Willie Hamilton, believed to have been the oldest living ex-North Ender, has sadly passed away, aged 92, in his adopted country, Canada.
If anyone had an ill-timed professional football career, it was Willie Hamilton. The 20 year old Scot (ironically born in Hamilton) was signed by Preston North End in September 1937 from Scottish junior side, Blantyre Victoria for a sum of £150. He was bought as cover for North End's two Scottish wing-halves, Bill Shankly and Jimmy Milne. Having said that, he was behind Bob Batey and George Summerbee in the "pecking order".
Unfortunately for Willie he had joined the Club in the midst of a very good era. PNE had just appeared in the 1937 FA Cup Final at Wembley and were destined to return the following year to lift the trophy. I say unfortunately because Shankly and Milne were rarely injured or suffered loss of form. Therefore, Willie had to patiently bide his time in the reserve team, in readiness of that call to the first eleven.
Just as Willie was ready, and eager, for top flight football, the war interrupted everything. Some of his team-mates were called up for the armed forces, some were employed in factories, but Willie, along with Jack Fairbrother joined the Blackburn Police Force prior to joining the army.
Unluckily he was not even around the area when Preston North End won the 1940-1941 War League and Cup double. Then Deepdale was closed for a couple of seasons as the Military took over the stadium as a retaining camp for prisoners of war.
After Deepdale was re-opened, Willie found himself as first choice right-half for the 1944-1945 regional war-time season, as Shankly was away with the RAF. Willie played alongside international footballers such as Harry Holdcroft (England) and Tom Smith, George Mutch & Jimmy Dougal (all Scotland).
By the start of the 1945-46 season Willie had moved across to the left-half position as more players returned home to be "demobbed", including Shankly, Andy Beattie, Bobbie Beattie and Tom Finney. Although the Football League was still played on a regional basis the FA cup competition started in earnest, with Willie making his debut and playing in all six games. North End beat Everton and Manchester United over 2-legs, before falling to Charlton Athletic.
When the Football League resumed properly after the war was over, (1946-47 season) many footballers were to make their "official" league debuts including Finney, Fairbrother and Willie himself. By this time, Willie had already totted up 71 war-time appearances for Preston North End and 37 "guest" appearances for Bury.
Willie's debut was away versus Middlesbrough at the end of September 1946 and he kept his place for the remainder of the season, ( 41 league and cup appearances). Now approaching 30, the Club, always looking to progress, superceded him with the younger Ken Horton, but to his credit Willie had played with and against the best, during his spell with Preston North End Football Club.
He was transferred to Queen of the South in February 1948 for £1,000, and later became the player-manager with Hamilton Academicals. In 1955 he emigrated to Victoria, Canada to start a new life with his young family (he had twin daughters) finding employment at the dockyard. With football in his veins he became a player-manager in the old Pacific Coast Soccer League before retiring from the game altogether.
Once settled in, Willie turned his hand to the building construction trade and even built his own home. Willie, who came from a coal mining family and had five sisters and four brothers, died on the 4th December 2009 after a short bout of pneumonia. Our condolences go out to all his family and friends.
Ian Rigby. PNE Official Historian & Secretary of PNE Former Players Association.
