Quick Facts
Biography
Alexander "Alex" William Hamilton (1936–1990) was a Scottish footballer who played for Dundee and the Scotland national team.
Hamilton, a right back, was signed for Dundee by manager Willie Thornton and made his league debut in a 7–1 win over Airdrieonians in 1957. He remained with Dundee for ten years, winning the League title in season 1961-62 and reaching the Scottish Cup final in 1963-64.
During his time at Dens Park, Hamilton won 24 caps for the Scotland national team. He made his international debut in a 2-1 win over Wales in November 1961. In his 24 appearances for Scotland, Hamilton finished on the winning side on 13 occasions. His final appearance for Scotland was in a 2-1 defeat to Poland in October 1965. Hamilton also represented the Scottish League XI.
Hamilton was also a noted singer and was the frontman of a band comprising several of his Dundee teammates, including future Scotland manager Craig Brown. "Hammy and the Hamsters" success was restricted to the local Dundee area however and they only released one record.
Hamilton left Dundee in 1967 to join Durban United in the South African soccer league. When Durban Spurs merged with Durban United to become Durban Spurs United, Alex Hamilton - together with a number of other players that were surplus to the merged entity's requirements - joined the then newly promoted East London Celtic.
He played with distinction for East London Celtic which later became East London United. Always colourful and controversial, one of his more memorable games was when East London Celtic thrashed Cape Town City 6-3. During the game, with Cape Town City players back-pedalling furiously, Alex Hamilton - with the ball at his feet - decided to show his disdain for the opposition by sitting down on the ball ! He later apologised of this actions.
He later managed junior side Dundee Violet before returning to South Africa briefly during which time he managed East London United.
He returned to Dundee in 1988 and was back at Dens Park for a spell running the club's lottery.
Alex died at his home in Broughty Ferry in 1990 aged 54.