Ian Michael Hamilton, London, England, October 31, 1950. Ian Hamilton made over 300 Football League outings for Chelsea, Southend United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United before trying his luck in the US.
Ian Hamilton, nicknamed Chico after American jazz musician and bandleader Chico Hamilton, joined Chelsea in 1966 and scored on his debut in a 1-1 First Division draw with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in front of a 50,000 crowd at White Hart Lane on the 18th of March 1967 at the age of 16 years, 138 days, becoming the club‘s youngest-ever goalscorer and player in the process. Despite his excellent start to his career, he only managed to make five Division One appearances for the West Londoners before he was transferred to Fourth Division outfit Southend United for a bargain fee of £5,000 at the front end of the 1968-69 season. Having netted 11 goals in 36 League matches for The Shrimpers, he was on the move again and this time to Aston Villa. At Villa Park, the exciting and attack minded midfielder won the Third Division title in 1971-72 and the League Cup in 1974-75 when The Claret and Blue narrowly defeated fellow Second Division side Norwich City by a 1-0 score in the final at Wembley thanks to a late second-half penalty goal from former Bristol Rovers winger Ray Graydon. Following 48 goals in 252 matches in all competitions for Aston Villa, Hamilton signed up with newly relegated Division Two club Sheffield United at the beginning of the 1976-77 campaign and would find the back of the net 13 times in 60 Football League appearances for The Blades before he decided to finish his soccer career in the North American Soccer League with Minnesota Kicks and San Jose Earthquakes. Ian Hamilton Playing Career: Chelsea, Southend United, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Minnesota Kicks, San Jose Earthquakes.