Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

In Memory of Malcolm Graham: 26th January 1934 – 12th September 2015

Malcolm Graham, the former Barnsley, Bristol City, Leyton Orient and QPR forward passed away
at the age of 81.

I saw him play a number of times for the R’s during the 1963/64 campaign including the bizarre 4-4 draw
at Luton Town on the 23rd November 1963 when he scored one of our goals and more than played his part
in the comeback from 4-1 down.

Unfortunately for both QPR FC and Malcolm himself, his short spell at Loftus Road was never the high point
of his career.

In the 1963/64 season Rangers were a lowly Third Division side and by then his best playing days were behind
him. Also, I recall that injury restricted his first team appearances to just 23 games wherein he scored 8 goals.

In his prime, Malcolm Graham was a star goal scoring forward for Barnsley and in particular Leyton Orient.
When it came to putting the ball in the net his finishing was quicksilver and razor sharp.

In 1961/62 he was prominent in helping Leyton Orient reach the top flight of English football and in fact notched
up the clinching goals in the O’s last match of the season, thus securing their promotion to Division One.

Malcolm Graham: Rest in Peace.

Bernard Lambert (Kerrins)

Malcolm Graham was born in Wakefield on 26th January 1934. He had worked as a miner at the Haigh Colliery
whilst playing non-league football.

Malcolm was signed from Leyton Orient in July 1963 for £5,000. He made his first team debut a month later and
scored in the 2-1 defeat at Oldham Athletic.

One other game to mention is the home friendly against Hibernian on 15th February 1963 when Malcolm scored
the R’s final goal in the 5-1 win.

He and his wife Margaret purchased a nine-month old greyhound, which they named ‘I’m the Greatest’. I wonder
whether it ever raced at the White City?

After making 23 league and cup appearances for the R’s, Malcolm returned to Barnsley, twelve months after his
arrival in West London.

A long-standing knee injury forced him to retire whilst at Alfreton Town and he went on to work for the East
Midlands Gas Board.

Rest in Peace.

Steve Russell