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Fitz Benjamin Hall (born 20 December 1980)[2] is an English former professional footballer and current football agent. He played as a defender during his professional career.[3]

Key Information

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

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.[4][5] Hall was once told that he wasn't good enough to become a professional footballer but found his lucky break through a friend who got him a trial at Barnet.[6][7] Hall then joined Barnet as part of a Youth Training Scheme before moving to non-league Chesham United under the management of Bob Dowie.[8][9] It was there that he signed his first professional contract at the age of 21.[10] During his time at Chesham United, Dowie converted him from playing as a striker to a central defender, a position he played throughout his professional career.[10] Hall quickly became a first-team regular for the club, making twenty-one appearances and scoring twice in all competitions.[11]

Oldham Athletic

[edit]

Hall's performances at Chesham caught the attention of Iain Dowie, the manager of Oldham Athletic and brother of Bob Dowie. Iain signed Hall for £30,000 during the 2001–02 season on a two-year contract with the club.[12][9][10] He made his debut for Oldham, playing the full match in a 2–1 loss against Wycombe Wanderers on 13 April 2002.[13] This turned out to be his only appearance of the season.[14]

The 2002–03 season saw Hall emerge as a key player, becoming a regular in the first team defence.[15] He helped the club keep four clean sheets in four matches between 13 August 2002 and 26 August 2002, despite being sent off in a 0–0 draw against Brentford on 17 August 2002.[16] His performances earned praise from manager Iain Dowie, who noted that Hall was "comfortable on the ball and quick in the tackle."[17] After serving a one-match suspension, Hall returned to the starting line-up for a 3–1 victory against Notts County on 7 September 2002.[18]

Once again, Hall played a crucial role in helping Oldham Athletic keep three clean sheets in the next four matches between 17 September 2002 and 5 October 2002, although he missed a match against Swindon Town.[19] Hall scored his first goal for the club on 2 November 2002 against Stockport County.[20] Two weeks later, on 16 November 2002, he scored his second goal for Oldham in a 2–2 draw against Burton Albion in the first round of the FA Cup.[21] His impressive performances earned him the Player of the Month award for November in the Second Division.[22]

On 21 December 2002, Hall scored his third goal of the season in a 1–0 win against Chesterfield.[23] His next goal came on 14 January 2003 in a 2–1 win against Brentford.[24] Five days later, on 19 January 2003, he signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2005.[25] However, six days later, on 26 January 2003, Hall received a straight red card in the 28th minute for a foul on Steve Jones in a 3–1 loss.[26] After serving a two-match suspension, he returned to the starting line-up on 22 February 2003, helping Oldham draw 1–1 against Notts County.[27]

He then scored his fifth goal of the season in a 1–0 win against Mansfield Town.[28] Despite being sidelined with a toe injury that caused him to miss two matches, Hall remained a regular in the first team for the rest of the season, as the club reached the play–offs, finishing as runners-up to league champions Wigan Athletic.[29] Hall played in both legs of the play-off semi-final against Queens Park Rangers, which Oldham lost 2–1 on aggregate.[30] By the end of the 2002–03 season, Hall had made fifty appearances and scored five goals in all competitions. His performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.[31]

However, the club experienced a financial meltdown, casting doubt on Hall's future. Reports suggested that he could become a free agent by exercising his rights if he didn't receive his salary on time.[32] On 3 July 2003, Hall, along with teammates Will Haining and Les Pogliacomi, informed Oldham Athletic that they were threatening to leave the club after not being paid the previous month.[33] This situation attracted interest from British clubs, including Everton, Cardiff City, and Bolton Wanderers, who expressed an interest in signing Hall.[34] Following his departure, manager Iain Dowie accused Oldham Athletic's owner, Chris Moore, of "ripping the heart out of the club" by selling key players, including Hall.[35]

Southampton

[edit]

Hall was sold to the Premier League side Southampton for a transfer fee between £250,000 and £350,000.[36]

He made his debut for the club in a 4–0 loss against Jönköpings Södra in a friendly match on 24 July 2003, playing the entire game.[37] Hall participated in several friendly matches during the club's pre-season tour.[38] However, he struggled to break into Southampton's first team regularly due to competition and injury concerns.[39] As a result, Hall had to wait until 16 December 2003 to make his competitive debut for the club, starting in a 1–0 loss against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup quarter-finals.[40] He made his Premier League debut on 29 December 2003, playing the full match in a 1–0 loss against Arsenal.[41] In his second Premier League appearance, against Birmingham City on 10 January 2004, Hall unfortunately scored an own goal, leading to a 2–1 defeat for Southampton.[42] By April, he had managed to secure a few first-team appearances for the remainder of the 2003–04 season.[43] By the end of the season, Hall had made 12 first-team appearances in all competitions.

Crystal Palace

[edit]

Due to his lack of first-team opportunities, Hall was linked with a move to newly promoted Premier League club Crystal Palace, where his former manager, Iain Dowie, was in charge and made a bid for him in late July.[44][45][46] He joined Crystal Palace at the beginning of the 2004–05 season for a reported transfer fee of £1.5 million.[47][48][9]

Hall made his debut for Crystal Palace in the opening game of the season, starting in a midfield position and playing 78 minutes before being substituted in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City.[49][50] From then on, he became a regular in the first team during the club's first season back in the Premier League, often playing in the midfield position.[51][52][53][9] At times, Hall also rotated into the centre-back position.[54][55][56]

He scored his first goal for Crystal Palace with a header in a 3–0 win against West Bromwich Albion on 23 October 2004.[57] However, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for two matches.[58][59] He returned to the starting line-up on 20 November 2004, playing in the centre-back position in a 2–0 loss against Newcastle United.[60][61] Upon his return from injury, Hall regained his place in the first team, forming a solid centre-back partnership with Gonzalo Sorondo.[62][63][64][65][66]

He then scored his second goal for the club with what was described as an "unstoppable 20-yard shot" in a 2–2 draw against his former club, Southampton, as Crystal Palace fought to avoid relegation.[67][68] In the final game of the season against local rivals Charlton Athletic, Hall played the full match and delivered an impressive performance, but the 2–2 draw wasn't enough to save the club from relegation, as they needed a win to stay up.[69][70]

Despite dealing with injuries during the 2004–05 season, Hall made 37 appearances and scored twice in all competitions.[71][72][73] A review of the season by Your Local Guardian praised Hall as the best signing for Crystal Palace that season.[74]

At the start of the 2005–06 season, Hall was appointed team captain of Crystal Palace, replacing Michael Hughes following the club's relegation to the Championship.[75][76] He helped the club keep three consecutive clean sheets between 20 August 2005 and 10 September 2005.[77][78][79] Despite serving a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards during the season, Hall continued to start eleven matches in the centre-back position, forming a partnership with Darren Ward.[80][81][82][83]

This partnership lasted until he missed a match due to a knock sustained during a 1–1 draw against Millwall on 3 December 2005, in which he was substituted in the 59th minute.[84][85] Midway through the season, many Crystal Palace fans felt that Hall's performance was being affected by the burden of captaincy. After several poor performances and additional yellow cards, Hughes was re-appointed team captain in January 2006.[86][87]

Despite losing the captaincy, Hall remained in the first team until the end of the season, occasionally playing in a full-back position.[88] During a 1–0 win against Cardiff City on 4 February 2006, Hall received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident involving Joe Ledley and served a three-match suspension.[89][90] After serving this suspension, he returned to the starting line-up for a 1–1 draw against Millwall on 18 February 2006[91] and subsequently scored his second goal of the season in a 4–1 win against Norwich City.[92]

After missing two matches due to another injury, Hall contributed to the club's placement in the Championship play-offs.[93][94][95] He played in both legs of the play-off semi-final against Watford, as Crystal Palace lost 3–0.[96][97] By the end of the 2005–06 season, Hall had made 44 appearances and scored once in all competitions.

Wigan Athletic

[edit]
Hall playing for Wigan Athletic in 2007.

Hall moved from Crystal Palace to Premier League side Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee on 26 June 2006.[98] New Palace boss Peter Taylor cited a £3 million get-out clause in Hall's contract as the reason for the transfer.[99] Hall later mentioned that Dowie's departure was also a factor in his decision to move on.[100]

Hall made his debut for Wigan Athletic, playing the full match in a 2–1 loss against Newcastle United in the opening game of the season.[101] He then started the next five matches in the centre-back position, forming a partnership with Arjan de Zeeuw.[102] This run was interrupted when Hall suffered a virus, causing him to miss one match.[103] After returning to the starting line-up against Manchester United on 14 October 2006, Hall's return was short-lived.[104] In a match against Manchester City on 21 October 2006, he suffered ankle ligament damage following a challenge from Dietmar Hamann and was substituted at half-time, as Wigan Athletic won 4–0.[105] Initially expected to be out for three weeks, Hall was eventually sidelined for five weeks.[106]

He made his return to the first team on 26 November 2006, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute in a 3–1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.[107] Hall regained his place in the first team, playing alongside de Zeeuw for the next eleven matches.[108] In a game against Arsenal on 11 February 2007, with Wigan leading 1–0, Hall scored an own goal in the 81st minute to level the score at 1–1. Four minutes later, Tomáš Rosický scored the winner for Arsenal.[109]

In a subsequent match against Watford on 21 February 2007, Hall received a straight red card for a challenge on Johan Cavalli in a 1–1 draw.[110] Wigan Athletic's appeal against Hall's sending-off was unsuccessful, and he served a three-match ban.[111] After serving this suspension, Hall returned to the starting line-up against Charlton Athletic on 31 March 2007. He was at fault for conceding a penalty following a foul on Marcus Bent, which Darren Bent converted to score the only goal of the match.[112]

Hall started the next two matches before suffering a knee injury during a game against Aston Villa on 9 April 2007. He was substituted in the 52nd minute as the match ended 1–1.[113] After undergoing surgery, it was announced that he would be out for the rest of the 2006–07 season.[114] By the end of the season, Hall had made twenty-six appearances in all competitions. Reflecting on his season, the local newspaper Manchester Evening News commented: "Very poor and never looked like living up to his price tag. He never really got to grips with the job and missed far too many games."[115]

In the 2007–08 season, Hall's first-team opportunities were limited due to falling out with both Chris Hutchings and then-manager Steve Bruce.[116] As a result, he made only two appearances for the club.[117] Championship clubs were reported to be tracking him, and Hall eventually signed for Queens Park Rangers.[118]

Queens Park Rangers

[edit]

Hall was one of several players signed 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 the club paid an undisclosed fee.[119]

Hall made his debut for Queens Park Rangers, playing the full match in a 1–0 loss against Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup.[120] However, during a 3–1 loss against Cardiff City on 30 January 2008, he suffered a groin injury and was substituted in the 38th minute.[121]

After being sidelined for several weeks, Hall returned to the starting line-up against Sheffield United on 23 February 2008, playing the entire game in a 1–1 draw.[122] He then helped Queens Park Rangers keep three clean sheets in the next three matches between 26 February 2008 and 5 March 2008.[123] Following another groin injury that caused him to miss one match, Hall returned to the starting line-up against Blackpool on 11 March 2008 and played the full game, contributing to a 3–2 victory.[124]

Hall started the next six matches before suffering another injury, which led to his substitution in the 34th minute of a 1–0 win against Charlton Athletic on 19 April 2008.[125] By the end of the 2007–08 season, Hall had made fifteen appearances in all competitions.

Hall scored his first Queens Park Rangers goal in the opening game of the 2008–09 season against Barnsley, adding a second just two minutes later. He also had a penalty saved that would have given him a hat-trick, with Queens Park Rangers winning 2–1.[126] However, he suffered a groin injury that sidelined him for a month.[127]

Hall did not return to the first team until a match against Derby County on 27 September 2008, where he played the full game in a 2–0 loss.[128] He then helped the club keep three clean sheets in matches between 21 October 2008 and 28 October 2008.[129] Despite facing competition from centre-backs Kaspars Gorkšs and Damion Stewart, Hall remained involved in the first team, though he was occasionally placed on the substitute bench.[130]

In a match against Watford on 22 November 2008, Hall received a straight red card in the 81st minute for a foul on Will Hoskins, contributing to a 3–0 loss.[131] After serving a three-match suspension, he returned to the starting line-up as a late substitute in a 1–0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday on 9 December 2008.[132]

By the end of the 2008–09 season, Hall had made twenty-seven appearances and scored twice in all competitions.

At the start of the 2009–10 season, Hall started in the first five league matches, forming a centre-back partnership with Peter Ramage and Damion Stewart.[133] However, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for a month.[134] Hall did not return to the first team until 30 October 2009, when he came on as a 54th-minute substitute in a 2–1 loss against Leicester City.[135]

After his return, Hall found himself in and out of the starting line-up for the remainder of the first half of the season and also dealt with a back injury.[136] By the time he departed from the club, he had made fourteen appearances in all competitions.

After his loan spell at Newcastle United ended, Hall stayed at Queens Park Rangers for the 2010–11 season following discussions about his future at the club.[137] Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the new captain of Queens Park Rangers.[138] Hall made his first appearance since returning from Newcastle United in the opening game of the season against Barnsley, where he scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 win.[139]

However, he suffered a hamstring injury during a 3–0 win against Sheffield United on 14 August 2010 and was substituted in the 50th minute.[140] It was announced after the match that Hall would be sidelined for a month, but he returned in mid-October, only to be injured again by the end of the month.[141] Hall made his first-team return on 20 November 2010 against Preston North End, starting and playing 81 minutes in a 3–1 win.[142]

Following his return from injury, Hall continued to find himself in and out of the first team[143] and faced further injury problems for the rest of the 2010–11 season.[144] In a match against Watford on 30 April 2011, he started and played 23 minutes before being substituted due to injury, as the club won 2–0 to secure promotion to the Premier League.[145] By the end of the 2010–11 season, Hall had made twenty appearances and scored once in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Hall was informed by the club's management that he was no longer wanted in the first team.[146] Despite this, he remained at Queens Park Rangers and became a regular starter, rotating in a centre-back partnership with Danny Gabbidon, Anton Ferdinand, and Bruno Perone.[147]

In a match against rivals Fulham on 5 October 2011, he suffered a hamstring injury but played the full game as the club lost 6–0.[148] After the match, Hall apologised for both his own and the team's performance via his Twitter account.[149] He suffered another hamstring injury and was substituted in the 9th minute of a 3–1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur on 30 October 2011.[150] After being sidelined for a month, Hall returned to the first team as an 80th-minute substitute in a 3–2 loss against Sunderland on 21 December 2011.[151]

His return was short-lived, as he suffered a groin injury that kept him out for a week.[152] Hall returned to the starting line-up for a third-round FA Cup match against Milton Keynes Dons on 7 January 2012, playing the full game in a 1–1 draw.[153] However, after Neil Warnock was replaced as manager by Mark Hughes and the arrival of Nedum Onuoha, Hall fell down the pecking order.[154] At the end of the 2011–12 season, he was one of eight players released by the club.[155]

Newcastle United (loan)

[edit]

On 29 January 2010, Hall was signed on loan by Newcastle United for the remainder of the season.[156] The club had attempted to sign him earlier in the 2009–10 season, but the move did not materialize at that time.[157]

He made his debut for Newcastle United in a 5–1 win over Cardiff City at St James' Park, delivering a solid performance before being replaced by Tamás Kádár in the closing stages of the game.[158] After his debut, Hall found himself in and out of the first team due to competition in the defense.[159] During Newcastle United's 2–2 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate Stadium on 20 March 2010, Hall injured his hamstring while chasing Nicky Maynard and was substituted as a result.[160] After the game, manager Chris Hughton expressed concern, saying the injury "did not look too good."[161] Despite this assessment, Hall recovered in time to play in the match that confirmed Newcastle United as Football League Championship champions on 19 April 2010.[162] His contributions earned praise from Hughton, who said, "I am delighted with Fitz. When you go somewhere on loan, the one thing you want and need to do is play. He has been able to do that with us, but it has also been very frustrating for him to miss out. I felt for him when he was injured, but he has done very well for us when he has played."[163] However, his return was short-lived, and Hall did not play for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[164] By the end of the season, he had made seven appearances in all competitions.

Following Newcastle's promotion to the Premier League, Hall was eager to secure a permanent move, but the deal did not materialize, and he returned to his parent club.[165]

Watford

[edit]

In July 2012, Hall signed a one-year contract with Watford, joining the club along with seven other new signings.[166] Upon his arrival, he was assigned the number six shirt.[167]

Hall faced a setback when he wasn't featured in any of Watford's pre-season games due to a lack of fitness, which sidelined him for a month.[168] He finally made his debut for the club as a 69th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City on 22 September 2012.[169] He followed this up by scoring his first goal for Watford in a 3–2 win over Huddersfield Town.[170] Hall then started the next six matches, forming a center-back partnership with Neuton and Tommie Hoban.[171] However, his progress was interrupted by a hamstring injury that kept him out for several weeks.[172]

Hall returned from injury on 24 November 2012, starting in a 2–2 draw against Blackpool.[173] He continued in the starting lineup for the next six matches until he suffered another hamstring injury during a 3–1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on 29 December 2012, which sidelined him again.[174] Hall made his comeback as a 70th-minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Nottingham Forest on 26 January 2013[175] and started the following three matches before suffering yet another hamstring injury, sidelining him for a month.[176]

On 29 March 2013, Hall returned to the starting lineup in a 3–3 draw against Burnley.[177] However, his return was short-lived as he suffered another hamstring injury in the following match against Hull City, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season as Watford finished third in the league.[178] During the Championship play-offs, he made one appearance in the semi-final first leg against Leicester City, but Watford ultimately lost the play-off final against Crystal Palace.[179]

At the end of the 2012–13 season, Hall had made 22 appearances and scored one goal in all competitions. His future at Watford became uncertain as he had not been offered a new contract,[180] and by 1 July 2013, he became a free agent when his contract expired.[181]

On 22 November 2013, Hall rejoined Watford on a one-month deal after having trained with the club for several months.[182] He made one start and one substitute appearance before his contract expired. Despite this, he was allowed to continue training with Watford under new head coach Giuseppe Sannino.[183]

On 6 January 2014, Hall joined Watford for a third time after agreeing to a new short-term deal.[184] He made four more appearances for the club since rejoining earlier that month.[185] His contract was later extended until the end of the season.[186] However, Hall suffered an Achilles injury that sidelined him for a month.[187] Despite recovering and maintaining his fitness by early April, he remained on the sidelines for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[188] At the end of the season, Hall had made six appearances in all competitions.

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.[189]

Amateur football

[edit]

After leaving Watford, Hall signed with Sunday League side Percival, based in Waltham Abbey. Playing as a striker, Hall scored a hat-trick on his debut as Percival defeated Enfield Rangers 8–0 in their Premier Division fixture. He went on to score nine times in 14 league matches throughout the season.[190][191]

Outside football

[edit]

After retiring from professional football, Hall became a football consultant for the Base Soccer Agency.[192][193]

International career

[edit]

In April 2004, during his time at Southampton, Hall received an unexpected call-up to the Scotland national team through his grandmother.[194] However, Hall denied any discussions about a possible call-up, stating he had heard nothing from manager Berti Vogts.[195] Hall later said: "Every kid growing up wants to play for their country, but I'm not going to set myself any targets because I don't want to be left disappointed if that doesn't happen. At the moment, I am concentrating on getting myself established in a Premiership team. I spoke to Vogts when I was at Southampton, but I was born in England and I see myself as English. That's not snubbing Scotland, but I just want to focus on playing in the Premiership."[196]

Hall is also eligible to play for Barbados[197] and was called up to the Caribbean national team in 2011.[198] In 2015, he stated that he would like to play for Barbados and would return to professional football if called up.[199]

Personal life

[edit]

In October 2004, Hall became a father for the first time.[200] Throughout his career, he earned the nickname "One Size,"[201] which led him to launch a clothing line named after it.[202]

Growing up, he supported Arsenal.[203]

Career statistics

[edit]

Honours

[edit]

Newcastle United

Queens Park Rangers

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fitz Hall

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Fitz Benjamin Hall (born 20 December 1980) is an English former professional footballer and current football agent. Born in , , he played as a defender, mainly as a centre-back, for clubs including Oldham Athletic, , Crystal Palace, Wigan Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, and over a 14-year career in the Football League and . Hall retired from playing in July 2014 and now works as a registered with CAA Base.

Club career

Youth and early career

Fitz Hall was born on 20 December 1980 in , . Hall began his involvement in football at the renowned non-league youth club , where he developed his skills until 1997. He then joined the youth academy of United from 1997 to 2000, training alongside future professionals such as , , and . However, Hall was released by at a young age, facing early setbacks in his development that forced him to seek opportunities outside elite academies. Following his release, Hall joined Barnet's in 2000 but did not break into the first team, making no senior appearances during his time there. These challenges, including successive releases from professional setups, led him to continue playing in lower tiers, highlighting the precarious path many aspiring players navigate in . In 2001, at age 20, he moved to non-league side Chesham United under manager Bob Dowie, where he gained valuable experience with over 20 first-team appearances in the . Hall's performances at Chesham marked a turning point, leading to his first professional contract with Oldham Athletic in March 2002 at age 21.

Oldham Athletic

Fitz Hall joined Oldham Athletic from non-league side United in March 2002 for a fee of £20,000, marking his transition from part-time football to professional ranks after a promising stint at the club that laid the groundwork for his breakthrough. He made his professional debut for Oldham on 13 April 2002 in a 2–1 away defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in the Second Division, appearing as a substitute in what would be his only outing that season. In the 2002–03 season, Hall established himself as a key defender, making 40 league appearances and scoring 4 goals while contributing to Oldham's solid defensive record in the Second Division. His commanding presence at centre-back, including strong aerial duels and organizational skills, was instrumental in the team's campaign, helping them finish fifth and reach the playoff semi-finals. Hall's standout performances earned him a place in the for the Second Division in 2002–03, recognizing his rapid rise and impact as one of the league's top defenders. Following Oldham's financial difficulties, Hall transferred to club in July 2003 for a fee reported between £250,000 and £350,000.

Southampton

Fitz Hall joined from Athletic on 14 July 2003 for an initial transfer fee of £250,000, a move prompted by his strong performances in League One the previous season, where he had been named to the . Hall made his league debut for on 29 December 2003, starting as a centre-back in a 1–0 away defeat to . He went on to make 11 appearances in the 2003–04 season, starting seven matches and accumulating 750 minutes, primarily as a substitute in the latter part of the campaign. His opportunities were restricted by intense competition for defensive places, with established centre-backs and Michael Svensson forming the core of the backline; Hall was signed explicitly as cover, and an to Lundekvam provided some early openings, but he struggled to displace the first-choice pairing consistently. Southampton finished 12th that season after a tense battle to secure survival, but Hall's adaptation to the top flight proved challenging amid the squad's defensive rotations. On 12 August 2004, Hall transferred to for £1.5 million, just before the start of the 2004–05 season.

Crystal Palace

Fitz Hall joined from on 12 August 2004 for a transfer fee of £1.5 million, signing a four-year contract under manager . He made his debut for the club just two days later, on 14 August 2004, in a 1–1 draw away at Norwich City. During the 2004–05 season, Hall established himself as a key central defender in Palace's defense, featuring regularly as the team achieved a surprising sixth-place finish and qualified for the play-offs, though they lost the final to West Ham United. His prior exposure at had prepared him well for this consistent starting role. In the following 2005–06 campaign, after relegation, Hall remained a pivotal figure in the backline, helping Palace reach the play-off semi-finals, where they were defeated by . Over his two seasons at the club, Hall made 75 league appearances and scored 3 goals. In June 2006, Hall transferred to Athletic for an undisclosed fee, widely reported as £3 million, marking the end of his productive spell at where he had become a reliable leader in defense.

Wigan Athletic

Fitz Hall joined Athletic from Crystal Palace on 26 June 2006 for an undisclosed fee reported as £3 million, signing a four-year contract as the club's first summer signing ahead of the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for the club on 19 August 2006, starting in a 2–1 defeat away to Newcastle United. During his 18-month stint at , Hall made 25 appearances in the across the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, primarily as a centre-back. His time was heavily disrupted by recurring injuries, including a issue in April 2007 that sidelined him for key matches, as well as earlier setbacks like a problem. These fitness struggles, combined with challenges adapting to the pace of football, limited him to few starts and restricted his overall involvement, with only 1,865 minutes played in league competition. Hall's underwhelming form and persistent injury concerns led to his departure in January 2008, when he was sold to Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Queens Park Rangers

Fitz Hall joined Queens Park Rangers from Athletic on a permanent transfer in January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, marking his return to the after a challenging period at marred by recurring injuries that limited his playing time. Over the next four years, Hall established himself as a reliable defender, making 85 league appearances and scoring 3 goals for the club between 2008 and 2012. In January 2010, Hall departed on loan to Newcastle United until the end of the season, providing defensive cover for the promotion-chasing side. Upon his return, he was appointed QPR's club captain in July 2010, a role he took on ahead of the 2010–11 campaign under manager . Despite missing the first half of the 2010–11 season due to injury, Hall returned strongly and played a key defensive role in QPR's promotion push, featuring in 19 league matches and contributing to the team's title win that secured their return to the after 15 years. His leadership and experience in the backline were instrumental during the run-in, helping stabilize the defense as QPR clinched the top spot. Hall left the club on a free transfer to in July 2012.

Newcastle United (loan)

In January 2010, Fitz Hall joined Newcastle United on a loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the 2009–10 season, providing defensive cover amid the club's promotion campaign in the . He made his debut in a 5–1 home victory over Cardiff City on 5 February 2010, partnering with the defence in a match where Newcastle fielded several January signings and demonstrated attacking prowess. Hall featured in seven Championship matches for Newcastle, starting all of them and accumulating 573 minutes on the pitch, primarily as a centre-back. His performances were praised by manager , who noted that Hall had "done very well" when fit, despite frustration from an injury sustained in a 2–2 draw at Bristol City on 20 March 2010, which sidelined him for the latter part of the season. Hall integrated into the squad effectively, contributing to a solid defensive structure during key fixtures, including gritty showings that helped maintain clean sheets in important wins. Hall's loan stint played a role in Newcastle's successful promotion push, as the team clinched the title with 102 points on 24 April 2010. Following the season's conclusion, Hall returned to Queens Park Rangers, with Newcastle opting not to pursue a permanent deal.

Watford

Fitz Hall signed for on a one-year contract on 30 July 2012, joining as a following his release from Queens Park Rangers, where he had contributed to their promotion to the the previous season. During the 2012–13 season, he made 21 league appearances and scored one goal, primarily as a central defender, while also featuring in cup competitions for a total of 22 outings across all competitions. His performances provided defensive stability to the squad under manager , though finished 11th in the league. At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, Hall was not offered a new contract, leaving his future uncertain as he entered free agency. However, following a defensive injury crisis at in late 2013, he returned to train with the club and was awarded a one-month deal in November 2013 to provide experienced cover. This short-term arrangement was extended with another one-month contract in January 2014 under new Beppe Sannino, marking Hall's third stint with the club in under two years and allowing him to feature in five league matches that season. Despite these opportunities, his playing time remained limited amid competition from younger defenders and ongoing squad adjustments. Hall's time at Watford concluded with his release in the summer of 2014 after the short-term deals expired, having made 26 league appearances and scored one goal overall during his two-year association with the club.

International career

Eligibility and call-ups

Fitz Hall, born in , , was eligible to represent through his birthplace. He also qualified for via his grandmother's heritage and for due to his paternal lineage. In April 2004, while playing for , Hall received interest from national team manager , who sought to include him in the squad following notification of his eligibility. The approach stemmed from Hall's strong performances in the that season, where he had started five matches for despite limited opportunities due to injuries. However, administrative paperwork was required before any formal inclusion could occur. Hall ultimately declined the opportunity with , opting instead to focus on earning a place in the national team setup. This decision aligned with his ambition to represent his birth nation at the senior level. Despite the potential highlighted by the Scottish interest and his versatile eligibility, Hall never received a senior call-up or cap for any international side.

Interest in national representation

In 2011, while playing professionally for Queens Park Rangers, Hall was called up to the Barbados national team but did not make an appearance. In 2015, shortly after retiring from professional football, Fitz Hall voiced his desire to represent the national team, stating he would consider a return to the professional game if selected. This expression of interest highlighted his eligibility through family heritage. Despite this, Hall never appeared in a match for or any senior international side, accumulating zero caps throughout his playing days. At age 34, combined with the challenges of transitioning out of club football, these elements ultimately deterred any formal pursuit of the opportunity.

Post-playing career

Amateur football

Following his release from in the summer of 2014, Fitz Hall joined the Sunday League club Percival, based in Waltham, where he transitioned to playing as a striker. He also co-founded the communication Astar . Hall marked his debut with a . He continued to feature for Percival into 2016, including scoring from the penalty spot to extend his team's lead to 4-0 in a 5-1 win over Rovers on February 7. This period represented Hall's return to recreational football after a professional career hampered by injuries.

Football agency work

Following his retirement from professional football in 2014, Fitz Hall joined CAA Base Ltd (operating under the Base Soccer brand) as a registered intermediary, focusing on player representation and advisory services. In this role, he provides guidance to footballers at various career stages, leveraging his experience as a former centre-back to assist in contract negotiations, transfers, and career development. Hall's work emphasizes the identification and nurturing of emerging talent, drawing on his 14-year playing career across multiple English clubs. His extensive network from professional playing days, including stints at clubs like and , aided his seamless entry into the agency sector. As of November 2025, Hall has been involved in deals such as finalizing Alfie Devine's loan to Preston North End in August 2025 and negotiating Luca Williams-Barnett's first professional signing in October 2025. This phase of his career underscores a shift from on-field performance to off-field support within football's ecosystem.

Personal life

Family and early influences

Fitz Hall was born on 20 December 1980 in , . Growing up in this area, Hall developed a strong affinity for football from a young age, becoming a dedicated fan of during his childhood. Hall is the father of Tye Hall, a in Tottenham Hotspur's youth academy (as of 2025).

Other interests and ventures

Fitz Hall earned the "One Size" throughout his professional career, a playful on "" derived from his towering stature of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m). The moniker, chanted by fans at clubs including and Queens Park Rangers, highlighted his physical presence as a central defender and became a defining aspect of his on-pitch identity. Off the pitch, Hall displayed a charismatic and community-focused personality, notably through his goal celebrations and charitable initiatives. He popularized a distinctive "A" gesture after scoring, formed by using three fingers to spell out the letter, which supported A-Star—an organization he co-founded in the mid-2000s with former teammates Andy Johnson, Ken Bonsu, and Ronnie Wilson to combat youth violence in Britain by offering sports activities, mentoring, and opportunities for at-risk young . The celebration, adopted by players like and during Hall's time at around 2007, underscored his commitment to positive social impact beyond football. Hall's personal interests extended to lifelong fandom of Newcastle United, which he developed as a child in , , despite proximity to and Tottenham Hotspur; he idolized players like and even saved for Newcastle kit items despite financial constraints. This passion reflected a broader engaging and relatable off-field demeanor, often described in interviews as relaxed and dedicated to giving back to society.

Achievements and records

Career statistics

Fitz Hall's senior club career encompassed 295 appearances and 12 goals across English football's top tiers and domestic cups. As a central defender, his contributions were primarily in defensive solidity rather than goal-scoring, with most appearances coming in the and . He recorded no international caps. The following table provides a breakdown of his appearances and goals by club and major competition, highlighting his tenure at key clubs such as Queens Park Rangers, where he made the most appearances (95 in all competitions). Data excludes youth and reserve matches.
ClubCompetitionAppearancesGoals
Oldham AthleticSecond Division424
31
40
110
10
362
391
20
20
Wigan Athletic250
10
20
Queens Park Rangers713
140
40
30
Play-offs30
Newcastle United (loan)70
261
40
Total29512

Honours

Fitz Hall earned individual recognition early in his professional career when he was selected for the for League Two during the 2002–03 season while playing for Athletic, acknowledging his strong defensive performances that helped the team to a fourth-place finish. Later in his career, Hall contributed to successful promotion campaigns in the . On loan from Queens Park Rangers, he was part of the Newcastle United squad that won the 2009–10 title, securing automatic promotion to the . The following season, as a regular starter for QPR, Hall helped the team clinch the 2010–11 title under manager , again earning promotion; his leadership, including occasional captaincy duties, supported the defensive solidity that underpinned the victory.

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