ALEX MILLER has led the tributes to Rangers team mate Johnny Hamilton by insisting he was a vital cog in the successes of the mid-1970s when Rangers won the Treble twice.
Hamilton, who died on Saturday at the age of 66 after a long illness, came with a bit of a reputation for enjoying a night out when he signed on a free transfer from Hibs in 1973.
However, he soon won over his team-mates with his attitude in training under the tough regime imposed by legendary boss Jock Wallace.
Hamilton played 78 times and scored eight goals in five years at Ibrox winning the Championship and the Scottish Cup in the 1975/76 Treble season and then the League Cup in 1977/78 when Rangers claimed all three honours again.
According to former Hibs and Aberdeen boss Miller, Hamilton – known as Dingy – was a great man to have in the side to complement the skills of others around him.
Miller said: “Dingy liked the bright lights, let’s say, and when he came to Rangers he was joining a group of players who had been together for a long time.
“The one thing he hated doing was running, but in fairness to him he worked really hard in training to show everyone that he wanted to be a success.
“We used to get a lot of track work on a Monday and Johnny really knuckled down and gave it his all and that undoubtedly earned the respect of the players.
“Johnny was not the quickest but he was a great passer of the ball and that’s how he hurt teams.
“He could see the pass early and he was great at hitting penetrating passes which the front players benefitted from.”
Hamilton had been signed by Bob Shankly at Hibs in 1969 and played 96 times, scoring 17 goals, during four seasons at Easter Road when he played beside some of the all-time greats like Pat Stanton, John Brownlie, Jimmy O’Rourke, Alan Gordon and Arthur Duncan.
He was an unused sub when Hibs triumphed in the 1972/73 League Cup Final, winning 2-1 against Celtic.
He came into a Rangers team desperate to stop Celtic’s dominance of the title – which they finally did in 1975 -- and flourished in the 1975/76 season playing in midfield beside Alex MacDonald with Tommy McLean and Bobby McKean in wide areas.
A diehard fan who was born and brought up in Glasgow’s Possil Park, Hamilton didn’t always agree with supporters.
Miller added: “II remember big Jock banned him from all supporters’ functions because he was getting involved in arguments!
“But Johnny was a good guy. He was just passionate.
“It’s so sad that another member of that great squad has now left us.”
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