Samuel Alan Malcolmson (2 April 1947 – 18 September 2024) was a Scottish-born footballer who represented New Zealand internationally after he became a naturalised New Zealander in 1976. He played for teams in Cornwall, Scotland, Northern Ireland and New Zealand.
Career in the United Kingdom Malcolmson was born in Cresswell, Dumfries, Scotland, on 2 April 1947. Raised in nearby Dalbeattie, he served in the Royal Navy. At 17, he represented the British Combined Services in association football and athletics. Whilst stationed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, he played 14 games (5 goals) for Falmouth Town. He went on to play for Airdrieonians,AIRDRIE UNITED:1946/47 – 2007/08, Newcastle Fans. then the team from the town of his birth, Queen of the South,Queen of the South players to have been selected for World Cup Finals squad in the profile of George Hamilton and Albion Rovers in his native Scotland. In Northern Ireland, he played with Portadown for two spells. He then emigrated in 1974 to New Zealand."World Cup Doonhamers" on www.qosfc.com
New Zealand Malcolmson was often used as a striker and scored more than 50 goals in New Zealand's National League, but he was also comfortable with playing defence.
Malcolmson became a naturalised New Zealander on 28 July 1976, and scored on his full New Zealand men's national team international debut less than two months later in a 2–0 win over Burma on 13 September. He went on to represent the All Whites at the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals in Spain, his sole appearance at the tournament being his last game for New Zealand in a 5–2 defeat against his native Scotland.NZ 1982 World Cup In doing so, he became the second of three players with Queen of the South among his ex-clubs to travel to the World Cup finals after George Hamilton and before Bernie Slaven. Malcolmson is the only one of the three to actually play at the finals. Including friendlies and unofficial games against club sides, Malcolmson played 32 times for his adopted country, scoring 5 goals,All Whites – Goal Scoring Record ending his international playing career with 15 official A-international caps and 2 goals to his credit.
After playing In 2013, Malcolmson became a founding committee member of the independent group Friends of Football.Friends of Football Committee . Friends of Football. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
Malcolmson died in Auckland on 18 September 2024, at the age of 77.
References
External links
"World Cup Doonhamers" on www.qosfc.com