Joe Hamill

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Joe Hamill (born 25 February 1984 in Bellshill) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Livingston.

Hamill had a spell as a teenager playing for East Stirlingshire Boys Club until he joined the youth development scheme at Hearts. He graduated from there to the youth academy in 2000.

Known as a hard working and tricky winger, Hamill was promoted in April 2002 to the first team squad after major roles in the Under-18's and Under-21's. He was also one of the star men in the side that won Youth League championship in season 2000-01.

Hamill was on the fringes of the first team squad in season 2002-03. However during the following season he started to play more games for the first team, making 20 competitive appearances. He also obtained a massive confidence boost when, in May 2004, he scored the only goal in a SPL match against Rangers at Ibrox.

During the 2004-2005 season, Hamill was regularly delivering crosses of a good quality for the strikers, and during the season he gained valuable European experience by playing during the Tynecastle outfit's UEFA Cup campaign. Hamill also scored the winner in the Edininburgh derby against Hibernian in the same week his manager Craig Levein quit the club to go take charge of Leicester City in the English Coca-Cola Championship.

In August 2005, Hamill followed his old Hearts boss Craig Levein, and former Hearts team-mates Mark De Vries, Alan Maybury and Patrick Kisnorno to Leicester. Hamill made an unbelievable start to his Leicester career by scoring his first goal for the club after just 37 minutes of his debut in the Carling Cup defeat of Bury. He made his league debut a week later, coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw away to Hully City.

On July 28th 2006, it was announced that Hamill had parted ways with Leicester City after just 11 months at the club. He had his contract terminated by mutual consent. His then manager Rob Kelly said that Hamill had left the club to seek first team football elsewhere as he had a fight on his hands to get into the City team. He also said Hamill was a smashing lad and never caused an ounce of trouble at the club.

It is expected Hamill will return to Scotland to seek a new club.

In season 2001-02 Hamill made 3 league appearances, 1 starting and 2 as sub. In season 2002-03 Hamill made 4 league appearances, 1 starting and 3 as sub. In season 2003-04 Hamill made 18 league appearances, 12 starting and 6 as sub, also scoring 2 goals. He also made 1 sub appearance in the Scottish FA Cup, scoring one goal. He also made 1 sub appearance in the UEFA Cup. In season 2004-05 Hamill made 25 league starts, with a further 7 appearances as sub, scoring twice. He also played 4 times in the Scottish FA Cup, 2 starting and 2 as sub. He also played 3 times in the Scottish League Cup 3 times, 2 starting and 1 as sub, also scoring once. He also made 4 appearances in the UEFA Cup. In season 2005-06 Hamill made 7 league starts, with a further 5 appearances as sub. He also made one start in the FA Cup. He also started 4 Carling Cup ties, scoring once.

On 2 August 2006, he joined Livingston on a free transfer.