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Post by charlestheoptimist on Sept 19, 2024 15:49:54 GMT
Have just read that former Rovers player Sam Malcolmson died on 18th September aged 77 in New Zealand. Many older fans will remember him from the early 1970's when he played a pivotal part in our league cup run of 1973/74 to the Quarter Finals that year. He later emigrated to New Zealand where he represented the national side gaining 15 caps. He represented New Zealand in the World Cup of 1982 - I know that Scotland faced them that year but am unsure if he was picked for that match or not - perhaps someone could confirm ? His team mates at rovers at that time included Tommy Sermanni/ John Brogan and Jim Coughlin and Peter Dickson - was a great team to be part of.
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Post by rab on Sept 19, 2024 16:59:49 GMT
He represented New Zealand in the World Cup of 1982 - I know that Scotland faced them that year but am unsure if he was picked for that match or not - perhaps someone could confirm ? I was at the match - he definitely played against Scotland. He was on from the start and was subbed in the 2nd half. Me & another Rovers fan at the match were just as thrilled to see an ex-Rover playing international football as we were supporting Scotland at the World Cup. Best matches he played for Rovers were probably the 4-0 aggregate win over Airdrie in the League Cup in 1973 (3-0 at home followed by 1-0 away). But did he make the right decision leaving Rovers for New Zealand? Possibly…… www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/145641?newsfeedId=1275622 |
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Post by Rovergrant on Sept 19, 2024 19:31:59 GMT
Sorry to hear of his passing, one of my heroes from the 70s era
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Post by Roy of the Rovers on Sept 19, 2024 19:33:45 GMT
Wikipedia says Scotland won that match 5-2. Interesting to see he didn't play many matches in Scotland before heading off to NZ. Read the Wikipedia article here |
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Post by mildrover on Sept 20, 2024 8:02:48 GMT
Sad news indeed. In the second batch of my Rovers heroes after the John Dillon, Andy Murphy etc era.
Very surprised to learn Sam was with us for only one season.
Ronnie
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Post by Rovergrant on Sept 20, 2024 8:17:38 GMT
I have posted on the Nostalgia pages a team group from 73/74 has Sam Malcolmson - back row fifth from left. Some real stars in that line up
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Post by fineen on Sept 20, 2024 10:56:32 GMT
I remember getting freebies from big Sam - he was a sales rep for Rothman's cigarettes!
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Post by Rovergrant on Sept 21, 2024 7:59:02 GMT
I remember getting freebies from big Sam - he was a sales rep for Rothman's cigarettes! Correct, Pat...he used to roll up to training in a car covered with Rothman`s logos. Joined Rovers from QOS having been with Airdrie before that. 25 appearances and one goal during his season with Rovers |
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Post by rab on Oct 6, 2024 21:38:36 GMT
More on Malcolmson: He played more matches in Scotland than he is given credit for. He was a regular in the Airdrie reserve team in 1971/72, where he was centre-forward and their top scorer for the season.
It was as a centre-forward that he signed for Rovers in 1973/74. However, an injury to centre-half Ian McArthur saw Sam take over in that position, and he made it his own from then on. He scored four goals for Rovers in 37 appearances. This includes all league and cup matches (others sources list only his league matches). The most important of these was the one he scored in a 1-0 aggregate win against East Stirling in the League Cup. This continued Rovers' run in the competition which was extended by a 4-0 aggregate win over Airdrie in the next round and a place in the quarter finals, where Rovers won the first leg 2-0 against Kilmarnock but lost the second leg 5-2.
He was described by Rovers fanzine ‘Over The Wall’ as 'a centre-half of the monster variety’ and lauded for committing probably the quickest foul in Rovers’ history by decking Airdrie’s Billy Wilson one second after kick off.
After moving to New Zealand, he took the time to write a letter to programme editor Grant; an extract says:
‘I never did get to thank you and the supporters for the wonderful time and support you gave me during my stay at The Rovers. It was without doubt the happiest time I had while I was in Britain….My team got to the Final of the New Zealand Cup and in the semi-final we played [former Rovers team mate] Billy Struthers’ team - and Hurdy-Gurdy got his marching orders. Yes, Struthers hasn’t changed’.
Sam was close to being NZ Player of the Year for 1974/75, finishing runner-up.
Sam spent just the one season (1973/74) with Rovers, and it wasn’t even the full season. He signed after the first game and left a few matches before the end to take up the opportunity of playing and coaching in NZ. The fact that he made such a big, and lasting impression in such a short time at Rovers is testament to his talent as a player, which blossomed in NZ. He is the only Rovers player (so far) to have played at a World Cup Finals.
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