He took over as regular stopper at the start of 1983–84 and his consistent performances earned him a move to Rangers in November 1986. Hamilton never played for the first team in what is usually recognised as a first class match (league, domestic cups, Europe), spending his time as number three in the hierarchy behind Chris Woods and Nicky Walker (later Bonni Ginzburg) and spent loan periods at East Stirlingshire, Stirling Albion, Clydebank and Leeds United (he never featured for the last-named).