DEFENDER

89/90 LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 46

WITH MORE THAN 400 APPEARANCES IN A CITY SHIRT, SCOTT HILEY IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A TRUE CLUB LEGEND.

Scott came through the Exeter City youth system to earn a full professional contract in August 1986, later going on to make his league debut against Burnley in October 1987.

By the time the 89/90 season came around, he was to become a regular fixture in the first team, and after coming on as a sub in the first game he then played in all of the remaining league matches.

His relationship with Brian McDermott down the right hand side of the pitch was a regular highlight of a season full of memorable moments, as the young defender emulated his manager’s playing days in an attacking full-back role.

Such was his talent, it was inevitable that Scott would go on up the football league, and via a £150,000 move to Birmingham he made his way to the Premiership, where he would play for both Manchester City and Southampton.

In December 1999, Scott signed for the Saints south coast rivals Portsmouth for a fee of £200,000, and was made the captain of the side as he went on to win the club’s player of the year award in his first full season.

After 75 appearances for Pompey, Scott would finally return to St James Park in September 2002, and while he was not able to save the club from its exit from the football league, his quality and experience played a key role in stabilising the club during difficult times.

The highlight of all this perhaps came in 2005, where he helped the club to the FA Cup replay against Manchester United, in which he famously nutmegged Cristiano Ronaldoin front of the TV cameras at the Park.

Of course, Scott was more to City fans than a neat trick on one of the best footballers in the world, and across two spells he firmly cemented his status as one of the club’s greatest ever players.