Malcolm Waldron

Malcolm Waldron (born 6 September 1956) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back. He spent the majority of his playing career at Southampton. In the summer of 1981, Waldron was sent on loan to Washington Diplomats. In 1983, he moved to Burnley before joining Portsmouth a year later where he ended his professional career.

Club career

Southampton Born in Emsworth, Hampshire, Waldron was initially spotted playing for Havant and Hampshire school teams and was snapped up by Southampton, joining them as an apprentice in July 1973 before signing professional papers on reaching 18 in September 1974. However, he only made a couple of appearances that season and hardly featured the following before establishing himself as a regular member of the Saints' defence in 1976–77.

During Southampton's promotion season in 1977–78, he wore six different numbers as he played in several different positions to accommodate Chris Nicholl and Mike Pickering as a pairing in the centre of defence. He was voted Saints' "Player of the Season" for 1978–79 and in the following season he was called up for the England B team against New Zealand.

Waldron suffered a career-threatening achilles tendon injury which was overcome by surgery and was sent for rehabilitation in the summer of 1981 to the United States for Washington Diplomats.

Later career He joined Burnley in 1983, and was surprised to pass the medical. At Fratton Park, Waldron continued to suffer from the knee injury and he eventually retired from professional football in December 1986.

Personal life

After football, he worked for Abbey Life and latterly as health care adviser for BUPA in Poole. Following his work as a divisional manager for Norwich Union, Waldron started his own business brokering private medical insurance.

Honours

Southampton

League Cup runner-up: 1978–79