Alex Hamilton

Image is detail of the original and used by kind permission of DC Thomson & Co Ltd.

Hamilton started his illustrious career at Westrigg Bluebell, where he played at outside-right. In February, 1957, Hamilton started to catch the eye of the scouts of both the seniors and juniors. His father was reputedly quoted as saying that “his boy wouldn’t sign any forms, until Bluebell quit the Scottish Juvenile Cup. After that it may be Tynecastle for him. That’s where he would like to go, and Hearts are among the interested clubs.”

However by March Dundee F.C.’s manager, Willie Thornton, himself a West Lothian man, tempted the young Alex to Dens. On 31st August 1957 in the League Cup Hamilton, fittingly, made his debut against Hearts. 

It took a while until he became a regular name on the team sheet, as his position was already taken by Hugh Reid, but when Hugh became injured Alex took full advantage, and never really looked back. 

In 1959, Dundee finished fourth in the league. Willie Thornton had organised a tour of America during May and June, playing a mixture of home-grown teams, and senior European clubs (West Bromwich Albion & Legia Warsaw). The tour was an opportunity for this future Dundee legend to mix with a former one when Billy Steel, by now resident in the USA, met up with the team at their hotel after one match in San Francisco. It was on this tour that Alex adopted his trademark crew-cut hairstyle.

The next few years saw Hammy’s career go from strength to strength. 

He got the opportunity to represent Scotland in a Scottish League v Italian League side at Hampden in November, 1961. The honours kept coming as Hamilton went on to represent Scotland thirty-three times, at all levels, including twenty four full Scotland caps. He was described as “the international find of the season” by the Daily Record in 1961, and he loved to wind-up Bobby Cox on his lack of international caps by remarking “here comes the Hammy magic.” He played against England seven times, and was never on the losing side. He told the story to Jim Benvie, that during a match at Hampden, a Scotland player shouted to Sir Alf Ramsay “if you’re looking for Bobby Charlton, you’d best check in our hamper as he might still be in Hammy’s back pocket.” Alex holds the club record, as the most capped player.

Winning the Scottish League in 1961/62, in which he was an ever-present member of the squad, was most assuredly the high point. The following season he repeated that statistic, by becoming an ever-present member of the squad that reached the semi-final of the European Cup, beating the cream of Europe’s teams on the way, finally losing to A.C. Milan.

By now Hammy’s status as a Dundee legend was secured. He was loved, and admired, by supporters and team mates alike. Bobby Wishart referred to him as “a livewire, a joker and a trickster.” His outgoing extrovert nature made him stand out wherever he went. In 1964, along with fellow teammates Craig Brown, Kenny Cameron, Andy Penman, Alex Stuart, and Hugh Robertson, he formed Hammy and the Hamsters, they performed locally on stage, and even recorded a single “My Dream Come True”. He was visible driving around town in his white Jaguar, but always had time to stop and chat to fans.

By 1967, having made 359 appearances, and scoring one goal (against Falkirk, December 1964), it was time to move on. Alex signed for Durban United in South Africa, later joining East London Celtic as a player, going on to manage them for a short period, by which time they had changed their name to East London United. Latterly he also had employment as a car salesman.

As his sporting career reached its conclusion, in the late 1980’s, Hammy came back to Dundee, settling in the Broughty Ferry. For a while he was manager of junior club Dundee Violet, but managing wasn’t his vocation. He was much more a “people person”. So by the early 1990’s he was back at Dens Park hosting the Executive Club (now known as the Penman Lounge) on match days, along with Bobby Cox. They were quite the double-act, making sure the supporters were looked after, sharing stories, enjoying the “banter”. He also had a full-time position with the club as manager of the Super Ten Lottery. He had gone full-circle, and was now back in his natural home.

In 1987 the McManus Museum unveiled an exhibition entitled “Here We Go – A Tribute to Dundee F.C. and Dundee United”, which featured memorabilia from both teams. Hammy loaned his Scotland top, and blazer badge. Andy Penman loaned his championship medal. You won’t now get a chance to see Alex’s medal, as having three daughters who weren’t interested in football, he had the medal melted down and re-made into rings for them.

Alex Hamilton died, still a young man, in the early ‘90s. He will forever be remembered at Dens Park as one of the “greats”. He has a lounge named after him, and in 2010 was inducted to the Dundee F.C. Hall of Fame. But surely one of the biggest compliments he could receive came from his former teammate Ian Ure, who said he was “a player who oozed talent and flair and was as lively a character as you’ll ever meet”.