RIP Chico Hamilton

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Here's a bit about his shop that others mentioned which I well remember living as a kid  in Wylde Green.
Click to expand.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

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

That's brilliant Andy, thank you.

He was a big part of that group of players at a very special time for the Villa and a real hero for us "trying to be trendy" types....he had the lot...looks, hair, football wizardry and even a boutique at one time I believe.
He holds a big place in our hearts.

RIP Chico.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Here's a bit about his shop that others mentioned which I well remember living as a kid  in Wylde Green.
Click to expand.

That's the one!
Thanks again Andy!

[Louzie0]

Brilliant stuff to find that cutting, ALITA!
Thanks

[Villa Lew]

Nick Owen made a nice tribute to him on Midlands Today.

[maidstonevillain]

Thanks for that Andy. I was racking my brains as to where it was when Louzie mentioned it. If I recall it wasn't there for long.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Here's a bit about his shop that others mentioned which I well remember living as a kid in Wylde Green.

I remember cycling up there to see it. It was just a few yards away from Johnny Dixon's shop.

[PaulWinch again]

RIP Chico.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Thanks for that Andy. I was racking my brains as to where it was when Louzie mentioned it. If I recall it wasn't there for long.

Precinct shopping centre. Buy a nice shirt, come out of Chicos, turn right and walk past the Chinese restaurant and the Natwest Bank and a minute later go and buy  fork handles from Johnny Dixon.

[john2710]

RIP Chico - very sad news.
One of my early heroes & I remember the day both he & Neil Rioch came to my primary school. I always imagined he was more than 12 years older than me.

[Allan C]

Very sad to hear this today. Chico was in the first Villa teams I watched with my dad back in 70/71  players like him and Pat McMahon, Lionel Martin are at the foundation of my support and love for the club. A sad day

[passport1]

Like the previous poster  Chico signed during my my first season watching Villa. Great memories of his time with us. RIP Chico.

[FrankyH]

One of my Dads favourite players. A little before my time. I remember my elder sister telling me she was on the bus with my dad in Brum and Chico got on. She was amazed that my Dad was too starstruck to approach him !

[dave shelley]

I remember being on the bus going to the match and sitting further up was Chico and Neil Rioch.  How times have changed eh?

[Chico Hamilton III]

About 20 years ago we were having a drink in the Holte pub, just after Lerner had done it up, and Chico was sitting at the bar, relatively unnoticed. I went over to him and asked if I could get him a pint and he asked for a pint of cider. I was a bit nervous/starstruck and the first thing that came out of my mouth was to tell him that our cat was called Chico Hamilton. I must have sounded like a complete dick but he laughed and told me about the polar bear at Dudley Zoo that was named after him in the 70’s. I asked for a photograph with him ( pre iPhone days but it was Robbo1874’s last trip to Villa Park that day before moving to Australia so he had his camera). He couldn’t have been nicer, put his arm around me and held his pint up. Still got the photo.

73, not really old is it? Any details?