Ian Michael "Chico" Hamilton

30/10/2020

On This Day 31 October 1950 Ian Michael "Chico" Hamilton was born.

A midfield footballer who played for Chelsea, Southend United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United before playing in the North American Soccer League
Hamilton was born in Streatham

11 Comments

Ewen

5/3/2021 05:42:50 am

Ian Hamilton (never to the best of my knowledge was he known as "Michael") lived in Glenister Park Road Streatham. He attended Woodmansterne Primary School before moving onto Spencer Park Secondary School. At Woodmansterne, he played for the school's football team and even them showed class way above those around him on the pitch. He teamed up front with a Neil Plimpstone (?) and between them they bagged all the goals. It was not unusual for Woodmansterne to score 10 goals in a game with Hamilton scoring most of them. My Dad used to take me to watch the school team play on the cinder pitches (where anyone who played there left half their leg behind) at Tooting Bec Common, near (from memory) Garrad's Road.

The nickname "Chico" was picked up when he joined Chelsea FC as a junior. 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 at White Hart Lane on his debut, on 18 March 1967, a feat which earned comparisons with another famous Chelsea striker who also scored on his debut against Spurs – Jimmy Greaves. Thereafter he played only four more first-team games for Chelsea, spending the 1968–69 season with Southend United before moving to Aston Villa.
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. 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.
After he finished his professional career, he spent 17 years as boys' soccer coach at Thomas Worthington High School, in Worthington, Ohio, returning after a seven-year gap to coach girls' soccer.

Ewen

5/3/2021 05:46:18 am

Forgot to mention the smaller B & W picture. This is taken on a small piece of grassed land that is at the junction of Glenister Park Road and Sherwood Avenue. Probably 100 or so yards from where Hamilton lived.

Mark Bery

5/3/2021 08:01:11 am

Thanks lots of great comments on our page from you. My mistake on name now corrected. There is someone on our FB who is still in touch with him

Chris young

11/3/2021 01:41:01 am

I knew Ian, I lived in Runnymede Crescent. Ian and I would bunk off school and play one against one football, in Streatham Vale Park, Taffy the park keeper would keep an eye on us.
When Ian joined Chelsea, I remember us being on the train together, he wasn’t to pleased as it was stand cleaning day.

I remember Aston Villa playing at Selhurst Park in a cup game, Andy Grey scored a fantastic goal that evening, Ian scored a tap in. He knew where I would stand and looked for my.
My mother called him cheeky
Wherever you are Ian stay safe.
Regards from Chris and Bob Young

Alan Bennett

24/5/2022 11:47:40 am

Hi Chris, I read your memories on Ian with interest. I was wondering whether you and Bob remember me - Alan Bennett. I recall happy days playing snooker in your front room. I have lived in Bristol since 1976 and am now retired. We have 3 children and 6 grandchildren who all also live in Bristol. Trust all is well with you and Bob. Regards Alan Bennett

Mark Bery

11/3/2021 06:48:10 am

Chris and Bob- many thanks for those comments. There is someone on the Society FB page who is still in touch with Ian- if I remember correctly he lives in Spain

Marina T. link

18/4/2021 11:32:36 pm

He is a cool football player!

Sean Barron

22/8/2021 09:47:53 am

Played against Chico when playing for Bexley united(youth) in the south east counties league(under 18). The team is now known as Welling united
He played centre forward and I played centre half
Glad to know he went on to make a good career of it.
Bexley united youth v Chelsea youth

Chris Young

27/1/2022 06:56:05 am

Further to my comments last year,
I found one of my fathers newspaper pictures showing my Woodmansterne Road Primary School football team. I was two years older than Ian Hamilton so he wasn’t in the same school team. The names of boys in the picture are as follows: D Deacon, P Ventham, A Joplin, M Latimer, K Sawldon, C Still, P Shave, K Bunker, M Theobald (captain) and me in the corner, Chris Young. The
We would play a lot of our school football on the cinder pitches at Tooting Bec. We would muck about at the top of Glenister Road. Where Ian lived, a short road That went under the railway bridge. Glencairn road, great for kicking the ball against the wall.
Pop Ian went on to better things when Chelsea took him on as an apprentice.
I spent a lot of my time middle distance running round Tooting Bec.
My father, William Young was a Centurion road walker, he was chair of the Surrey Athletics Club road walking association based at the Tooting Bec Track.
On a last point, Ian’s mother was a famous cyclist, the family had a cycle shop on the A23 right opposite streatham common. During the Second World War She spent a lot time with her bike risking her life behind enemy lines. There should have been a statue of her in Streatham Vale or on the common. Maybe there is!
Chris Young, back from Sidmouth, now living in Yapton, near Arundel
To every One keep safe during this awful pandemic

Mark Bery

27/1/2022 03:52:09 pm

Chris fascinating - thank you
Would be good if you could write something about your memories for our members' newsletter. Please email me streathamsoc@gmail.com if you can do this- no pressure. I never made the connection to Evelyn Hamilton the cyclist. Is that his mother?

Chris Young

24/5/2022 06:56:41 pm

Alan Bennett
Please email me with your contact email address to:
Oldyoung@hotmail.co.uk.
Regards

Ian Michael "Chico" Hamilton

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