Rory Hamill
Encyclopedia
Rory Hamill is a footballer, who currently plays for Glenavon
in Northern Ireland’s IFA Premiership
.
as a trainee in 1992. At The Dell he added Under-18 caps to his collection but failed to make the first team and was allowed to join Division Three side Fulham
in November 1994. At Craven Cottage
he quickly established himself as a member of the first team squad playing a total of 25 League and Cup games that season, scoring seven goals. His second goal for the Club came just seven seconds into a 4-2 win over Mansfield
in January 1995, during a 10-match unbeaten run and scored a goal against Gillingham in the FA Cup during the same season which was another memorable moment. But the goals dried up and after Micky Adams
took over he seemed to fall out of favour. He also picked up a B cap in a 3-0 defeat by Scotland B
in February 1995.
The following season Hamill failed to consolidate his position in the Fulham first team, and as the club struggled he dropped out of the reckoning. In September 1996 he joined Glentoran
on loan, a move that became permanent in November. At the Oval he again showed his earlier promise developing into one of the top players in the Irish League. His strong running and tireless work rate meant that Hamill was effective as a midfielder, a winger or up front, and this brought him back to the attention of the Northern Ireland set-up and he won his second B cap in a 1-0 defeat by Wales in February 1999.
In April 1999, with Lawrie McMenemy
keen to experiment with new players, Hamill was called up to the Northern Ireland full squad along with Linfield’s Glenn Ferguson
. On 60 minutes, with the game at 0-0 he came off the substitutes bench to make his full Northern Ireland debut against Canada
. The game eventually finished 1-1.
With Glentoran Hamill picked up an Irish League title in 1999 and Irish Cup winner’s medals in 1998 and 2000. However, early in the 2000/01 season things started to go awry. Hamill was made available for transfer as Roy Coyle
sought to cut costs by selling some of his highest paid players. Things were to get worse.
A drugs test after a UEFA Cup
tie between Glentoran and Norwegian side Lillestrom in August 2000 proved positive with traces of cannabis. Initially Hamill was banned from all European competitions, but on the eve of the 2001 Irish Cup Final a ban from all football was imposed, causing him to miss the Final, and all games up to 4 October 2001.
Having made almost 150 League appearances, and scored 28 goals, Hamill finally left Glentoran during the 2001 close season for Coleraine
, where he had played as a youth. At the Coleraine Showgrounds Hamill added another Irish Cup medal, as his new club stopped Glentoran completing a domestic trophy clean-sweep in the 2002/03 season. In August 2003 he scored against U.D. Leiria in a 2-1 win in the UEFA Cup
.
A year later, with the club in severe financial difficulties, Hamill moved on to Ballymena United
, where he was to become vice-captain.
After a protracted falling out with the Ballymena hierarchy, Hamill signed for Dungannon Swifts
for the 2006/07 season. He helped the Swifts to their first ever Irish Cup Final appearance in his only season, scoring a first-half goal in a 2-2 draw with Linfield
, unfortunately he was to miss from the spot in a penalty shoot-out defeat.
In June 2007 Hamill re-signed for Glentoran
, becoming Alan McDonald's first signing as manager. In October he was a member of the Glens side that claimed the season's first trophy - the Co. Antrim Shield - with a 2-1 win over Crusaders. In January 2008 he joined Donegal Celtic on loan, marking a return to the Oval with two goals in a 2-1 Irish Cup quarter-final win. At the close of the season Cliftonville
clinched his signature ahead of a number of other clubs. In May 2009 he suffered another Cup Final defeat with the Reds.
After a somewhat disappointing spell with Cliftonville, he moved to Glenavon in February 2010, with the hopes of rejuvenating is career with former manager Marty Quinn.
Championship 1 side Bangor
brought Hamill to Clandeboye Park in July 2010. Rory made 19 starting appearances for the Seasiders and scored 5 goals before being released by the club at the end of March 2011.
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
in Northern Ireland’s IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
.
Playing career
Rory Hamill had won youth caps for Northern Ireland before joining English Premier League side SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as a trainee in 1992. At The Dell he added Under-18 caps to his collection but failed to make the first team and was allowed to join Division Three side Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in November 1994. At Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
he quickly established himself as a member of the first team squad playing a total of 25 League and Cup games that season, scoring seven goals. His second goal for the Club came just seven seconds into a 4-2 win over Mansfield
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in January 1995, during a 10-match unbeaten run and scored a goal against Gillingham in the FA Cup during the same season which was another memorable moment. But the goals dried up and after Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
took over he seemed to fall out of favour. He also picked up a B cap in a 3-0 defeat by Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
in February 1995.
The following season Hamill failed to consolidate his position in the Fulham first team, and as the club struggled he dropped out of the reckoning. In September 1996 he joined Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
on loan, a move that became permanent in November. At the Oval he again showed his earlier promise developing into one of the top players in the Irish League. His strong running and tireless work rate meant that Hamill was effective as a midfielder, a winger or up front, and this brought him back to the attention of the Northern Ireland set-up and he won his second B cap in a 1-0 defeat by Wales in February 1999.
In April 1999, with Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
keen to experiment with new players, Hamill was called up to the Northern Ireland full squad along with Linfield’s Glenn Ferguson
Glenn Ferguson
Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson is a former Northern Irish footballer. He played for Ards and Glenavon before joining Linfield in January 1998 for an Irish League record transfer fee of £55,000...
. On 60 minutes, with the game at 0-0 he came off the substitutes bench to make his full Northern Ireland debut against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. The game eventually finished 1-1.
With Glentoran Hamill picked up an Irish League title in 1999 and Irish Cup winner’s medals in 1998 and 2000. However, early in the 2000/01 season things started to go awry. Hamill was made available for transfer as Roy Coyle
Roy Coyle
Roy Coyle is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and the most successful manager in the history of the Irish Football League.-Playing career:...
sought to cut costs by selling some of his highest paid players. Things were to get worse.
A drugs test after a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie between Glentoran and Norwegian side Lillestrom in August 2000 proved positive with traces of cannabis. Initially Hamill was banned from all European competitions, but on the eve of the 2001 Irish Cup Final a ban from all football was imposed, causing him to miss the Final, and all games up to 4 October 2001.
Having made almost 150 League appearances, and scored 28 goals, Hamill finally left Glentoran during the 2001 close season for Coleraine
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
, where he had played as a youth. At the Coleraine Showgrounds Hamill added another Irish Cup medal, as his new club stopped Glentoran completing a domestic trophy clean-sweep in the 2002/03 season. In August 2003 he scored against U.D. Leiria in a 2-1 win in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
A year later, with the club in severe financial difficulties, Hamill moved on to Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
, where he was to become vice-captain.
After a protracted falling out with the Ballymena hierarchy, Hamill signed for Dungannon Swifts
Dungannon Swifts F.C.
Dungannon Swifts F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1949, has risen from the Mid-Ulster league to the top tier in Northern Ireland since its election to the Irish League First Division in 1997...
for the 2006/07 season. He helped the Swifts to their first ever Irish Cup Final appearance in his only season, scoring a first-half goal in a 2-2 draw with Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
, unfortunately he was to miss from the spot in a penalty shoot-out defeat.
In June 2007 Hamill re-signed for Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
, becoming Alan McDonald's first signing as manager. In October he was a member of the Glens side that claimed the season's first trophy - the Co. Antrim Shield - with a 2-1 win over Crusaders. In January 2008 he joined Donegal Celtic on loan, marking a return to the Oval with two goals in a 2-1 Irish Cup quarter-final win. At the close of the season Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
clinched his signature ahead of a number of other clubs. In May 2009 he suffered another Cup Final defeat with the Reds.
After a somewhat disappointing spell with Cliftonville, he moved to Glenavon in February 2010, with the hopes of rejuvenating is career with former manager Marty Quinn.
Championship 1 side Bangor
Bangor F.C.
Bangor Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1918, hails from Bangor and plays its home matches at Clandeboye Park. Club colours are gold and royal blue...
brought Hamill to Clandeboye Park in July 2010. Rory made 19 starting appearances for the Seasiders and scored 5 goals before being released by the club at the end of March 2011.
Honours
- Irish League/Irish Premier LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
- GlentoranGlentoran F.C.Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
1998/99
- Glentoran
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
: 3- GlentoranGlentoran F.C.Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
1998, 2000 - Coleraine F.C.Coleraine F.C.Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
2003
- Glentoran
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
- GlentoranGlentoran F.C.Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
2007/08
- Glentoran