Background
Hilton was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
Hilton was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
He played as a left back or on the left wing. He was a schoolboy international. In June 1993, the Independent"s Henry Winter reported that "the chase on to sign David Hilton, a left-sided Barnsley boy with a healthy appetite for raiding down the wing".
He turned professional with the club, but never appeared for the first team
Towards the end of the 1996-1997 season, with his contract due to expire, Hilton had a trial at Burnley, where he impressed manager Adrian Heath, but no contract ensued. He joined Darlington on a monthly contract at the start of the 1997-1998 Football League season and appeared once, on 30 August as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United in Division Three.
In early 1998, Hilton joined Scottish First Division club Ayr United on trial, on the recommendation of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. He signed for them in March, but never played for the first team