Ken Malcolm, a regular for the Blues during Sir Alf Ramsey's time as manager, has died at Ipswich Hospital aged 79 after a long illness. The Scottish left-back was with Town after joining from Arbroath in 1954 until his retirement 10 years later.

Malcolm was in the 1956/57 Third Division (South) title-winning side and missed only one game as Ramsey's Blues won the Second Division in 1960/61.

The former Royal Navy nurse made only three appearances in the First Division championship season which followed due to a back injury, but captained Town in their first European match at Portman Road against Floriana Valetta the following year.

After retiring as a player, Malcolm, who totalled 293 appearances and two goals in his time with the Blues, coached youngsters and was involved in setting up the club's youth system alongside manager Jackie Milburn.

Team-mate John Elsworthy described Malcolm for TWTD back in 2002: "I always felt very sorry for him. He played three games [of the championship year] and then had a bad back and John Compton came in for the rest of the season.

"Malcolm was an outstanding left-back, one of the best we have ever had, very hard he was. He helped the players in front of him as wingers very rarely went past him. If the ball did, then the player certainly didn't!"

Malcolm is survived by his wife Emerald, a daughter and two grandsons.

Photo: Action Images

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