RIP Chico Hamilton

[dicedlam]

Sad news.

One of my favourite players of the time.

[ChicagoLion]

Sad news. R.I.P. Chico.

[Flamingo Lane]

A real fans favourite, Chico was a key player in two promotion winning sides, and in two league Cup finals, one as a winner v Norwich, and the other of course as man of the match v Spurs. My favourite memory of Chico though is his diving header coming in at the far post in front of the Holte End, to put us 2-1 up against the Albion in the 1974/75 season.

[darren woolley]

Very sad news RIP Chico.

[Villa Lew]

Very sad news one of my heroes

RIP Chico

[Godfrey Brian]

Sad news. Chico was one of the new generation of Villa players for us kids of the time to identify with. Long hair, very skilled and an important part of the club's successful recovery from it's low point.

[simon ward 50]

RIP Chico. Thanks for the memories!

[Dave P]

Very sad news.  I met him at the end of season awards in 2001 on the day we relegated Coventry.  I went over and said Chico can I have an autograph please?  He angrily replied that his name was Ian.  That was me told!

[Hampshire Villa]

Really sad news. Chico, Pat McMahon and Neil Rioch lived in our Road when they came to the Villa. They were always in our house. I used to go up to town to buy records for Chico.  My Dad used to drive them to the Bingo hall and pick them up 😀😀Then  they’d come back to our house. My mom would make them Chesse on toast. Chico would drink Rum and milk with his cheese on toast. I think my Mom had a bit of a crush on Pat. Chico was the mischievous one. A real joker.
Thanks for those memories Chico. Thanks for all the fun and laughs.
R.I.P.

[martin o`who??]

This is about the fourth time.

now on the club website.

[martin o`who??]

My absolute, all time favourite memory of him is the 1975 home game v SHA - a goal down to a Francis tap-in and kicking towards the Witton and he scores an absolute screamer straight from a throw in if i remember rightly. Within a few minutes that bastion of fair play and integrity Kenny Burns fucks up a clearance and sets up Brian for the winner. We also announced on that day we'd signed a bloke from Dundee Utd called Andy Gray for £110,000.
RIP Chico.

[Broadlee]

Really sad news. He was a shining star in our team and was so influential in the change and resurgence of Aston Villa. he joined in 1969, took us to a league cup final as a 3rd div team, then helped us get back to div 2 and then the top tier. A proper modern player in a proper team. Great part of our history. Another HEITS

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Very sad news.  I met him at the end of season awards in 2001 on the day we relegated Coventry.  I went over and said Chico can I have an autograph please?  He angrily replied that his name was Ian.  That was me told!

I'm glad my memory isn't as bad as I sometimes think. I was about to post that he wasn't a fan of being called Chico, a nickname given after the great American jazz drummer. Where my memory lets me down is recalling the times I saw him play for us, I was at Villa Park for the West Ham Boxing Day game but don't remember much, if anything. I was obviously too young or too small or both, standing at the bottom of the Witton End hanging onto the railings. I do remember his runs, his close control and probably for me, the first Villa player to look like a rock star.

Just checked, Chico came on as a sub to replace Brian Little against Cardiff in 72/73, my first ever match. His quality was obviously appreciated not only by Vic Crowe but also Ron Saunders.

Rest in Peace, Chico Ian.

[pablo_picasso]

RIP

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Sad to hear.
The Doc signed him at the start of the 69/70 season for £40k coming from Southend.  We went down that season to the 3rd division but by the time he left we were in the 1st division. He played his part in the two memorable LC semis against Man U, the final against Spurs, and the Norwich LC win in 75.
Along with the likes of Graydon, Little, Lochhead, Nicholl etc he played a very important part in our post 68 history. He moved on to Sheff U after us and they have good things to say about him too.

https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/chico-hamilton.99784/#post-5150585