FORMER Ipswich Town skipper Mick Mills today paid a glowing tribute to ex-Blues striker Mick Hill, who has died aged 60.

Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich Town skipper Mick Mills today paid a glowing tribute to ex-Blues striker Mick Hill, who has died aged 60.

Hill played for Town from October 1969 until December 1973, making 78 appearances and scoring 20 goals. He signed from Sheffield United and then moved on to finish his professional career with Crystal Palace, winning two Welsh caps along the way.

Mills, who led England in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, said: “Mick was an exceptionally nice lad, who everybody liked.

“He was the smartest dresser at the club and there was always better gear thrown to the back seat of his car than in our wardrobes.

“He was always six months ahead of the latest fashion trends.

“Mick was a decent player with a good touch, but suffered somewhat for taking his off-field approach to life on to the park.

“In those days centre forwards got knocked about a lot and Mick was perhaps not aggressive enough.

“He quickly settled into the Ipswich social scene and was a regular at the Olive Leaf and took part in the pub's football team - the 'Heavies' - social activities.”

The Hereford-born frontman, who started his career with Bethesda Athletic, is remembered by Town fans for scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 home victory over Liverpool in October 1970.