As a young boy down peering over the dyke at the front of the south enclosure (known now among Dens fans as The Derry), I remember him fondly as a player who would always find time for some banter when running on to the track to retrieve a ball for a throw-in
But there was a very serious side to his game, too, and that was highlighted by the fact he gained 24 full international caps for his country in five years — the first coming in a World Cup tie against Czechoslovakia in Dundee’s title-winning season of 1961-1962.
He was born in Armadale, West Lothian, and came to Dens Park in 1957, the start of his 11-year career with the Dark Blues.
He was, of course, part of the team which reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in season 1962-63, playing in all eight games against Cologne, Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht and AC Milan, and also played in the team which lost the 1964 Scottish Cup Final to Scot Symon’s Rangers at Hampden Park.
In 1968, when Bobby Ancell was in charge, he left Dens and, indeed, the country, emigrating to South Africa to play for Durban United and East London United.
After four years as a player, he moved into coaching and management, achieving success in that field for both teams for which he played.
In the late 80s, he was back in Scotland and back at Dens Park, working behind the scenes running the club lottery.
There was always the lighter side to Hammy and, in 1964, he cut a record as leader of the group Hammy and The Hamsters, which included Dens team-mates Kenny Cameron, Alex Stuart, Hugh Robertson and Craig Brown.
The two songs on the J. M. Records disc were titled My Dreams Came True, with She Was Mine on the flipside. Unfortunately, the call from Top Of The Pops never came, and the quintet quickly returned their full attention to football.
In July 1993, he died suddenly at his home in Broughty Ferry, aged 57.
The late Bobby Cox described his full-back partner as a “truly great player and a great character — one of the great players of Scottish football.”
No-one at the dinner this evening will argue with that.
SHANKLY LIKED SIMPLE FOOTBALL . . . NO GIMMICKS
Bob Shankly was the man in charge as Dundee swept to the title in 1962 — and surprised many in their European debut campaign the following season.
Born in Glenbuck, Ayrshire, as the son of John, a professional runner, he worked initially in the local coal mining industry.
His senior career started with Alloa Athletic and he then went on to have a 23-year association with Falkirk as player, coach and manager.
When he eventually left Brockville, it was to Cathkin Park in Glasgow to take charge of Third Lanark.
Three years on came the call from Dens Park . . . and the rest is history.
His brother was the mercurial Bill, who enjoyed great success with Liverpool and they were probably as different as chalk and cheese.
While Bill would court the Press and TV, telling anyone who would listen how great his Anfield side were, older brother Bob would always go about his business in a very low-key fashion.
Indeed, when building what was to become Dundee’s greatest-ever XI., he said, “I was hammered for signing right-winger Gordon Smith on a free transfer from Hearts.
“They said he was too old.
“But we just played simple football with no gimmicks, and being humble!”
Humble, indeed!
After succeeding Willie Thornton in the Dens hot seat in 1959, Bob eventually left in 1965, replacing Jock Stein as manager of Hibs.
After that followed a spell scouting for Nottingham Forest before returning to management as the man in charge of Stirling Albion.
GEORGI WAS A GREAT TALENT
The signing of Georgian international Georgi Nemsadze (above) by Ivano Bonetti in 2000 had most Dens fans scurrying to their atlas.
Georgia? Part of the break-up of the Soviet Union, it would seem — and only ever really mentioned in football terms locally when Georgi Kinkladze or Temuri Ketsbaia were on the ball on TV in England. But, within a few games in the dark blue of Dundee, it was clear the likeable midfielder — captain of his country — was a special talent.
He was the first signing made by Bonetti during the Marr brothers era at the club, brought about by Serie C (Italy) restrictions about non-EU players meaning he could buy out his own contract at Reggiana.
That rule was an amazing slice of luck for Dundee and fans will always be grateful for the chance to see such a brilliant talent in a dark blue jersey.
JIM HAS LED THE DEE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
JIM DUFFY endears himself to most football fans because he is always willing to listen to them.
The former Dundee defender, skipper, coach and manager knows better than most what a fickle industry football is, having no fewer than three spells at Dens Park . . . so far!
Jim started his career with Celtic, but could not break into the first team and was persuaded to join Morton by Benny Rooney for a £20,000 fee.
Archie Knox first took him to Dundee when he was rebuilding the side alongside others such as John Brown and Robert Connor, and “Duff” soon emerged a top player at the club until that fateful day when he was injured at Ibrox in September 1987.
It wasn’t long, though, before he was on the managerial track and, after short spells as coach and manager of Airdrie, Falkirk and Partick Thistle, he returned to Dens as a player.
When Simon Stainrod was sacked in 1993, Jim, by then his assistant, took over the reins before being lured to Hibs three years later.
After 13 months at Easter Road, he took on coaching roles at Chelsea and Portsmouth before returning once again to Dens Park in 2002, succeeding Ivano Bonetti.
His three-year tenure enveloped administration and he was a mainstay of the club at that time.
He had a spell with Hearts and is currently manager of Brechin City, interspersing his time at Glebe Park with media work.
Will he ever return once again to Dens Park?
Never say never!
GORDON SCORED CUP FINAL WINNER
When you score the winning goal in a cup final for your team, you are instantly a legend — and that’s what happened in 1973 at Hampden Park when GORDON WALLACE swivelled around in the Celtic penalty area to beat Ally Hunter with a low shot into the corner.
The Scottish League Cup was back at Dens Park after an absence of 20 years.
Gordon was actually at Dens Park as a provisional signing under tonight’s fellow-inductee Bob Shankly in the early 1960s, but, when no offer of a playing contract was offered, he joined Montrose.
“Stubby” soon started to hit the back of the net with regularity and recently-promoted Raith Rovers took him to Stark’s Park.
Soon, he was, quite simply, scoring goals for fun.
During one interview about his time in Kirkcaldy, he said, “I remember during a two-week spell scoring two against Aberdeen on the Saturday, two versus Morton on the Wednesday, then a hat-trick at Dundee United the following Saturday.
“Then there was two against Hearts two days later, before another hat-trick against Motherwell the following weekend.
“It was honestly a case of . . . ‘I cannae think of missing’.”
In 1967, he scored 30 goals to keep Raith in the top flight and was named Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year.
Dundee were just one of many watching his progress and swooped with a £14,000 cheque to take him “back home”.
After the aforementioned final and several forays in Europe with the club — during which time Dundee were rarely out of the top six — he left Dens in 1975 to play in America with Seattle Sounders. He then returned to Scotland to join Dundee United and then Raith Rovers once again.
A stint at Tannadice under Jim McLean followed during United’s glory years before being asked to “cross the road” to take charge of Dundee as manager.
Coaching stints at Dunfermline and United again came about, in addition to several posts back at Dens over the past few years — and he’s currently at the club as youth and first-team adviser.
