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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: TheCultOfIanTunnacliffe on November 14, 2017, 06:48:44 PM

Title: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: TheCultOfIanTunnacliffe on November 14, 2017, 06:48:44 PM

Former Altrincham FC director Kevan Guiney has just told me the sad news that the great Mal Bailey died this afternoon.

One of my Alty heroes from those halcyon days of the late 1970s/early 1980s.

Alty FC immortality attained via this unforgettable goal at Runcorn in the 1978 FA Trophy Semi-Final Second Leg, which secured the Robins' first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium:


(http://www.non-leagueclubdirectory.co.uk/images/uploads/club_photos/S-F_1_Alty_77-78_.jpeg)


Alty Legend profile here:


http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/legend11.htm (http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/legend11.htm)



Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Mausoleum Alty on November 14, 2017, 06:52:51 PM
Mal was my first ever 'favourite' player when my Dad started taking me to Moss Lane around 1980/81. I had my photo taken with him on my birthday which the club used to do for kids back in the day.
RIP Mal.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: anglo alty on November 14, 2017, 07:04:58 PM
R.I.P  Mal Bailey one of the untouchables(best semi pro side ever)
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: One Foot in the Grave on November 14, 2017, 08:09:23 PM
Whenever I've tried to pick my best ever Alty team, I've always started at the heart of my defence with the legendary pairing of  Bailey and Owens. They were the rock on which the great Alty team of that period was built.

At only 67, Mal has left us way too soon. R.I.P.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Paul Cain's Chip Pan on November 14, 2017, 08:28:53 PM
Very sad news. RIP
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: hsmith1 on November 14, 2017, 08:34:25 PM
Just found this thread,so sorry to hear of Mals Death,my deepest sympathy goes to Julie and thier family
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: MarpleAlty on November 14, 2017, 08:53:06 PM
His son went to my school, my dad used to speak so fondly of Mal and the 'glory days' - and was still in total awe of him so many years later whenever he was at the school gates.

67 is far too soon, R.I.P.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: whiskyalty on November 14, 2017, 09:14:30 PM
Rip mal you put a big smile on my face with that goal at runcorn
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: thegazelle on November 14, 2017, 09:44:15 PM
very sad news indeed . my thoughts go to Julie and family . mal was a legend
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: roytonmike on November 14, 2017, 09:47:13 PM
So sad. The Mal Bailey school of no-nonsense central defending was something to be experienced. May he rest in peace.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Sale Holmfield on November 14, 2017, 11:05:55 PM
Very sad news. Mal was one of the first players I got to recognise as individuals rather than "players" when I was growing up, and was a key member of our best ever side.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Alty Dave on November 14, 2017, 11:30:24 PM
My condolences to family and friends.

As others say a true Alty legend from the best Alty team I have been privileged to watch.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Jezza on November 15, 2017, 06:44:39 AM
Incredibly sad news to hear another of the alty legends has gone.

That picture is one of our most iconic moments...the moment we knew we were going to wembley for the first time...what a moment for those of us there...what a moment to talk about in hushed awe to those too young or not even born...a typical no nonsense header by a proper old school footballer...immortalised in a photo.

RIP Mal...legend
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Randy Konk on November 15, 2017, 10:52:47 AM
Very sad news. He was part of the first Alty team I ever saw. Was it Mal that scored our goal in the FA cup draw at home to Orient?
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: JTH on November 15, 2017, 11:50:53 AM
I remember hearing of the signing of Mal Bailey (and John Rogers) in the summer of '77 from club secretary Dave Baldwin on the boundary at Timperley Cricket Club! Both signified we were seriously building on the Trophy run to the semi finals and whilst it was fantastic we'd got JR from Port Vale I was even more impressed Mal was coming to us from Runcorn. He'd been part of their 1976 NPL title winning team (something we never did pre APL formation) and had always played superbly against us. Mal was central in establishing Altrincham FC's modern reputation as along with goals like that at Runcorn and Rotherham he was front and centre in the rock solid defence of the record breaking 77-82 side. Thanks Mal.  
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: PukkaPieman on November 15, 2017, 11:55:23 AM
Very sad news indeed. I still have Mal's No 4 yellow shirt he gave me after we won the Alliance Premier League for the first time away in Kent in 1980.

RIP Mal.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Jezza on November 15, 2017, 02:40:57 PM
pretty sure barry Whitbread scored vs orient....dazzled them with his centre parting before slotting home...
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: SW on November 15, 2017, 06:00:15 PM
Very sad news, I too was at Runcorn that day. RIP Mal and thanks for the memories.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: distancetraveller on November 15, 2017, 06:08:23 PM
Due to working abroad at the time Mal was playing for Alty I didn't get much chance to watch Alty other than when I was home on leave.

Having said that, I do appreciate what Mal and his team mates achieved.

RIP fella , condolences to your family and friends

Ray Sant
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Old Alt on November 15, 2017, 08:38:35 PM
Part of the great defensive line up of Allan, Owens, Bailey and Davidson. An Alty legend, from the days we were a truly great team.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: altyusa on November 18, 2017, 09:12:31 PM
So sad to hear about Mal.  We were also at Runcorn that day, dodging all the trouble and yet still celebrating that goal!  Didn't he also get our first at Rotherham in that famous FA Cup win?   RIP
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Saughall Robin on November 18, 2017, 09:52:15 PM
So sad to hear about Mal.  We were also at Runcorn that day, dodging all the trouble and yet still celebrating that goal!  Didn't he also get our first at Rotherham in that famous FA Cup win?   RIP
He certainly did! I was at both Runcorn and Rotherham. I always remember him scoring at the latter as we used to have a song (sung to the tune of "jingle bells") Which went ..

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to see the robins win away (repeat)

Riding through the snow to get to rotherham
To watch those super robins stick it up their bum
Malcolm Bailey scored, Barry Howard got number two
And those super robins had stuffed it up their flue

oh jingle bells ... (etc)

Crude but very happy days!  :D

Thanks for all the memories Mal - you were an absolute superstar for us.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: altyusa on November 19, 2017, 02:27:44 AM
Oh yes Saughall, we were at Rotherham as well, that goal of Barry Howard's, curled into the top corner.........great memories and Mal a huge part of them.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: Steve from Sale on November 19, 2017, 10:07:31 AM
Bought him a pint once in the pub on Moss Lane. Great player and I do remember him scoring a similar header to the Runcorn one  against Barnet in a 7-0 rout.

RIP Mal, so sorry to hear of your death. Many happy memories of you and that great team of the 70's/80's and their constant incessant attacking of the oppostion; and their desperate defending.
Title: Re: Mal Bailey RIP
Post by: safe95 on November 19, 2017, 05:40:39 PM
What sad news. So many great memories of Big Mal - like many others that goal at Canal Street probably the highlight. Sincere condolences to family and friends. RIP.