Andy Malcolm

Andy Malcolm (born 4 May 1933 in Upton Park, London) is a former professional footballer.

Born a short distance from Upton Park Malcolm joined West Ham in 1948 from Dury Falls Senior School in Hornchurch. He captained England Schoolboys signing forms for West Ham in 1950, and received a £10 signing on fee.

Malcolm went on to become a member of the team that gained Ted Fenton's West Ham promotion as Division 2 Champions 1957–58, and in 1959, 6th place in Division One. He was the first West Ham United FC Supporter's 'Hammer of the Year' in 1957–58.

Described as a ‘feared wing-half with an ability to close-mark and block out opponents’, Malcolm was able to 'snuff out' the likes of Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law. Although he was West Ham’s first-ever England Youth international and one of the finest wing-halves West Ham ever employed, Andy never won a full cap for his country. In 1959, Malcolm, along with team-mate John Bond, represented the Football League against the Scottish League.

Finding that there was no room for his style of play under Ron Greenwood, Malcolm left Hammers after 283 league appearances, one season away from qualifying for a testimonial match, to rivals Chelsea in November 1962, in return for £10,000 and centre-forward Ron Tindall in part-exchange.

Malcolm was named captain of Chelsea but a contract dispute with Tommy Docherty and Chelsea’s relegation to Division 2 at the end of 1961–62 saw Andy move to Division 3 Queens Park Rangers, for £10,000, where he made 84 appearances under Alec Stock.

He moved to South Africa where he played for two seasons for Port Elizabeth FC and then the Greek Port Elizabeth side Apollen FC.

Upon his return to the UK, Malcolm played for Southern League Brentwood Town for 1967–68 season. He retired from football at the end of the 1960s and, from 1968, was landlord of public houses The Ship and Anchor in Maldon, Essex and The Lion at Latchingdon, Essex, until 1986 when he emigrated to Port Elizabeth, South Africa.