Malcolm Finlayson: Bravest of keepers and kindest of men
A great, generous man. As the most decorated goalkeeper in Wolves' history, there have been many tributes paid to the great Malcolm Finlayson since his sudden death was announced yesterday.
As a footballer, he was a giant – a blond, no-nonsense Scot who would think nothing of diving headlong at a centre forward's feet.
As a man, his former Molineux team-mates all described him as brave as they come.
And replacing the player who was revered throughout the game, Bert Williams, he needed to be.
It says so much about Finlayson's resolve and determination that he not only managed to prove himself as Williams' successor, but to become the club's most decorated goalkeeper of all, playing in 203 games in all from 1956 when he was signed for a bargain £4,000 from Millwall until he hung up his boots in 1964.
Two League championships in 1957-58 and 1958-59 and the FA Cup in 1960 is more than any other Wolves goalkeeper has won.
After being on the winning side against the great Real Madrid in the famous floodlit friendlies, Finlayson was also the club's first keeper to play in the European Cup.
Wolves legend Ron Flowers knew the keeper from the age of 18 when they played in the same RAF team.
"You had to look after yourself in those days because goalkeepers had no protection," recalls Flowers.
"Malcolm would clear everything out in the six-yard box – if he was coming, you'd get out of the way otherwise you might get a fist for your troubles!"
But his success and bravery on the pitch was matched by the love and kindness he showed off it.
And the tributes don't come any more heartfelt than from his beloved daughter Sandra Hill.
Sandra, aged 55, from Bewdley, says: "He was my everything – the man I looked up to.
"I am devastated.
"He was a great, generous man.
"He was a wonderful, busy father who worked very hard to build up a successful business when he finished playing.
"He was very much loved and it's a terrific loss to me.
"He was a fantastic footballer and he supported Wolves throughout his life really – he was a Wolves man through and through.
"He was a lovely man and will be so much missed.
"He was intelligent and if I ever wanted any advice I would turn to him because he was very wise."
Finlayson's team-mates would smile as he would park his truck in the club car park while dapperly dressed for business meetings afterwards.
"He was a success in both business and sport – his team-mates used to take the mickey out him when he turned up to training in a suit but he had the last laugh," says Sandra.
Sadly, Sandra is the only member of the blood family remaining after her mother, and Malcolm's former wife of 34 years, Iris, died in 2012 at the aged of 82, and the couple's son Stuart at the age of just 39 in 2009.
Malcolm is succeeded by his partner of Angela Field of 25 years, from Stourbridge, who like Sandra, has so many fond memories of the goalkeeping giant.
"He was such a marvellous man," she says. "I was so lucky to spend all these years with him. It's such a shock. He was a lovely man and very well thought of – people didn't know what he was really like but I did and he was so generous and kind.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without him and all my family and friends are going to miss him.
"He was loved by everyone."
Finlayson's formidable standing was carried beyond football into a successful career as a millionaire businessman, with his steel stockholding firm R & F Stockholders in Kingswinford.
But he never forgot Wolves, even forming a consortium to try to save the club when it was in deep financial trouble in 1982.
Seven years later he was part of the founding committee who set up the Wolves Former Players' Association, which he chaired from 2001 until January this year when he took over as president.
"He loved everything about Wolves and was so proud to have played for them," adds Angela.
The couple had a luxury flat in Helensburgh in Arygle and Bute in Scotland which they visited regularly.
But like his recently departed team-mate Eddie Stuart, his heart remained in Wolverhampton.
"He was never picked to play for Scotland and he always said to me that if he had a choice of who to play for between Scotland and Wolves, he would always play for Wolves," said Angela.
And for that we should be thankful.
