Cloughie dropped Hughie for not joining in at poker
FOUR players moved from Scotland to English football on transfer deadline day.
It’s maybe a sign of the times that only one, Aidan Nesbitt, is a Scot.
There used to be a regular stream of talent looking for a new adventure south of the border.
In 1963, there was a sudden and mass exodus of Scottish players to one English club.
Hartlepool manager Bob Gurney took a trip north – and returned with seven new signings.
He captured Willie Bradley, Bert McCubbin and John Milton from Ayr United, Willie Hinshelwood from Airdrie and the Falkirk trio of Derek Turner, Kenny Cunningham and Hughie Hamilton.
The new boys joined a squad that already contained fellow countrymen John Brown and Jackie Hinchliffe.
It’s fair to say the new Scots had mixed fortunes in English football.
But for Hughie Hamilton, it was a life-changing move.
It led to one of the strangest celebrations in football, a brush with Brian Clough and achieving legendary status in Ireland.
He recalls being keen to try his luck south of the border after being released by Falkirk.
Hughie said: “I’d been with Rangers as a youth player, before playing junior football with Whitletts Victoria.
“I was then signed by Falkirk and was training with players like Willie Ormond.
“My debut came in 1962 against Celtic, with Billy McNeill and Paddy Crerand in their team.” What a debut it was. The Bairns had tried countless players in the centre- forward position without much success, and Hughie was the latest.
He didn’t make a lot of headway, until he swapped places with John Lambie during the second half and started making an impact at outside-right.
Falkirk were 3- 0 down to strikes from Jackson, Byrne and Hughes, but the teenage debutant notched a consolation goal five minutes from time.
Hughie grabbed the chance to become a full- time professional with Hartle pool but the influx of Scots didn’t lead to the most successful of seasons.
He went on: “I settled in well, and made my debut away at Aldershot.
“We finished bottom of Division Four and were only one position better the following season.
“When we made progress and beat the re-election places, there was a civic reception at the Mayor’s Parlour!
“But the best bit about the move was that I met my wife, and we’ve been married for 51 years.”
Hughie’s days at Hartle pool were numbered when Brian Clough arrived as boss.
He said: “Brian was a great manager but I didn’t get on too well with him.
“We were having a meal in the Staincliffe Hotel before a match, when he came in and asked if I was playing in his poker game.
“I refused to take part and then went down to the ground expecting to be in the side.
“But I found I’d been dropped to the bench and that was the beginning of the end.”
Hughie then played with non- league Scarborough before becoming a legend in Limerick.
He recalled: “I went to play with Limerick in Ireland and helped them win the FAI Cup for the first time.
“I scored two goals in the final against Drogheda and that made me a real hero.”
Hughie, now 75, still lives in Hartlepool, where he spent 25 years as a bus driver for the football club.