The Thistle Archive

The old 11 cup winners' medals rule was always rather mean and unforgiving, and the case of Willie Hamilton only serves to strengthen that viewpoint. “Hammy” gave more than 10 years of excellent service to the Thistle cause, and Glasgow became his home from home. The likeable Fifer, quiet and genial off the park, was a whole-hearted competitor on it, excelling in the breaking up of play and leading by example. As a testament to his worth and popularity, there was a fine turnout of 8,000 for his benefit in the spring of 1920, as Jags defeated a first class Newcastle team by 3 goals to 2.

The son of William Hamilton (coal miner) and Christina Hamilton (née McInnes) who married at Kilconquhar in July 1877, Willie was born at the family home of 1 Union Street in Leven. In his teenage years he played with Cowdenbeath outfit Vulcan Rovers with whom he struck gold on 16th May 1908. On that day, the Fifeshire Juvenile Cup Final was played at North End Park (home to Cowdenbeath) and the Rovers defeated Royal Albert by a single goal to nil. Willie played at inside left and, who knows, maybe he even scored the winner!? Following a succesful trial, Willie stepped up to the senior grade with Dunfermline Athletic, early in 1909. In this regard, he was following in the footsteps of his older brother Jock Hamilton of Dunfermline Athletic / Leith Athletic / Brentford / Leeds City fame. A humorous anecdote appeared in the Dundee Courier of 19 January 1909 which basically stated Jock had taken out an injunction against Willie turning senior with anyone other than Dunfermline Athletic!

In September 1909, Willie headed southwards and played several games with top-flight Bradford City, before returning to Dunfermline in February 1910. Just after playing a trial game with Partick Thistle on 1st May 1911, Willie had one last hurrah with the Pars, and made it a memorable farewell at Kirkcaldy when he scored twice and assisted another two in a 4-3 derby victory over Raith Rovers to reach the final of the Penman Cup, way to go Hammy! He always had a soft spot for Dunfermline, and was a strong supporter of Kingseat Juniors.

The Thistle directors fancied Willie as a number nine when he first arrived from Dunfermline in 1911, but he wasn't long in falling back to the half-back line where his real combative strengths lay. He had to bide his time to finally claim the centre half position for his own, and did so after the retiral of Alec Raisbeck a few years down the line. In the meantime, he was assisting both the first and second elevens, winning the League championship (1912) and Scottish Cup (1914) with the latter. During his 10 years, he would also claim 5 runners-up medals in local cup action with the first team. However, the Scottish Cup badge of honour was the one he dearly craved.

He was in his footballing prime in 1920-21, the beating heart of the acclaimed middle three - Harris, Hamilton & McMullan - regarded as one of the finest lines in the Scottish game at the time, and undoubtedly a major contributing factor to the success of the team that season. Willie featured in 40 of the 55 games in what was a most demanding campaign. He had played in every round of the Scottish Cup and, brilliantly, his 300th appearance was the one which sealed a historic place in the Scottish Cup Final, with Partick Thistle ousting Heart of Midlothian by two goals to nil at Ibrox. Alas, Willie did not make the final itself. Although he had retired, reportedly injured, during the Hamilton game 8 days earlier, there did not seem to be a problem on the eve of the Cup final, as Willie was included in all the pre-match line-ups. However, he took ill (again) on the day of the game, a recurring report of late, and it must have been serious for him to miss such an occasion. As it transpired, he was suffering from TB, and, shockingly, succumbed to the disease exactly 4 months after the final, aged just 31.

Willie died on the day of the opening game of season 1921-22, and the flags at Firhill flew at half-mast in tribute, as his team mates defeated Clydebank by one goal to nothing. Around 16,000 were at Firhill to see the Cup holders kick-off the new season, and, I'd like to think a great many of them raised a parting glass on that Tuesday evening to a great Thistle servant. He was laid to rest at Dunfermline Cemetery and wreaths were placed on his grave by representatives of both Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic. He was survived by his wife, Jane, and their three children. One of them, also named William, took to the football and was capped by Scotland at schoolboys level. I have a strong hunch he's one and the same as the soldier Willie Hamilton who played several games with St Bernard's in 1942 but was interrupted by war and played a couple of games with Arsenal when stationed there later in the war. Same position as his Dad (half-back) and we know that family members had lived there in the recent past.

In the summer of 2024, we were delighted to hear from Christine Hamilton, whose husband, Warren Hamilton, is the great grand-nephew of Willie Hamilton. Willie's nephew, John Hamilton (son of the aforementioned Jock), emigrated to Australia in 1926 with his young family and he followed in the footsteps of his Dad and Uncle as a footballer, winning the Gardiner Cup with Thirroul S.F.C. The Gardiner Cup was a knockout cup for all the teams in New South Wales. Beyond that, John's son (Warren's father, another Jock!) also took up the game to a notable degree - it's a family dynasty! Warren and Christine visited Firhill in July 2013 and Warren says it was the best day of his holiday. See 'Gallery' tab for a picture!

1911 - GLASGOW CUP

1916 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP

1917 - GLASGOW CUP

1918 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP

1919 - GLASGOW CUP

1921 - SCOTTISH CUP