Malcolm Finlayson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Malcolm Finlayson | ||
| Date of birth | 14 June 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Alexandria, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Renfrew Juniors | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1948–1956 | Millwall | 230 | (0) |
| 1956–1964 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 179 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Malcolm Finlayson (born 14 June 1930) is a former Scottish football goalkeeper who won the league championship and FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Career
Finlayson joined London club Millwall after a trial in February 1948 and quickly made his league debut against West Bromwich Albion on 28 February aged 17. He remained with the Lions for six full seasons in the Third Division. In one notable game against Walsall, 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 at The Den, making 251 appearances in total, a figure that would likely have been higher but for his time serving National Service.
He was sold to First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 1956 for £3,000, primarily as cover for England international Bert Williams. He managed to make 13 appearances in his first season at Molineux, and his performances earned him the first choice spot during the 1957–58 season as the club won the league title.
The goalkeeper kept his place the following season as he picked up yet another league title winners' medal. He added an FA Cup winners' medal when Wolves defeated Blackburn Rovers 3–0 in the 1960 final. The club's domestic success also gave Finlayson the opportunity to play in the European Cup against the likes of Barcelona.
Finlayson lost his place to Fred Davies for the 1962–63 season and spent two seasons largely in the reserves before announcing his retirement in May 1964 after playing 203 games in total for Wolves.
After his playing retirement, he went on to become a businessman in a steel stockholding company. He also spent a brief spell back at Wolves as vice-chairman during 1982, following an attempt to buy the club in 1981 with Doug Ellis which was outbid by the Bhatti Brothers.