Career
Hammond was an Arsenal apprentice, making his league début whilst on loan at Bristol Rovers in 1986, followed by further loan spells at Peterborough United and Aberdeen. Hammond joined Swindon Town on a free transfer in July 1987, and while there he twice broke his leg which resulted in him taking the number 23 shirt for the 1993-1994 Premier League campaign, rather than the unlucky number 13. A short spell at Plymouth Argyle culminated in a loan to Reading in December 1995, with the move being made permanent for £40,000 a month later.
A highly regarded goalkeeping coach, Hammond was handed a coaching role by Alan Pardew and he subsequently retired from playing after suffering a recurrent back injury.
In October 2000, Hammond took over from John Stephenson to become Reading"s Youth Academy Director, and was appointed the Club"s first-ever Director of Football in September 2003.
