Billy Hamilton (footballer)

William Robert Hamilton (born 9 May 1957 in Gilnahirk, County Down) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played as a forward.

Billy Hamilton
Personal information
Full name William Robert Hamilton
Date of birth (1957-05-09) 9 May 1957
Place of birth Gilnahirk, County Down, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Linfield 66 (25)
1978–1979 Queens Park Rangers 12 (2)
1979–1984 Burnley 200 (58)
1984–1987 Oxford United 92 (25)
1987–1989 Limerick 29 (4)
1989 Coleraine 1 (0)
1989 Sligo Rovers 18 (4)
1989–1992 Distillery 50 (28)
Total 468 (146)
National team
1979–1989 Northern Ireland 41 (5)
Teams managed
1987–1989 Limerick
1989–1995 Distillery
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

At club level, Hamilton played for Linfield, QPR, Burnley, Oxford United,[1] Limerick,[2] Sligo Rovers, Coleraine and Distillery.

He joined Distillery as Player/Manager in December 1989, after leaving Limerick City of the League of Ireland Premier Division, having managed them to a third-place finish in the 1988–89 season. He made his playing debut for the Whites on 22 March 1990 and in his three seasons made 72 appearances and scored 33 goals including one hat-trick.

International career

Hamilton is best remembered by Northern Ireland fans as the man who crossed the ball for Gerry Armstrong to score for Northern Ireland in their famous win against the hosts Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.[3] He played in every game and scored two goals in the second-round game against Austria,[4] and also played at the 1986 World Cup.[5] He also twice won the Home Internationals in 1980 and 1984, scoring the winning goal against Scotland. Northern Ireland never lost when Hamilton scored. In total, Hamilton played 41 games for his country, scoring five goals.

Management and coaching

Knee injuries forced Hamilton to end his playing career in February 1992, but he continued to manage Distillery until February 1995. He guided the club to the Gold Cup victory in the 1993/94 season.

Personal life

Hamilton has the distinction of designing a board game,[6] Billy Hamilton's Football Academy, which was released in 1985.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
116 May 1980Belfast, Northern Ireland Scotland1–01–01980 Home Internationals
225 March 1981Glasgow, Scotland Scotland1–11–11982 FIFA World Cup qualification
31 July 1982Madrid, Spain Austria1–02–21982 FIFA World Cup
41 July 1982Madrid, Spain Austria2–22–21982 FIFA World Cup
521 September 1983Belfast, Northern Ireland Austria1–03–1UEFA Euro 1984 qualification

References
  1. Marshall, Tyrone (18 November 2014). "Billy Hamilton: Clarets move saved me from my Loftus Road hell". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. "Big Sam can complete unique Limerick 'hat-trick'". Limerick Post. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. Billy Hamilton Statistics FIFA; Retrieved 25 January 2010
  4. "1982 World Cup: Billy Hamilton scores for Northern Ireland against Austria". BBC. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. Beacom, Steven (5 June 2014). "Billy Hamilton: When Northern Ireland hit the World Cup big time". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. Billy Hamilton's Football Academy. Board Game Geek; Retrieved 25 January 2010

Further reading
  • Hugman, Barry (2005). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press.
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