Neville Roy Hamilton (19 April 1960 – 9 February 2009) was an English

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

and

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

. Hamilton was born in

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

and began his career at hometown club

Leicester City Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

, making his debut against

Manchester United Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...

on 27 December 1977.Neville will be remembered, says Lineker
, ''Leicester Mercury'' (10 February 2009). Retrieved on 10 February 2009. He went on to play five first-team games for Leicester, before leaving to join

Mansfield Town Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third level of the English football league system. The club was formed in 1897 as Mans ...

in January 1979. Hamilton would go on to play 89 matches for the Stags in two and a half seasons at

Field Mill Field Mill, currently known as One Call Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a Football pitch, football ground in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and the home of Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town Football Club. It is the oldest ground in ...

. In August 1981, Hamilton joined

Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wid ...

, where he spent three seasons, and in the summer of 1984, he joined

Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...

. However, he never played a competitive match for Wolves, and was forced to retire from the game after suffering a heart attack during pre-season training in 1984.Former Dale player Hamilton dies
''Rochdale Online'' (10 February 2009). Retrieved on 10 February 2009. After his enforced departure from the playing side of the game, Hamilton became a coach. He returned to his first club Leicester City, where he became part of the club's youth department, helping to shape the careers of players like

Emile Heskey Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey (born 11 January 1978) is an English former professional footballer who currently serves as head of football development of Leicester City Women. Playing as a striker, he made more than 500 appearances in the Foo ...

and

Richard Stearman Richard James Michael Stearman (born 19 August 1987) is an English former professional footballer who is first team coach at Swansea City. He was a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a centre half or ...

. Hamilton died on 9 February 2009 at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, aged 48. He had been hospitalised for a while and had heart surgery the week before his death.

References

1960 births 2009 deaths English men's footballers Footballers from Leicester Leicester City F.C. players Mansfield Town F.C. players Rochdale A.F.C. players Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players English Football League players Men's association football midfielders 20th-century English sportsmen {{England-footy-midfielder-1960s-stub