Stevenage-born Hamilton started his career off with
Southampton, joining "The Saints" as an associate schoolboy in January 1982. He signed as an apprentice in July 1984, before signing his first professional contract on his 18th birthday in December 1985. He remained at
The Dell for a further two years, playing in the reserves but failing to break into the first team, before a free transfer to
Cambridge United in March 1988. He remained with the club until December of that year when he made a move to
Scunthorpe United on a free transfer. Hamilton spent the next four years playing for "The Iron", and eventually his performances earned him a move to
West Bromwich Albion in 1992 for £160,000. While with "The Baggies", Hamilton played under manager
Alan Buckley. In 1998, Albion sold Hamilton to
Sheffield United for £325,000 and he would remain at
Bramall Lane for the next two seasons. While at United, he was re-signed by Alan Buckley at fellow
First Division side
Grimsby Town. Hamilton played six times for "The Mariners", scoring once in his one-month loan spell. He scored his first and only goal for Lincoln against
Leyton Orient in the
FA Cup. He was part of the squad that was nearly
relegated out of the Football League. With the club in financial difficulties, and Hamilton not being part of new manager
Keith Alexander's plans, he agreed a severance package in October 2002, and played out the 2002–03 campaign for
Conference side
Woking before retiring at the end of the season. ==Personal life==