Fitz Hall

Fitz Benjamin Hall (born 20 December 1980) is an English former professional footballer and current football agent. He played as a defender in his professional career, and as a striker in amateur football.[2]

Fitz Hall

Hall training with Watford in 2014.
Personal information
Full name	Fitz Benjamin Hall
Date of birth	20 December 1980
Place of birth	Leytonstone, England[1]
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s)	Defender, striker
Youth career
	Senrab
1997–2000	West Ham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Barnet	0	(0)
2001–2002	Chesham United	21	(2)
2002–2003	Oldham Athletic	41	(4)
2003–2004	Southampton	11	(0)
2004–2006	Crystal Palace	75	(3)
2006–2008	Wigan Athletic	25	(0)
2008–2012	Queens Park Rangers	85	(3)
2010	→ Newcastle United (loan)	7	(0)
2012–2014	Watford	26	(1)
Total		291	(13)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

Hall began his career as a West Ham United youth player on the same day as Paul Konchesky, Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel but was released at the age of 15. He played for Senrab in Wanstead Flats.[3] He was also once told that he wasn't good enough to become a professional footballer but found his lucky break through a friend that got him a trial at Barnet[4] He then joined Barnet as part of a Youth Training Scheme, before moving to non-league Chesham United under the management of Bob Dowie.

Oldham Athletic

Hall's performances at Chesham came to the attention of Dowie's brother Iain, manager of Oldham Athletic, who bought him for £30,000 during the 2001–02 season.[5] He made his debut in April 2002 against Wycombe Wanderers,[6] his only appearance of the season.[7] The following season really saw him shine as he was part of a defence which was only 2nd best to league champions Wigan Athletic and was named in the PFA Team of the Year. Hall scored his first goal for the club against Stockport County in November 2002[8] and went on to score more important goals that season against Chesterfield,[9] Brentford[10] and Mansfield[11] in the league and Burton Albion in the FA Cup.[12] In January 2003, Hall signed a new deal, which would have kept him at the club until 2005,[13] but seven months on following the financial melt down at the club, Hall was sold to Premiership side Southampton for £250,000.[14] However, he did not manage to break into Southampton's first team on a regular basis.

Crystal Palace

Hall re-joined Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace at the beginning of the 2004–05 season for £1.5m,[15] and went straight into the first team for the club's first season back in the Premiership.

In August 2005, Hall was appointed team captain of Palace, replacing Michael Hughes following the club's relegation back to the Championship. Many fans felt that Hall's performance was being hindered by the burden of captaincy, and after several poor performances, and several yellow cards, Hughes was re-appointed team captain in January 2006. Despite losing the captaincy, Hall remained in the first team until the end of the season.

Wigan

Hall moved from Palace to Premiership side Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee on 26 June 2006.[16] New Palace boss Peter Taylor cited a £3 million get-out clause in Hall's contract as the reason for the transfer.. On the opening game of the season, Hall made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Newcastle United. During a 4–0 win over Manchester City on 21 October 2006, Hall suffered an ankle ligament damage, following a challenge from Dietmar Hamann[17] and was out for three weeks. Hall was able on to make his return on 26 November 2006 in a 4–0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, coming on as a substitute. On 11 February 2007, Hall scored an own goal against Arsenal, to make the score 1–1, before Tomáš Rosický scored a winner. On 21 February 2007, Hall received a straight red card after a challenge on Johan Cavalli in a 1–1 draw against Watford.[18] After the match, Wigan officially confirmed that they would appeal against Hall's sending off,[19] but the next day, FA rejected Wigan's appeal, meaning Hall had to serve a three-match ban.[20] After making a returning from suspension, Hall's career at Wigan went bad to worse after he conceded a penalty against Charlton Athletic following a foul on Marcus Bent, allowing Darren Bent to convert it and score, resulting in Charlton scoring the only goal of the match.[21] Hall played two more matches before suffering a knee injury, which kept him out for the rest of the season.[22] The following season proved Hall's last at Wigan after he fell out of favour with Chris Hutchings and then manager Steve Bruce. Clubs in the Championship were reported as tracking him,[23] and he finally signed for Queen's Park Rangers.

Queens Park Rangers

Hall was one of a number of players brought in by Championship side Queens Park Rangers during the early part of the January 2008 transfer window. He signed a four and a half-year contract, after Rangers paid an undisclosed fee.[24] Hall scored his first Rangers goal in the first game of the 2008–09 season against Barnsley, and went on to score his second just two minutes later, before having a penalty saved to deny him a hat-trick. Under Neil Warnock's management of QPR, Hall was an everpresent member of the promotion winning squad of the 2010–11 season, and his excellent defensive partnership with Kaspars Gorkšs was influential in Rangers keeping a record number of clean sheets on the way to the Championship title. He initially went on to feature regularly in the Premier League. However, after Warnock was replaced as manager by Mark Hughes, the arrival of Nedum Onuoha saw Hall fall down the Rangers pecking order and he was released by QPR at the end of the 2011–12 season. [25]

Newcastle United

On 29 January 2010, Hall was signed on loan by Newcastle United for the rest of the season. He made his debut in the 5–1 win over Cardiff City at St James' Park and put in a solid performance, before being replaced by Tamás Kádár in the closing stages of the game.[26]

During Newcastle's 2–2 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate Stadium on 20 March, Hall injured his hamstring in a chase with Nicky Maynard. After the game, Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton said Hall's injury did not look too good.[27] Despite this assessment, Hall recovered in time to play in the match that confirmed Newcastle as Football League Championship champions, on 19 April. Following Newcastle's promotion to the Premier League, Hall was keen to make a permanent deal[28] but it didn't happen, and Hall returned to QPR.

Watford

Hall signed a one-year contract with Watford in July 2012, along with seven new signings.[29] Having not featured in any of Watford's games in pre-season due to a lack of fitness,[30] Hall finally made his debut, coming on for Neuton in a second half, as Watford drew 2–2 with Bristol City on 22 September 2012. The next game, Hall scored his first goal in a 3–2 win over Huddersfield Town. Due to several injuries, Hall was limited to just 21 league appearances but remained a key part of Watford's squad as they finished 3rd in the table.

On 22 November 2013, Hall rejoined Watford on a one-month deal having trained with the club previously for a number of months.[31] Hall made one start and one substitute appearance before his contract expired but was allowed to continue training with Watford under new head coach Giuseppe Sannino.[32]

On 6 January 2014, Hall joined Watford for a third time after agreeing a new short-term deal.[33] This was later extended until the end of the season. Along with Lucas Neill and Albert Riera, who were also on short-term contracts, it was confirmed on 4 June that Hall would be departing Vicarage Road at the end of his contract.[34]

Amateur football

After leaving Watford, Hall signed for Sunday League side Percival, based in Waltham Abbey. Playing as a striker, Hall scored a hat-trick on his debut as Percival demolished Enfield Rangers 8–0 in their Premier Division fixture and scored 9 times in 14 league matches during the season.[35][36]

Outside football

After retiring from professional football, Hall became a football consultant for Base Soccer Agency.[37]

International career

In 2003 during his Southampton career, Hall received an unexpected call-up to be eligible to play for Scotland national football team through his grandmother.[38] However, Hall denied having talk over a possible call-up to the Scotland national team, stating he had heard nothing from manager Berti Vogts.[39]

Hall is also eligible to play for Barbados[40] and was called for the Caribbean national team in 2011.[41] In 2015, he stated that he would like to play for Barbados and would return to professional football if called up.[42]

Honours

Newcastle United

• Championship: 2009–10

Queens Park Rangers

• Championship: 2010–11

Media

Hall briefly appeared in the opening of the movie The Fifth Element, playing the role of Aziz; the boy who runs to turn on the lights for John Bennett's Priest.[43]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
2. "Where are the other Pozzo signings?". Bournemouth Echo. 24 October 2014.
3. "Terry saves youth football club". 21 April 2011 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
4. Sam Pilger (October 2003). "The Boy's A Bit Special". FourFourTwo (110): 31. 
5. "Oldham sign non-league star". Sky Sports. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
6. "Wycombe Wanderers 2 Oldham Athletic 1". oldhamathletic-mad.co.uk. 13 April 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
7. "Games played by Fitz Hall in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
8. "Oldham 2-0 Stockport". BBC. 2 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
9. "Chesterfield 0-1 Oldham". BBC. 21 December 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
10. "Oldham 2-1 Brentford". BBC. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
11. "Mansfield 0-1 Oldham". BBC. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
12. "Oldham 2-2 Burton Albion". BBC. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
13. "Hall signs new Latics deal". Sky Sports. 19 January 2003. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
14. "Saints to bag Hall". Sky Sports. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
15. "Hall joins Palace". BBC Sport. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
16. "Wigan sign Palace defender Hall". BBC Sport. 26 June 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
17. "Injury victims Hall and Skoko facing time out". Wigan Today. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
18. "Jewell salutes troops after draw". Wigan Today. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
19. "Latics confirm Hall appeal". Sky Sports. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
20. "FA reject Hall appeal". Sky Sports. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
21. "Late penalty sinks Latics". Wigan Today. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
22. "Wigan confirm double KO". Sky Sports. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
23. "Hall nears Wigan exit". Sky Sports. 24 December 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
24. "QPR capture Hall and target Vine". BBC. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
25. "QPR 2–1 Barnsley". BBC. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
26. "Breaking News: Hall Fitz Toon Bill". 29 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
27. Hope, Craig. "United To Assess Hall Injury". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
28. "Hall keeping an open mind". Sky Sports. British Sky Broadcasting. 16 April 2010.
29. "Official: Hornets delighted with a magnificent seven signings" Archived 2 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Watford Football Club. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
30. "Gianfranco Zola provides Watford injury update ahead of Tottenham clash on Sunday". Watford Observer. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
31. "OFFICIAL: Hall Returns". Watford Football Club. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
32. "Fitz Hall is still training with Watford despite his contract expiring". Watford Observer. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
33. "OFFICIAL: Hall Signs". Watford Football Club. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
34. "OFFICIAL: Released Players Confirmed". Watford Football Club. 4 June 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
35. Franczak, Andrew (15 September 2014). "QPR star signs for Sunday football team". Hertfordshire Mercury. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
36. "Full-Time : Home". full-time.thefa.com.
37. "People". Base Soccer Agency. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
38. "Saints star set for shock Scots call". Sky Sports. 25 April 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
39. "Jones rejected trio for Saints". Sky Sports. 27 April 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
40. Stuart, Ezra (13 October 2010). "Bajan ballers feel the pain". Nation News. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
41. "404". QPR.
42. "Barbados Football: Hall considers return to professional football". sportsmax.tv. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
43. Bryant, Tom (24 October 2007). "Has a journalist ever won an international cap?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2010.

External links

• Fitz Hall at Soccerbase
• Fitz Hall Career Profile