Everyone at Queen of the South is saddened to read today of the death earlier this week of Doonhamer Sam Malcolmson at the age of 77 in Auckland, New Zealand.

A Doonhamer by birth, born at Cresswell in 1947 and raised in Dalbeattie, Malcolmson joined the Royal Navy and began his football career around his posting, playing for Falmouth Town. Returning to his native Scotland after leaving the Navy he played very briefly for Airdrie before joining his home town side Queen of the South in 1972. His stay here was also brief and he managed just 13 appearances, scoring twice, before moving on to Albion Rovers. A season in Coatbridge was apparently enough for him to emigrate to New Zealand in 1974 where he forged a football career as both a centre back and a centre forward at various times. He became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1976 and famously became only the 2nd former Queen of the South player to be selected for a World Cup Finals, and the only one to date to actually play at one, when he represented New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup in Spain at the age of 35. His single appearance at the tournament came against his native Scotland. That match was the last of his 15 caps for his new country.

Following his retirement from playing he continued to work in football as a coach, commentator and administrator at various levels of the game whilst also working with major sporting goods brands in promotional roles.

Our sympathies go to his family and friends.