Malcolm Finlayson
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Finlayson is a former Scottish
football goalkeeper who won the league championship and FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
after a trial in February 1948 and quickly made his league debut against 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 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 stockholding company. He also spent a brief spell back at Wolves
as vice-chairman during 1982.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football goalkeeper who won the league championship and FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
Career
Finlayson joined London club MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
after a trial in February 1948 and quickly made his league debut against on 28 February aged 17. He remained with the Lions for six full seasons in the Third Division. In one notable game against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, 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
The Den (stadium)
The Den was the fifth football stadium occupied by Millwall F.C. in Cold Blow Lane, New Cross, London since their formation in Millwall on the Isle of Dogs in 1885 before moving to The New Den, in May 1993. The ground opened in 1910 and was the home of Millwall for 83 years. It boasted a record...
, 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
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in August 1956 for £3,000, primarily as cover for England international Bert Williams
Bert Williams (footballer)
Bert Frederick Williams MBE is a former English international football goalkeeper. Nicknamed The Cat, he spent the majority of his playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he won the League Championship and FA Cup....
. He managed to make 13 appearances in his first season at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, 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
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners' medal when Wolves defeated 3–0 in the 1960 final. The club's domestic success also gave Finlayson the opportunity to play in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
against the likes of Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
Finlayson lost his place to Fred Davies
Fred Davies
Fred Davies is an English former footballer who made nearly 400 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City and Bournemouth. He also played for the Wolves team which, playing as the Los Angeles Wolves won the 1967 United Soccer Association...
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 stockholding company. He also spent a brief spell back at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as vice-chairman during 1982.