Hamson: Gary

1979-1986 (Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Sandiacre Nr. Nottingham: 24-08-1959

Debut: v Valletta (h): 03-10-1979

5’8” 11st (1986)

He had trials with Derby County and played for Ilkeston Town before joining Sheffield United and turning professional in November 1976. Hamson was capable of filling a variety of roles, and in February 1977 he was picked for the England Youth team to play Wales, but the game was called off and he never got another chance at representative honours. After one hundred and eight League games, of which one was as a substitute, and scoring eight League goals for the Blades, he signed for Leeds in July 1979 for £140,000. An aggressive player, he received a nine-match ban, a record under the penalty system at that time, in February 1981. A bad knee injury in the last game of 1981-82, against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, kept him side-lined for a long period, but he fought his way back into the first team, and was a regular for three seasons but never quite recaptured his pre-injury form and he left Elland Road for Bristol City on a free-transfer in July 1986. He played a dozen League games and scored twice for the Ashton Gate side before, in December of that year, he went to Port Vale for £5,000. Unfortunately after three goals in thirty-eight League appearances at Vale Park, two of which were from the bench, he was forced to retire prematurely in March 1988 because of a recurring ankle injury and was the club's youth coach until July 1989, when he left to become a builder. Subsequently he tried Insurance before joining Hallmark IFA in 2000 and becoming the firm’s representative in the Midlands. Hamson and his family lived in West Hallam and he continued to indulge his love for football by coaching junior teams and commentating on local Nationwide League games for the Press Association. He became the Liberal-Democrat member of the local Erewash council and the agent for young Celtic star Aiden McGeady