*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Billy Hamilton
Appearances: 120 Goals: 20
Date / Year of birth: 24th June 1921
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1946/47
Season of last appearance: 1956/57
Also played for: Partick Thistle (Scotland) (0), St.Bernard's (Scotland) (0), Arsenal (0), Ramsgate Athletic, Canterbury City and Snowdown Colliery Welfare
5' 7" tall talented left-sided player born in Kingseat, Scotland who had two spells at Margate. Billy began his career in Scotland, playing for Partick Thistle and St.Bernard's, before representing Arsenal during the Second World War.
He then joined Ramsgate and spent the 1945/46 season at Southwood before moving to Margate for the 1946/47 season.
Billy made his debut in Margate's first game after World War II - a 1-1 draw at Gillingham Reserves on 31.8.46. His clever play and hard work made him one of the stars of the 1946/47 campaign and he was virtually ever-present. He made 37 appearances and scored ten times. Several of his goals were long-range efforts - something of a trademark for Billy. His tally included a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Betteshanger at Hartsdown Park on 29.3.47 - all from distance. Billy also displayed his versatility during the season by filling in at left-back and playing as a striker on occasions as Margate won the Kent League title.
At the start of the 1947/48 season he struggled to win a regular place in the side and Billy rarely had the chance to feature in his favoured midfield position. He mostly played on the left wing and struggled to show his true ability. Although Billy managed to score four times in ten outings he wasn't happy with his lot at Margate and in November 1947 he asked to be released. Billy's request was granted and he soon joined Canterbury.
Within weeks he was playing for City against Margate and on 26.12.47 he had a penalty saved by Doug Read as his new side went down 2-1 at home. Billy stayed with Canterbury for the 1948/49 season too and was club captain.
After a spell at Snowdown Billy returned to Hartsdown Park in January 1951 and made 18 appearances for Margate, scoring once, before the end of the 1950/51 campaign.
He continued to be a regular during the 1951/52 season and made 35 appearances, scoring two goals.
The 1952/53 campaign saw Billy in and out of the side but he added a further 14 appearances to his tally and scored twice. One of his goals was a bizarre 40 yard effort in a game against Canterbury. The other came in a 1-1 draw against Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 9.5.53 and it earned Margate a share of the Kent Senior Shield.
Billy played almost exclusively for the reserves during the 1953/54 season and only made one first team appearance, featuring as Margate beat Canterbury 5-0 at Hartsdown Park on 6.5.54 to win the Kent League Cup.
During 1954/55 he made two senior appearances and was a fixture in the reserves once again.
Billy continued to be a mainstay of the reserves during the 1955/56 season and he made just one first team appearance. That was in an FA Cup tie at Epsom on 22.10.55 and Billy scored with a 25 yard shot to show that he hadn't lost his touch.
Billy also made two first team appearances during the 1956/57 campaign, the first of them as a left-back in a 1-1 draw at Ashford on 30.3.57. He was also captain of the reserves and his experience helped them win the Kent League Division 2 and two cups.
After Vic Pilcher emigrated to South Africa in December 1957 Billy took over as reserve team player-manager although he only made a handful of appearances during the 1957/58 season and none for the first team.
Having retired from playing he continued to manage the reserves during the 1958/59 season and was still in charge of them in the 1960/61 campaign. Billy was still working at the club during 1962/63.
In August 1973 the 'Club Notes' section of Margate's programme reported that Billy was suffering with ill health and had been unable to work for two years. A collection was made for him and the total raised, including a donation from the Supporters Club, was £25.
Billy died in Thanet in the summer of 1980 aged 59.
His father played for Partick Thistle and an uncle of Billy's had a lengthy spell with Brentford.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1946/47 (MFC) |
37 (38) |
N/A |
10 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 16) |
PR |
2R |
N/A |
SF |
|
Margate
won Kent League title. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1947/48 (MFC) |
10 (47) |
N/A |
4 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 18) |
1QR |
1R |
W |
W |
|
Margate
won Kent League title. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1950/51 (MFC) |
18 (41) |
N/A |
1 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (6TH OF 17) |
EPR |
1R |
2R |
RU |
|
Played in Kent
Senior Shield Final (12.05.51 - lost 2-0 to Folkestone Town). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1951/52 (MFC) |
35 (38) |
N/A |
2 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (4TH OF 17) |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
N/A |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1952/53 (MFC) |
14 (43) |
N/A |
2 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (11TH OF 17) |
PR |
2R |
RU |
JW |
|
Played and
scored in Kent Senior Shield Final (09.05.53 - drew 1-1 with
Folkestone to share trophy). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1953/54 (MFC) |
1 (40) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 16) |
2QR |
1R |
W |
1R |
|
Played in Kent
League Cup Final replay (06.05.54 - beat Canterbury City 5-0). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1954/55 (MFC) |
2 (46) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 17) |
2QR |
2R |
RU |
RU |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1955/56 (MFC) |
1 (45) |
N/A |
1 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 17) |
1R |
1R |
RU |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1956/57 (MFC) |
2 (47) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (8TH OF 17) |
2R |
1R |
SF |
SF |
|