Biography
Attacking wideman Tim Hotte joined City in September 1987, initially on trial then permanently a month later for £3,000, to add pace to Brian Horton’s Division Two squad. However Hotte did not make his first team debut, against his former side Huddersfield Town, until 11 days after Horton’s dismissal by owner Don Robinson when Tom Wilson and Dennis Booth were temporarily in charge. Hotte made only one appearance during Eddie Gray’s tenure in the 1988/89 season, immediately after returning from a month’s loan at Fourth Division side York City that commenced in September 1988 and yielded two appearances. He left the Tigers in March 1989 when his contract was terminated so that he could join Goole Town.
Born in Bradford and educated at Grange Comprehensive School, Timothy Alwin “Tim” Hotte had a remarkable journeyman career. He began at the exalted heights of Arsenal as a teenage apprentice but returned north and signed for Division Three side Huddersfield Town in September 1981. He made his senior debut in January 1982 against Brentford and netted his first goal at the end of March 1982 against Newport County, ending the season as the Terriers’ first choice centre forward as a result of an injury crisis. However during the 1982/83 season Hotte managed only two further appearances as Huddersfield won promotion to Division Two and in the 1983 close season he left Huddersfield after scoring four goals in 16 senior appearances. He dropped into the non-leagues and spent two seasons playing for local side Bradley Rangers.
In September 1985 Tim returned to league football with Division Four strugglers Halifax Town and made four appearances, but by November 1985 he had again dropped into the non-league scene and over the next two years served Harrogate Town, Frickley Athletic and North Ferriby United. It was while playing for the Villagers, whom he had only joined three months earlier, that he came to the attention of Hull City who signed him in October 1987 amid interest from Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers.
On leaving Hull City in March 1989 Hotte again preferred to play the semi-professional game, playing intermittently for Goole Town while also working as a double glazing salesman. This sales job would often demand his time on Saturdays and became a second career that would sustain Tim for over 30 years, resulting in him working alongside another ex-Tiger Peter Skipper. In November 1989 Hotte returned to North Ferriby United and for several years he switched between various clubs in the East and North Ridings, though suspension denied him any game time between May and December 1991.
Hotte was appointed player-coach by Goole boss Tommy Tynan in November 1992 and in February 1993 he rose to the manager’s hot-seat when Tynan left the club. Tim suffered a torrid eighteen months in charge at Goole before resigning in June 1994 amid cuts to his playing budget. A month later he joined Harrogate Town as assistant manager but in December 1994 he was appointed player-manager at North Ferriby United, taking up the reins after the departure of another ex-Tiger Peter Daniel. He retained the job for three years and piloted the Villagers to the FA Vase Final in May 1997 before resigning his post in October 1997. He joined Hall Road Rangers in March 1998 and briefly managed the Dunswell side before hanging up his boots in 2000 and focussing solely on the double glazing sales (while also playing local league cricket every summer!).
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 4 October 1963, Bradford
Hull City First Game: 23 April 1988, Huddersfield Town H (Division Two), 24 years, 202 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 October 1988, Crystal Palace A (Division Two), 25 years, 18 days old
Clubs
Arsenal (1979-1981), Huddersfield Town (1981-1983), Bradley Rangers (1983-1985), Halifax Town (1985), Harrogate Town (1985-1986), Frickley Athletic (1986-1987), North Ferriby United (1987), Hull City (1987-1989), York City (1988, loan), Goole Town (1989), North Ferriby United (1989-1990), Goole Town (1990-1991), Bridlington Town (1991), Goole Town (1991), North Ferriby United (1991-1992), Goole Town (1992-1994), Harrogate Town (1994), North Ferriby United (1994-1997), Ossett Town (1997-1998), Hall Road Rangers (1998-2000)
Hull City Record
Career: 5 apps, 0 goals
Tim Hotte| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987/88 | 1 (3) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1988/89 | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |