Hills started in the youth team at hometown club Blackpool. He was signed by Everton manager Joe Royle for £90,000 as a schoolboy from Blackpool in 1995, after he impressed in an FA Youth Cup match playing for the Blackpool youth team against their Everton counterparts. His only full appearance for the Toffees was at home to Chelsea on 11 May 1997. He had two loan spells at Swansea City, making eighteen appearances and scoring once, before returning to his hometown club for £60,000 in 1998, after an initial loan spell. In the 2000–01 season he was an integral part of the Third Division play-off final-winning team. He signed a one-year contract extension in April 2001. In the 2001–02 season he scored the Seasiders third goal as they beat Cambridge United 4–1 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to win the LDV Vans Trophy. Hills made almost two hundred appearances over five years, scoring twenty goals and he also held the captain's armband in the absence of Ian Hughes.
Hills left Blackpool for Gillingham, who were then in the Championship in 2003 and appeared fifty-eight times over two years, scoring two goals. After his contract was not renewed, Paul Sturrock signed him for Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he sometimes played on the left-wing. His time with the Owls was blighted by injury, which only allowed him to appear forty-six times, and was released by the club after two years.
Back to Blackpool again
On 5 July 2007, Hills signed a one-year contract with Blackpool, his third spell with his hometown club. On 7 May 2008 he was released by Blackpool after making only four league appearances.
Following his release from Fleetwood Hills signed for his third Fylde team A.F.C. Fylde as player and first team coach ready for the 2010–11 season. He played and coached the team for one season before returning to Blackpool to become Head of Youth.
Bamber Bridge
Hills was named assistant manager to Jamie Milligan at Bamber Bridge in December 2019.
Personal life
In 2008 Hills invested in a public house in Blackpool, becoming the landlord of The Welcome pub, in Marton. He has also helped coach youngsters on the Fylde coast with two fellow local players, who were also with Hills at Everton Jamie Milligan, now at Southport, and Gavin McCann. In February 2008, Milligan and McCann launched the first football academy on the Fylde coast, the Milligan-McCann Academy which is aimed at 8 to 12-year olds and runs at King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in Lytham St Annes. Hills also coaches. John is married to Samantha and they have two children Isla and Rocco.
Coaching career
Hills retired professionally from an ankle injury in 2008 and went straight in to coaching at Fleetwood Town. Hills also set up Fleetwood Towns first ever youth team with manager Micky Mellon. In 2010 Hills was employed by A.F.C. Fylde as both player and first team coach which he performed for one season before getting the job of Head of Youth at Blackpool. In 2011, Hills returned to his first club Blackpool as a coach in their Centre of Excellence. In August of that year, he was made Head of Youth, replacing Jamie Shore who has been brought in to replace the sick Gary Parkinson. In 2013 Hills worked for Templegate Training coaching and educating underprivileged youngsters in Blackpool helping them gain relevant qualifications to gain employment. In 2014 Hills was promoted to regional manager. On 15 May 2013, Hills was appointed as assistant to Alan Wright at Southport. On 13 November 2014, Hills became First-team coach at Hyde, but left on 2 January 2015. In October 2019, Hills became caretaker manager of AFC Fylde leading them to a 6–1 victory over Peterborough sports in the FA cup and a 2-0 league win over Boreham Wood in the national conference league.
