Teenager turns down Manchester United to join Celtic
The 14-year-old from Hamilton was given a welcome to United’s Carrington training complex by Sir Alex Ferguson then shown around by Brian McClair.
Despite the attractions and appeal of the Premiership side Hill has decided that he wants to be part of the Celtic Academy.
“It’s been a busy summer,” he explained to The Sun. “I went down to Carrington which was brilliant. I met Alex Ferguson at a hotel which was fantastic, although my mum was more excited than me!
“She’s always been a United fan. When he came in she was like ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you Sir Alex’. I was just sitting there.
“After meeting him and seeing Carrington, it was very hard to say no. We got advice on our options from the agents at Viola FC, but my family left the final decision to me.
“I felt Celtic was the better move at this time of my life. I liked what they had to offer and so did my family.
“I can’t quite believe how quickly it’s happened. I’m pinching myself.”
Hill has been training with Hamilton Accies who helped develop James McCarthy and James McArthur into Premiership players.
The First Division club put a lot of work into their development programme with Hill admitting that it was difficult to move on after being becoming the youngest player to appear for the Accies reserve side last season.
“Hamilton have just been amazing for me,” he added. “I wasn’t going to leave them, but decided I had been there for a while and I was ready for a change. Celtic was the best option for me just now.”
Hill will be in good company at Celtic who provide almost a third of international players for Scotland at all youth team levels.
Yesterday against Airdrie at Firhill 15-year-old Mark Barrowman appeared as a second half substitute for the development side while 16-year-old Glenn Eadie scored with a header four minutes after replacing Bahrudin Atajic in a 4-0 win.
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