Goal-scoring legend to f log his footie treasures
The man known as Supermac in his 1970s heyday – suffered extreme pain and was rushed to hospital by ambulance amid fears he had sepsis.
It was a false alarm but the former Newcastle United, Arsenal and England striker says it put life in perspective.
Malcom said: “I’m 67 and I think that it’s only common sense to think about your mortality – to think about making sure that everything is in place. You never know what’s going to happen.
“I had a nasty health turn. It does bring it home to you.” His scare happened in June when he felt extreme pain in his joints.
His wife Carol called a doctor and when symptoms pointed to sepsis – which can kill if not spotted early – he was rushed to Accident and Emergency.
He had pseudo -gout – a type of arthritis that causes sudden, painful swelling. “As soon as it had come, it just went,” said Malcolm. “They said you won’t get it for ten years. Four days later I came down with it again.”
Now he is to auction nearly 40 caps, shirts, tracksuits and medals so he can leave the money to his seven children.
Lots include a 1978 FA Cup runners -up medal valued at £4,500 and the vest he wore on TV’s Superstars show, £300.
There’s even a pair of ancient 1940s boots sent with a rude message by a fan after he missed chances, at around £45.
Malcolm said the idea came after talking to England’s 1966 World Cup Final hat-trick scorer Sir Geoff Hurst who auctioned his own treasures.
“He told me ‘I’ve got one World Cup winner’s medal and three daughters. I can’t cut it into three.’
“My children never saw me play and it’s the memories I value – not objects.”
One l ot is a Newcastle United shirt he lent to AC/DC singer Brian Johnson to wear on Top of the Pops.
Malcolm, born in London but much- l oved in Newcastle from his time there, revealed he had to “beg, and beg and beg” to get it, in the days when strips had to last a whole season. He said: “Brian was in a band calle called Geordie at the time an and wanted to wear a NewcastleNe shirt on the show. “I begged the c club to let him have one of my shirts with nine on the back. “But t hen be because it had a club logo the BBC said, ‘ No, you can’t wear it on air.’ “S“So he cut t he botto bottom off it instead and wo wore the black and white bits as a tie.” The cut-down shirt is valued at around £600.
Supermac, who lives in Northumberland, scored 210 goals for Fulham, Luton, Newcastle and Arsenal.
The Gunners broke their club record to buy him for £333,333.34 in 1976.
A year earlier he had scored all five goals in a 5-0 demolition of Cyprus in one of his 14 England appearances.
His shirt from that night is in the auction, with an estimate of £6,000. So is the shirt of Kyriakos Koureas, who was marking him... for a more modest £200.
The auction is at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex, on October 23. Or bid online at the-saleroom.com.