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

Club career

At club level, Hamilton played for Linfield, QPR, Burnley, Oxford United,[2] Limerick,[3] Sligo Rovers,[citation needed] Coleraine[citation needed] and Distillery.[citation needed]

Hamilton moved to the League of Ireland in January 1987, joining Limerick City as player-manager. At the time, the club were competing in the league's Premier Division.[4][5] Hamilton managed the side to consecutive ninth-place finishes in the top tier before Limerick finished third in the 1988–89 season, with Hamilton scoring 21 league goals and finishing as the league's top scorer.[6][7][8] He also won the Munster Senior Cup with Limerick in 1988.[5] Hamilton resigned his position as player-manager in September 1989.[4]

He joined Distillery as Player/Manager in December 1989.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

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.[9] He played in every game and scored two goals in the second-round game against Austria,[10] and also played at the 1986 World Cup.[11] He also twice won the Home Internationals in 1980 and 1984, scoring the winner against Scotland in the 1980 competition. Northern Ireland never lost when Hamilton scored.[citation needed] In total, Hamilton played 41 games for his country, scoring five goals.[citation needed]

Management and coaching

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

Personal life

After retiring to Bangor, County Down, Hamilton opened a sports trophy business.[12]

Hamilton designed a board game,[13] Billy Hamilton's Football Academy, which was released in 1985. He is married to Isabella.

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. ↑ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ↑ Marshall, Tyrone (18 November 2014). "Billy Hamilton: Clarets move saved me from my Loftus Road hell". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Big Sam can complete unique Limerick 'hat-trick'". Limerick Post. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Billy Hamilton | Limerick City". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Club Peile Luimnigh — Football Heritage". Football Heritage. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Ireland - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Limerick - Club Information". www.leagueofireland.ie. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
  9. ↑ Billy Hamilton Statistics Archived 5 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine FIFA; Retrieved 25 January 2010
  10. ↑ "1982 World Cup: Billy Hamilton scores for Northern Ireland against Austria". BBC. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Beacom, Steven (5 June 2014). "Billy Hamilton: When Northern Ireland hit the World Cup big time". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Your Place And Mine - Topics - Sport - Only Two Billy Hamiltons ?". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Billy Hamilton's Football Academy. Board Game Geek; Retrieved 25 January 2010

Further reading

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Hamilton_(footballer)