were hosting Liverpool at Highbury on 16 September, when linesman Dennis Drewitt pulled a muscle and was unable to continue. FA rules state that the match could not be completed without a referee and two linesmen, so the game was in danger of being abandoned. The matchday announcer put a message over the loudspeaker asking if anyone was a qualified referee and would volunteer to run the line. Hill was a qualified referee and had been at Highbury that day as a spectator. He quickly donned a tracksuit before stepping in for the injured Drewitt.

Hill is also well known for his ability to make ‘Colemanballs’ statements such as:

“I would undoubtedly pick him in the next England squad if I was the England manager and he wasn't actually Bermudan.”

“We're not used to weather in June in this country.”

“They're still in the game, and they're trying to get back into it.”

"That's a wise substitution by Terry Venables: three fresh men, three fresh legs."

"If England are going to win this match, they're going to have to score a goal."