Derek Hamilton was born in Kilwinning in 1958. He joined Aberdeen from junior club Beith Juniors in 1978 and spent five years at Aberdeen. He joined St Mirren in 1983, where he spent six years and was part of the team which won the 1987 Scottish Cup Final. On leaving St Mirren in 1989, he had spells at Stranraer and Morton. He returned to Junior football with Irvine Meadow, and retired in 1995.