Arsenal hero David Hillier won the First Division title with the Gunners in 1991 as a tough-tackling midfielder that was not afraid of causing a few flames.But after hanging up his boots, the once-notorious hardman, 53, traded on-field flames for putting out real ones when taking up a new post as a firefighter at Avon Fire & Rescue in Bristol.
Hillier racked up almost 150 appearances in north London over an eight-year spell before transferring to fellow Premier League side Portsmouth for £250,000 in 1996.Also enjoying stints at Barnet and Bristol Rovers, the Blackheath-born centre-mid has revealed it was his wife Zoe who suggested he join the fire brigade upon retirement.
He told The Sun: "We were out shopping one day and we passed a fire station and she said that it would be the perfect job for me."Ian Holloway – who I played alongside at Bristol Rovers - also has something to do with it.
Olly’s brother-in-law was a fireman and we had met and talked about the fire brigade. Now he is one of the bosses in the service."Because of my football career I joined the brigade late and when I started it was a bit like students tutoring the teaching because everyone seemed younger than me.
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