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Gary Hamilton (footballer, born 1980)

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Gary Hamilton
Hamilton as Glenavon manager in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-10-06) 6 October 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Waringstown, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Blackburn Rovers 1 (0)
2000–2001Rochdale (loan) 3 (0)
2001 Raufoss IL 7 (2)
2001–2006 Portadown 140 (79)
2006–2011 Glentoran 132 (70)
2010–2011Glenavon (loan) 20 (12)
2011–2023 Glenavon 184 (33)
2023- Hill Street 1 (0)
Total 488 (196)
International career
2000–2001 Northern Ireland U21 12 (3)
2003–2004 Northern Ireland 5 (0)
Managerial career
2011–2023 Glenavon (player-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Hamilton (born 6 October 1980) is a Northern Irish footballer and former manager who plays for Mid-Ulster Football League side Hill Street FC.[1] Hamilton was player-manager of NIFL Premiership side Glenavon from 2011 to 2023.

Career

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Hamilton currently holds the Irish Premiership record for the number of goals scored in a match, scoring six for Portadown against Omagh Town in October 2004.[2]

In 2006, he moved to Glentoran, having previously played for Portadown, Raufoss IL, Rochdale and Blackburn Rovers. He gained five international caps between 2003 and 2004, having previously represented Northern Ireland at every other level.

He scored for Glentoran in the Europa League in July 2010,[3] before moving to Glenavon on a season-long loan where he made an immediate impact, scoring nine goals in ten competitive starts winning Carling Player of the Month for December 2010.

Hamilton is a Glenavon and Everton fan.

He joined his hometown club, Glenavon, on a season-long loan for the 2010–11 season. He signed a new deal with Glentoran in August 2011.[4]

Managerial career

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On 15 December 2011, Hamilton was appointed player-manager of Glenavon after the resignation of Marty Quinn.[5] His first match in charge was on 17 December 2011, against Linfield at Windsor Park. Linfield won the match 1–0.[6]

However, his first win in charge came in the very next game, as the Lurgan Blues defeated Crusaders 3–2 at Mourneview Park on 20 December 2011.[7]

In 2014, Hamilton guided Glenavon to victory in the 2013–14 Irish Cup, the clubs first winning campaign in the tournament since 1997.[8] He repeated this success in 2016, defeating David Healy's Linfield 2–0 in the final.

On 4 March 2021, Hamilton signed a three-year extension to his contract at Glenavon. The extension granted Hamilton to stay at the club until the end of the 2024/25 season.[9] Following a difficult start to the 2023–24 season, Gary departed as manager on 13 September 2023.

Honours

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Portadown

Glentoran

Glenavon

References

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  1. ^ "Gary Hamilton joins new club as Glenavon confirm interim manager". Belfast Telegraph Sport. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Irish Premier League results". BBC Sport. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  3. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2011 – Glentoran-KR". UEFA.com. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Striker Gary Hamiton back with Glentoran". BBC Sport. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Glenavon unveil Gary Hamilton as their new manager". BBC Sport. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Linfield 1–0 Glenavon". BBC Sport. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Glenavon 3–2 Crusaders". BBC Sport. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Glenavon beat Ballymena to lift cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Gary Hamilton signs three-year contract extension". Glenavon Football Club. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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