| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1930-06-14)14 June 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Alexandria, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 26 November 2014(2014-11-26) (aged 84) | ||
| Place of death | Dudley,West Midlands, England | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Renfrew Juniors | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1948–1956 | Millwall | 230 | (0) |
| 1956–1964 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 179 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Malcolm Finlayson (14 June 1930 – 26 November 2014) was a Scottishfootballgoalkeeper who won the league championship and FA Cup withWolverhampton Wanderers.
Finlayson joined London clubMillwall after a trial in February 1948 and quickly made his league debut againstWest Bromwich Albion on 28 February aged 17. He remained with theLions for six full seasons in the Third Division. In one notable game againstWalsall, he was taken to hospital with the team losing 1-3, only to return patched up during the second half and play on to help the side to a 6-5 win. He was first choice atThe Den, making 251 appearances in total, a figure that would likely have been higher but for his time on National Service in theRoyal Air Force where he played in the same football team asRon Flowers.[1]
He was sold toFirst DivisionWolverhampton Wanderers in August 1956 for £3,000, primarily as cover for England internationalBert Williams. He made 13 appearances in his first season atMolineux, and his performances earned him the first choice spot during the1957–58 season as the club won the league title.
The goalkeeper kept his placethe following season as he picked up yet another league title winners' medal. He added anFA Cup winners' medal when Wolves defeatedBlackburn Rovers 3–0 in the1960 FA Cup final. The club's domestic success meant Finlayson played in theEuropean Cup against the likes ofBarcelona.
Finlayson announced his retirement in May 1964 after playing 203 games in total for Wolves.
After his playing retirement, he went on to become a successful businessman with his steel stockholding company, R & F Steel Stockholders ofKingswinford. He also spent a brief spell back at Wolves as vice-chairman during 1982, following an attempt to buy the club in 1981 withDoug Ellis which was outbid by the Bhatti Brothers.
Finlayson died at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, on 26 November 2014 aged 84.[2]
Finlayson was married for 35 years to his wife Iris who died in 2012 aged 82. They had one son Stuart who died aged 39 in 2009, and one daughter Sandra, who survived him. He was also survived by a partner, Angela Field.[1]
Wolverhampton Wanderers