CASE OF BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR MEDDA ACE :by Jim O'Donnell
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DAVID HAMILTON is more than making up for a late start to his football career.
Looking at the Irvine Meadow midfielder, it's hard to believe he never took up the game seriously until just short of his 21st birthday.
Attending Hamilton Grammar in the town of his birth provided the worst possible apprenticeship because there was no school team and it was not until David was persuaded by friends to turn out for Eddlewood Amateurs that he began playing on an organised basis.
Among team-mates in a Lanarkshire league-winning side were Ross McLaren, later of Hamilton, as well as Alan Barratt, who went on to play for Blantyre Vics.
Looking at the Irvine Meadow midfielder, it's hard to believe he never took up the game seriously until just short of his 21st birthday.
Attending Hamilton Grammar in the town of his birth provided the worst possible apprenticeship because there was no school team and it was not until David was persuaded by friends to turn out for Eddlewood Amateurs that he began playing on an organised basis.
Among team-mates in a Lanarkshire league-winning side were Ross McLaren, later of Hamilton, as well as Alan Barratt, who went on to play for Blantyre Vics.
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But it was not long before David's talents began to attract attention and he found himself pursued by a number of clubs in the wake of rave notices following his selection for Scotland Amateurs in an international tournament in Luxemburg.
There was to be no dithering over which club to join because of the fact his uncle was none other than Blantyre Vics boss and legendary former defensive stalwart Tommy Coghill, whose powers of persuasion were not needed to entice David into a Castle Park move in 2000.
It was to prove a tough baptism playing in a Vics side constantly battling relegation over the next two seasons. However, David blossomed in the company of seasoned types such as Jim Allan, Jim Brown and Kevin Brown to the extent that a number of high-flying Junior outfits began to take notice .
One of them was Pollok, whose manager Ronnie Lowrie had the advantage of being a former team-mate who had previously turned down all offers for his star turn but ultimately sanctioned a transfer to the Glasgow cracks when Vics dropped down a division at the end of the 2001/02 season.
There was to be no dithering over which club to join because of the fact his uncle was none other than Blantyre Vics boss and legendary former defensive stalwart Tommy Coghill, whose powers of persuasion were not needed to entice David into a Castle Park move in 2000.
It was to prove a tough baptism playing in a Vics side constantly battling relegation over the next two seasons. However, David blossomed in the company of seasoned types such as Jim Allan, Jim Brown and Kevin Brown to the extent that a number of high-flying Junior outfits began to take notice .
One of them was Pollok, whose manager Ronnie Lowrie had the advantage of being a former team-mate who had previously turned down all offers for his star turn but ultimately sanctioned a transfer to the Glasgow cracks when Vics dropped down a division at the end of the 2001/02 season.
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Many pundits felt the still- relatively inexperienced midfielder might struggle to adjust at top-flight Junior level, but they were proved wrong as he quickly ensconced himself as a Lok regular and fans' favourite.
Many pundits felt the still- relatively inexperienced midfielder might struggle to adjust at top-flight Junior level, but they were proved wrong as he quickly ensconced himself as a Lok regular and fans' favourite.
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David recalled: "Raymond Logan and I were paired together most weeks and we really hit it off together despite most people reckoning we were too similar in style.
"That was a really good Pollok side with Kevin O'Neil, Derek Heaton and Stevie Aitchison playing at the back and Paul McNeil scoring for fun up front.
"We were the first-ever winners of the Super Premier Division and the scenes at the title-clinching game down at Cumnock when Paul scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory will live with me forever."
David recalled: "Raymond Logan and I were paired together most weeks and we really hit it off together despite most people reckoning we were too similar in style.
"That was a really good Pollok side with Kevin O'Neil, Derek Heaton and Stevie Aitchison playing at the back and Paul McNeil scoring for fun up front.
"We were the first-ever winners of the Super Premier Division and the scenes at the title-clinching game down at Cumnock when Paul scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory will live with me forever."
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A year down the line saw Pollok and David relinquish the championship but derive adequate satisfaction from lifting three of the other trophies - the Sectional League Cup, West of Scotland Cup and Evening Times Cup - the last named trophy thanks to a storming 3-1 defeat of arch-city rivals Petershill which culminated in David being named man of the match.
Not surprisingly, his performances that season in bagging 13 goals from midfield had not gone unnoticed.
A year down the line saw Pollok and David relinquish the championship but derive adequate satisfaction from lifting three of the other trophies - the Sectional League Cup, West of Scotland Cup and Evening Times Cup - the last named trophy thanks to a storming 3-1 defeat of arch-city rivals Petershill which culminated in David being named man of the match.
Not surprisingly, his performances that season in bagging 13 goals from midfield had not gone unnoticed.
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And no sooner had the final whistle blown on the Petershill match than he found himself in signing talks with Hamilton management pair Allan Maitland and Ronnie McDonald.
To play for his home-town team was a dream come true for David.
A after a promising start, however, his move upstairs turned into a nightmare as, firstly, a groin injury and then the tragic death of his younger brother William through a heart-related problem severely curtailed his appearances.
Nevertheless, he was still offered a new contract at the end of the season on the proviso he went full-time.
And no sooner had the final whistle blown on the Petershill match than he found himself in signing talks with Hamilton management pair Allan Maitland and Ronnie McDonald.
To play for his home-town team was a dream come true for David.
A after a promising start, however, his move upstairs turned into a nightmare as, firstly, a groin injury and then the tragic death of his younger brother William through a heart-related problem severely curtailed his appearances.
Nevertheless, he was still offered a new contract at the end of the season on the proviso he went full-time.
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But the qualified electrician was not prepared to forego his trade and was only too delighted when Stranraer boss Neil Watt - formerly of Maryhill - came in with an acceptable signing bid.
"Going to Stair Park worked out well for me personally as I ended up top scorer, but the team ended up relegated from the First Division.
"It was also there that I shared a dressing room with Derek Wingate, Stevie Swift and Mark Crilly, who were all to end up as Irvine Meadow team-mates."
In between times, David followed Watt and No.2 Stuart Miller to Somerset Park when they took up the reins at Ayr United for an ill-fated and short- lived spell, but their resignations led to him drifting out of the first-team picture and jumping at the chance to join Medda.
He said: "I felt settled and at home from day one thanks to having so many former team- mates at the club, but my first season did not go according to plan when we failed to pick up a single trophy.
But the qualified electrician was not prepared to forego his trade and was only too delighted when Stranraer boss Neil Watt - formerly of Maryhill - came in with an acceptable signing bid.
"Going to Stair Park worked out well for me personally as I ended up top scorer, but the team ended up relegated from the First Division.
"It was also there that I shared a dressing room with Derek Wingate, Stevie Swift and Mark Crilly, who were all to end up as Irvine Meadow team-mates."
In between times, David followed Watt and No.2 Stuart Miller to Somerset Park when they took up the reins at Ayr United for an ill-fated and short- lived spell, but their resignations led to him drifting out of the first-team picture and jumping at the chance to join Medda.
He said: "I felt settled and at home from day one thanks to having so many former team- mates at the club, but my first season did not go according to plan when we failed to pick up a single trophy.
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"With so many good players we should have done better than we did, particularly in the Scottish Cup, where losing to Pollok was a massive disappointment for everyone."
His second term resulted in Medda landing a four-trophy haul, including the Super Premier title and Evening Times Cup-Winners' Cup, helped no end by David weighing in with an 14 goals from midfield.
"With so many good players we should have done better than we did, particularly in the Scottish Cup, where losing to Pollok was a massive disappointment for everyone."
His second term resulted in Medda landing a four-trophy haul, including the Super Premier title and Evening Times Cup-Winners' Cup, helped no end by David weighing in with an 14 goals from midfield.
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His displays had gaffer Chris Strain singing his praises: "David is the consummate professional and someone who has excelled for us in a whole variety of positions."
His displays had gaffer Chris Strain singing his praises: "David is the consummate professional and someone who has excelled for us in a whole variety of positions."
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pictures by Colin Mearns
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