Sonny Hilton was a standout footballer in his age groups growing up. He often played two or three years above his age, impressing coaches with his astute dribbling and footballing intelligence. Tranmere Rovers soon took notice, acquiring his signature at just five years old. "I got offered a contract as a kid at a certain age at Tranmere," remembers Hilton, from Dovecot, a district of Liverpool. "An agent said he didn’t think I should do it. I played against
Manchester City, , and
Manchester United as a kid. I was at that age, about 14, when I could leave.” Hilton soon had some of the country’s biggest
Football clubs clamouring for his signature. Everton,
Liverpool and Man United all enquired, but it was Fulham who made their feelings most clearly known, inviting him to
London for a trial. "So, I got a call about going on trial at Fulham," remembers Hilton, now 23. "It was one of the ones where you hope for progression and go further. So, I went on trial, and three days later, they signed me. "I remember, on my trial (other players) bigging me up. I’d never seen that before, in London it was a different way of life from Liverpool to London. I got to see both. "I could play anywhere; I was a No. 10 or a winger then changed the role into an eight, six or a four." At the tender age of 14, the Liverpudlian packed his bags and headed for the capital. Most would be intimidated by the thought of living in London, especially at such a young age . However, Hilton looked forward to the challenge ahead. "I moved into digs, but it was okay for me because my mum is from London, I had family there," he said. "The annoying thing was they lived too far out for me to live with them. I even went to school in London. It was probably the same as Manchester to Liverpool. "I moved into digs; they had an older son who was a similar age to my brother. I ended up moving to a different family; they also had a son who played for Notts County as a goalkeeper. They looked after me, making sure I ate well. "I see Liverpool as a fishbowl; you can go into the city centre and see the same people all the time. I loved it, but I also loved being away. I lived away for eight or nine years. "London is so different, it is so big. There are that many people where you might not see your mates again." The midfielder moved to Fulham with the promise of a professional contract after he had completed his scholarship. During this period, money started to arrive, but for Hilton, this was never the motivation. He praised his parents for keeping him grounded when he saw his peers fall into the traps of big spending. "When I was a scholar, that’s when I started getting paid," said Hilton. "You are all on the same baseline pay. So first-year scholars are on X amount, then the second year are on Y. After that are the professionals. "You’d walk past their dressing room and think, ‘they’ve got a care, look at their gear’. Then you’d go into our dressing room and think, ‘we are getting there’. "Certain players you see will go and buy a watch. They go and buy a car that they can’t afford. Then you have others who have saved. I know lads that have bought things and others are savers. I was in the middle.” Many young footballers have been accused of living a lie, with
Social Media such a big part of their marketability and brand. But Hilton explained how both criticism and praise were fired at him on such platforms. Unavoidable in some ways, the youngster could not help but read the online opinions. "Social media has a massive effect on players. I remember I used to type my name in on just to see what people were saying about me," he said. "Some people take it like, ‘I can relax now’, if they appear on different pages. Some people want more and more. "I know lads who have gone both ways; some people sat there on £5,000, and they are happy even if they don’t play. Others are on less money, thinking, ‘I want to play’. Some stay, and some move on - that’s the risk you take." Many would be forgiven for thinking a young man, playing football, and earning thousands of pounds per week would have nothing to complain about. But, behind the scenes, they do miss out on pivotal moments in life. Hilton spent his school leavers' party travelling on a train from London to Liverpool while his
Friends enjoyed themselves. "There were times when I hated football, but I think everyone goes through that phase," he said. "There was a party - I was in London. I remember I played a game for the Under-18s, and then I was going to my mate's party. Then I got a call telling me I was playing for the Under-21s on Monday - I couldn’t go to the party. "Some people think they miss out, others will be like, ‘get in, I’m playing for the Under-21s’. I’m gutted I didn’t get to grow up alongside my brother. I missed certain things in his life; we didn’t get to spend Monday to Sunday with him. You look back and think, ‘I’m gutted about this’. "You can have it all, and then it just goes. If I didn’t have so much, then, there is nothing to complain about." Due to a mixture of injuries and lack of opportunity, Hilton sought first-team football at the Finnish side TPS Turku in the summer of 2021. He recalled a trip to the Arctic Circle by the unusual transportation method of a sleeper train. He said: "Finland was surprisingly roasting; they had this heatwave out of nowhere. I was on a 90-day work visa. I loved it. Our break is their season. It was just to keep fit. It was the second division. I played right-back and right-wing-back. We went on a sleeper train to an away game. We went up to Lapland, a place called Rovaniemi. We played the game, won 1-0, then got back on the sleeper train. "It was competitive, different from Under-21s; winning means everything. Some had jobs, and others lived off what they had." Despite enjoying the period abroad, Hilton was granted a 90-day working visa, meaning he had to return to Fulham after just 11 games. During the 2021-22 season, he started to impress. He was a young professional now, already an
England youth international, looking to step up to the Cottagers' first team. Nine goals and 13 assists secured him the Johnny Haynes Trophy given to the best young player at the club at academy level between Under-16s and Under-23s. He also narrowly missed out on the 2 Player of the Year prize, beaten by Manchester City's James McAtee, who is currently playing in the
Premier League on loan at Sheffield United. Hilton went into the following year with a point to prove, on the cusp of first-team action under Marco Silva, the former Everton boss. For one game, he was involved in the weekly preparations, destined for at least a place in the squad. However, he was told he was needed for the Under-21s. "He used to say, ‘solutions’," said Hilton of Silva. "A solution would be going down the channel or going inside. We did and didn’t mirror the first team. We had two ways of playing, it was good and bad. "I’d go up and down. If they needed me, I’d go up. I was up and down (between first team and Under-21s)." During his time at Craven Cottage, Hilton rubbed shoulders with Liverpool stars and , who both made the move from Fulham to the Reds. ‘"I’ve played with Harvey (Elliott) and Fabio (Carvalho)," said Hilton. "You can see the difference in standards. Some will have days off, and others are on it every day. Harvey was good; we went to school together, and we always had a laugh." After the season of success, Hilton had a decision to make. Sign a new contract or look elsewhere. He decided on the latter. He said: "We agreed I was going to move. I could’ve done it early. I was 21, 22. I wanted to progress. You can get trapped (in youth football). You can use it as a stepping stone or a step, then stop. I know lads who have stopped playing football at that level and can’t get any further. “It was a mutual agreement. I got injured and couldn’t make the transfer window. I had everything, and then I had nothing. I moved back home. I had a couple of trials. I went to Barnet. They said no. I went to Kings Lynn, and the manager said I wasn’t his type of player. I went to Darlington, but we wanted to wait for something else. My agent wanted to hold out, but I would’ve taken it.” Hilton remains optimistic about his football career. He currently plays for FC, who are pushing for promotion from "I played for England from Under-16s to Under-19s," Hilton said. "’I've done what people who are playing the game now haven’t done. I look back and think, ‘wow’. "I know I can get back to the top, but I need someone to take a gamble on me.”