Northern Ireland's Billy Hamilton said Billy Bingham made players feel 10 feet tall with his team talks

A year on from Billy Bingham’s death at the age of 90, the mood at today’s memorial service was one of celebration.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
By Graeme Cousins
Published 7th Jun 2023, 19:08 BST

Some of his former Northern Ireland players paid tribute to the boss who brought out the best in them.

After the service Billy Hamilton said: “He meant a lot to me. He put his faith in me when I was a player in the old third division, in the qualifying games for the World Cup.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"When I played for him his team talks made you feel 10 foot tall.”

Current manager Michael O’Neill chats with one of the heroes of Spain 82, Billy Hamilton at a service of Thanksgiving for Billy Bingham MBE at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on Wednesday. Pic: Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerCurrent manager Michael O’Neill chats with one of the heroes of Spain 82, Billy Hamilton at a service of Thanksgiving for Billy Bingham MBE at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on Wednesday. Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Current manager Michael O’Neill chats with one of the heroes of Spain 82, Billy Hamilton at a service of Thanksgiving for Billy Bingham MBE at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on Wednesday. Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Jimmy Nicholl said that the service was a fitting tribute to his former coach, adding that he was really enjoying catching up with his former Northern Ireland teammates who had formed a tight bond under Billy’s management.

"The memories are flooding back,” he said. "For a country our size to have been in two back-to-back World Cups is remarkable. It was Billy who instilled that belief in us.”

During the Cathedral service, Martin O’Neill had said that while he was the captain, Gerry Armstrong was Billy’s favourite.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Asked about this Billy said: “I was best man for his wedding, we were very close. He came to me for little chats about how we were progressing, how the players were responding, so I was very close to Billy, I have to say.”

He added: "It was great to see so many people turn out to honour the great man.”​

Related topics:Northern IrelandCathedral