Billy Hamilton (footballer)

For other people named William Hamilton, see William Hamilton (disambiguation).
Billy Hamilton
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Robert Hamilton
Date of birth(1957-05-09) 9 May 1957 (age 57)
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionForward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1975–1978Linfield66(25)
1978–1979Queens Park Rangers12(2)
1979–1984Burnley200(58)
1984–1987Oxford United92(25)
1987–1989Limerick29(4)
1989Coleraine1(0)
1989Sligo Rovers18(4)
1989–1992Distillery50(28)
National team
1979–1989Northern Ireland41(5)
Teams managed
1987–1989Limerick
1989–1995Distillery
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

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

At club level, Billy played for Linfield, QPR, Burnley, Oxford United, Limerick, Sligo Rovers, Coleraine and Distillery. Billy 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.[1] He played in every game and subsequently scored two goals himself in the second round game against Austria, and also played at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He also twice won the British Home Championship in 1980 and 1984, scoring the winning goal against Scotland. Northern Ireland never lost when Billy scored. In total, Billy played 41 games, scoring 5 goals, for his country.

He is also remembered fondly by Distillery fans. He was a sensational signing by the club as Player/Manager in December 1989, after leaving Limerick City of the League of Ireland, having managed them to a third place finish in the previous 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. Knee injuries forced him to end his playing career in February 1992, but he continued to manage the team up until February 1995. He guided the club to the Gold Cup victory in the 1993/94 season.

Hamilton has the distinction of designing a board game,[2] Billy Hamilton's Football Academy, which was released in 1985.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
116 May 1980Belfast, Northern IrelandScotland1–01–01980 British Home Championship
225 March 1981Glasgow, ScotlandScotland1–11–11982 FIFA World Cup qualification
31 July 1982Madrid, SpainAustria1–02–21982 FIFA World Cup
41 July 1982Madrid, SpainAustria2–22–21982 FIFA World Cup
521 September 1983Belfast, Northern IrelandAustria1–03–1UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying

References

  1. Jump up ^ Billy Hamilton Statistics FIFA. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. Jump up ^ Billy Hamilton's Football Academy. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  • Hugman, Barry (2005). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. 
1983–84 Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year
  • GK: David Felgate
  • DF: Gordon Nisbet
  • DF: Steve Bruce
  • DF: Malcolm Shotton
  • DF: Bobby McDonald
  • MF: Trevor Hebberd
  • MF: Kevin Brock
  • MF: Brian Flynn
  • FW: Keith Edwards
  • FW: Billy Hamilton
  • FW: Colin Morris
1984–85 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year
  • GK: Terry Gennoe
  • DF: Paul Parker
  • DF: Mick McCarthy
  • DF: Billy Gilbert
  • DF: Bobby McDonald
  • MF: Neil Webb
  • MF: Clive Wilson
  • MF: Danny Wilson
  • FW: John Aldridge
  • FW: Billy Hamilton
  • FW: Paul Wilkinson


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