Ian Hamilton (footballer, born 1950) explained

Ian Hamilton
Full Name:Ian Michael Hamilton
Birth Date:31 October 1950
Birth Place:Streatham, London, England
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Chelsea
Years1:1966–1968
Clubs1:Chelsea
Caps1:5
Goals1:2
Years2:1968–1969
Clubs2:Southend United
Caps2:36
Goals2:11
Years3:1969–1976
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:208
Goals3:40
Years4:1976–1978
Clubs4:Sheffield United
Caps4:60
Goals4:13
Years5:1978–1981
Clubs5:Minnesota Kicks
Caps5:101
Goals5:22
Years6:1979–1981
Clubs6:Minnesota Kicks (indoor)
Caps6:25
Goals6:19
Years7:1982
Clubs7:San Jose Earthquakes
Caps7:18
Goals7:1
Totalcaps:453
Totalgoals:108

Ian Michael Hamilton (31 October 1950 – May 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing for Chelsea, Southend United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United,[1] and more than 100 in the North American Soccer League for the Minnesota Kicks and the San Jose Earthquakes.[2] He was nicknamed "Chico" after the jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.

Career

Hamilton joined Chelsea as a junior and became the Stamford Bridge club's youngest ever player and goalscorer at 16 years, 138 days when he scored against Tottenham Hotspur on his debut,[3] on 18 March 1967, a feat which earned comparisons with another famous Chelsea striker who also scored on his debut against Spurs – Jimmy Greaves.[4] Thereafter he played only four more first-team games for Chelsea, spending the 1968–69 season with Southend United before moving to Aston Villa in 1968.[1]

At Villa he carved out a long career as a midfielder, helping the club win the Third Division title in 1972, and playing in two League Cup finals – they lost in 1971 and won in 1975.[5] After two seasons with Sheffield United, Hamilton became one of many British footballers who ended their careers in the North American Soccer League, where he played for Minnesota Kicks and San Jose Earthquakes.[2]

After he finished his professional career, he spent 17 years as boys' soccer coach at Thomas Worthington High School, in Worthington, Ohio,[6] [7] returning after a seven-year gap to coach girls' soccer.[8]

Death

Hamilton died in May 2024, at the age of 73.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chico Hamilton . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 8 October 2009.
  2. Web site: Ian "Chico" Hamilton . NASL Jerseys . Dave Morrison . 9 October 2009.
  3. Stupidity . 30 July 2019 . Andy Hamilton Sort of Remembers . Andy . Hamilton . . Andy Hamilton . 21 August 2019 . 2 . 2 . 10:08 . Radio.
  4. News: Master And Pupil Find Scoring Touch . The Times . 20 March 1967 . 9.
  5. Web site: England – League Cup Finals 1961–2001 . 25 February 2001 . Didier . Fort . . 9 October 2009.
  6. News: Worthington Halts Walsh's Bid To Repeat As State Champ . Cleveland Plain Dealer . . reprint . 10 November 1991 . Mike . Peticca . 9 October 2009.
  7. News: Warriors End Worthington's 43-Game Streak – Boys Soccer . The Columbus Dispatch . . reprint . 7 November 1999 . Packy . Moran . 9 October 2009.
  8. News: Thomas girls have veteran midfield . ThisWeek Community Newspapers . Paul . Batterson . 24 August 2006 . 9 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164656/http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=thisweeknews%2F082406%2FWorthington%2FSports%2F082406-Sports-213255.html . 18 July 2011.
  9. News: Ex-Chelsea, Aston Villa and Sheff Utd player Ian 'Chico' Hamilton dies . 20 May 2024 . BBC Sport . 20 May 2024.