Billy is back

Last updated : 28 November 2006 By Tony Scholes
Also there were Northern Ireland, and like today, there were Burnley players in their squad, and one of those Burnley players was striker Billy Hamilton who'd just been part of our promotion from the old Third Division.

I can still vividly remember his cross for Gerry Armstrong's goal against Spain, and taking half a day off work to ensure I was home in time for his two goals against Austria. His involvement with Northern Irish international football is now with television and purring over the goals of David Healy and the emerging talent of Kyle Lafferty and it is because of television that he's with us tonight.

Billy is over in England as part of a documentary being made by Ulster TV covering the connection between Irish football and Burnley FC, and he'll take in tonight's game alongside fellow Irishmen Willie Irvine and Jimmy McIlroy, with the cameras on them throughout the game.

He'll also be stepping out onto the pitch he graced for four and a half years at the beginning of the 1980s, and when it was probably fair to say he was the most popular Burnley player of the time. He scored a total of 77 league and cup goals for us before moving on at the end of the 1983/84 season to Oxford.

Billy is fondly remembered by supporters of the time, and there is no doubt he'll get an excellent reception when he leaves Irvine and McIlroy behind at half time and makes that walk to the half way line.