Career
A lifelong Swindon Town supporter, he became chairman of the club in 1984 when they were in the Football League Fourth Division - the lowest division of the Football League. In 1987 a second successive promotion took Hillier"s team into the Football League Second Division, where they had not played for more than a decade previously. This resulted in Sunderland being promoted in their place, and Swindon Town being relegated to the Football League Third Division with their place in the Second Division going to Tranmere Rovers.
Meanwhile, Hillier was forced to leave Swindon Town after receiving a six-month ban from football as penalty for the illegal bet.
He, along with chief accountant Vince Farrar and former manager Lou Macari were committed for trial at Winchester Crown Court. On 29 July 1992, Macari was cleared of tax offences but Hillier and Farrar were both found guilty.
Hillier received a one-year prison sentenced (later halved on appeal) and Farrar received a suspended six-month prison sentence. Hillier"s ban from football was increased to three years.
He remained in this position until his death from a stroke in October 2008, at the age of 65.